Ten years ago, The Big Issue magazine launched a Street Soccer Program aimed at helping marginalised people in Australian society enjoy a friendly, welcoming environment.
The street football programs are now running in 18 locations around the country, with 6,500 people involved.
And the benefits for new migrants, in particular, are proving increasingly important.
As John Baldock reports, the success of the scheme is offering benefits for the wider community, too.
It began as a street football scheme to bring the homeless and the unemployed together.
But now, the power of The Big Issue Street Soccer Program to change lives is also being felt across Australia's migrant and refugee communities.
In the western Sydney hub of Parramatta, it is now a launching pad for fitness, improving language skills and encouraging people to extend their friendships beyond the program.
Tom Wilson is the New South Wales Street Soccer Coach, and he runs the Parramatta program.
"We've got one really good story here in Parramatta, where players have started their own futsal team. So they've banded together here in Parramatta, formed their own team and are part of the league."
Sudanese refugee Alfred Omer has been playing Street Football for around 18 months.
He came to Australia 11 years ago and says he enjoys the sessions so much he is attending two Street Football sessions each week.
Wilson says he has witnessed the positive effect on Omer.
"When he first turned up, he was very shy, suffering from periods of homelessness. And now, he's attending both our Parramatta and Sydney programs each week, he's trying to find a job, he's looking much healthier."
And Omer is happier, too.
He has managed to find volunteer work at both locations where he is playing Street Soccer, driving a bus for a Korean church.
He says he is keen to add some coaching skills which would allow him to help other would-be street footballers.
"Even my skills, you know, for the soccer improve, so I'm so happy, because I want to help especially the young people, you know, learn how to play soccer, you know."
Oscar Wu provides a good example of other benefits playing Street Soccer can provide.
He arrived in Australia after leaving China with an engineering degree and has now found work as a plasterer.
His English-speaking skills have improved markedly since he joined up with The Big Issue scheme three years ago.
But he remembers how tough his early days were.
"In that moment, I was just ... you know, (under) too much pressure, pressure. You know, for new migrants coming to Australia, new country, everything's new, and you don't speak much English. Here, you can also improve (your) English here."
The wider community is feeling the effects, too, because some of the participants' mental health issues are improving with their involvement.
Tom Wilson, the coach, says that may ease the burden on local health-care providers.
"As a result of turning up each week, rather than going to see caseworkers, psychologists, doctors ... This is a more sort of accessible route of alleviating mental-health concerns."
The turnover in the program is high, but the regulars such as Oscar Wu say that is an encouraging sign.
"And I see a lot of boys, they used to play here but they don't. But it's not a bad thing, it's a good thing, because either they have a job (or) they have something to be busy on. Some people, you can see they have some issues, but, when they come here, at least we ... we can keep them being positive."
The Parramatta program, started in 2007, gives players a free lunch, two dedicated coaches and the opportunity to build new friendships.
But one big challenge remains how to increase the number of marginalised women getting involved.
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