It all began in 2007 and George Halkias was right there as the campaign to raise awareness of the plight of Australia’s homeless began.
From the early days as a volunteer for the “Big Issue” magazine, he has now risen to become the National Street Soccer Coach. And he loves giving the centre stage to people who wouldn’t otherwise get the chance.
“They just can’t believe their luck, but they’ve earned it,” he says.
To earn it, the homeless and disadvantaged have to join one of 17 National programs aimed at helping them integrate into mainstream society. And there’s also two schemes running at Victorian Correctional Centres.
Alfred Omer came to Australia 10 years ago as a Sudanese refugee. Now he’s playing for Parramatta in one of the most iconic venues in Australia, in the shadows of the Sydney Opera House.
“It’s very tough in my country, but I’m lucky I came to Australia, I’m very lucky” Amer told SBS.
The NSW and ACT championships have this year also included a corporate competition and a youth level A-League event. And that’s all part of including the wider community according to Halkias.
“We’ve had A-League Youth, we’ve had elite women, be it corporate or whatever, it brings people together and irrespective of where you are from or whatever language you speak we all speak the language of football.”
More than 5,000 people have been through the scheme in the past nine years, and the goal is for that number to rise, but also to include more women, especially those suffering from domestic abuse.
Canberra volunteer and Street Soccer player Yassim Ismail is a Somali refugee and he told SBS seeing the people he’s helped play Street Soccer improve their work, home and social lives makes his effort worth it.
“Having a coffee and seeing them change their lives is really one of the great things to see them move on.”
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