Victoria University Whitten Oval today played host to the eighth annual CALDplay football carnival in celebration of Refugee Week.

The event brought together refugees and migrants who have participated in the CALDplay football program for both a male and female football match. 

Footscray AMES, Victoria University and Yarraville Community Centre took out the women’s match, defeating Werribee AMES, St Albans AMES and Wyndham Community & Education Centre 18-13.

Shwe Li Meng (Footscray AMES) and Paw Naw Si (Werribee AMES) took out the best on ground award.

While in the men’s match, Footscray AMES, St Albans AMES and Victoria University defeated Werribee AMES and Wyndham Community & Education Centre 34-20, with the best on ground award being presented to Hser Ker Pra Htoo (VU Nicholson Street) and Omar Mohamed (Wyndham Community & Education Centre).

Fittingly, refugees from Myanmar’s ethnic Karen and Chin communities took out three of the four best on ground awards presented by the program’s partner, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

The program has welcomed record numbers this year, with over 200 people attending the sessions throughout May and June.

Participants are drawn from AMES and Community Centres across the west, representing 38 different countries of birth including Myanmar, Vietnam, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Iran, Iraq and Somalia, with most playing their first game of AFL football.

The carnival coincides with annual Refugee Week (14-20 June), during which the Western Bulldogs will host their ninth Refugee Week Citizenship Ceremony on Saturday 20 June with the newest citizens attending the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane match that night.