World game changing hearts and minds

When it comes to the police, some migrants in Australia are wary of dealing with them because in their countries of origin they can be corrupt, aggressive and not to be trusted. Australian police are trying to address that through the world game.

It’s called the Common Goal Soccer Academy Project. The clue is in the name.

Every week young members of the Mirrabooka mosque community gather at the oval next door, in Perth’s northern suburbs, to train and practice their football skills.

Regularly joining them are members of the local policing team.

The idea is through a shared loved of the world game, barriers and mistrust of police felt by some of the migrants and refugees can be broken down.

“Even though we come from different backgrounds, you just put the ball in the middle and everyone just seems to understand the same language,” said Imam Moegamad Davids.

The Mirrabooka Mosque Imam said some of the mosque’s community was wary of police.

“Instead of engaging and understanding the purpose of police as we say to serve, to protect, to assist, some people they create this barrier because of the different backgrounds they come from,” he said.

“What happens is that some of them they fear the police because of certain happenings that took place in their past,” he said.

The state’s Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan hopes programs such as the football initiative will go some way to addressing that.

It was a tough game, but police still claimed victory 3-0. (SBS) Source: SBS

“One of the great challenges for police is some of these kids have had very negative experiences of police and authorities in the countries they come from,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“It’s very different in Australia, but we do face a challenge in building that level of trust that’s required for us to work together.

“So trying to get, and it’s not just kids, it’s also women in particular, trying to build the trust to get them to come to us for help is a really important part of what we do.”

The program was officially launched with a game between the WA Police and the Mirrabooka side on Thursday.

Despite the local advantage, the Mirrabooka side went down three goals to none.

But player Aman Trj said it was still a good opportunity to get to know the police officers on a different level.

“It’s a really great experience to talk to them, know them, see how they go on in their life,” he said.

“Talking about sport, it’s a big game in the whole world, soccer, and many people they come in the program with each other and they talk, they play, they have fun, they kick the ball around.”

The project is an initiative of several not-for-profit organisations, the West Australian Police, government agencies and the Mirrabooka Mosque.

As well as breaking down barriers between the police and the local community, it’s also about using sport to build leadership skills, discipline and improve social harmony.

“This will teach people tolerance, patience, to engage with one another on a level where basically we understand instead of being frustrated and not knowing what’s happening around us,” Imam Moegamad said.

“This program is to initiate togetherness, unity and so on.”