Melbourne City FC and Melbourne Victory came together at AAMI Park in March for a powerful anti-racism symposium, reinforcing football’s role as a unifying force within the community.
Delivered in partnership with the Reflect Forward initiative, the event welcomed students from six schools; Timbarra P-9 College, Lyndale Secondary College, Caulfield Grammar School, Footscray High School, Kensington Secondary College and University High School for a day centred around open dialogue, collaboration and action-focused thinking.
At the heart of the symposium was a shared belief: football has the power to bring people together, break down barriers and drive meaningful cultural change.
Facilitated by the African Youth Alliance, the day adopted an interactive “hackathon” format, encouraging students to move beyond discussion and into solution-building. Working in groups, participants explored practical ways to address racism within their own school communities, developing ideas such as awareness campaigns, student-led education programs and inclusive football events designed to celebrate diversity.
Melbourne City FC Head of Community, Sunil Menon, said the day highlighted the important role football can play beyond the pitch.
“Football has a unique ability to bring people together, but days like this show it can also be a powerful tool for change,” Menon said.
“Seeing young people step forward with real, practical ideas to challenge racism in their own schools is incredibly inspiring. If we can empower them now, we’re helping shape a more inclusive game and community for the future.”
Adding further inspiration, City young guns Ryan Kalms and Beckham Baker joined the session to share their personal experiences. Both spoke candidly about identity, resilience and the importance of inclusivity within the game, offering students a valuable perspective from within the professional environment.
Their presence helped reinforce the connection between grassroots participation and the elite level, highlighting that football is a game for everyone and that diversity remains one of its greatest strengths.
The symposium not only strengthened collaboration between Melbourne’s two A-League clubs but also highlighted the broader responsibility football holds in addressing societal challenges.
By engaging students directly and equipping them with the tools to drive change, the initiative marked another important step towards building more inclusive communities – both within the game and beyond.
