Multicultural

SANFL is dedicated to ensuring South Australians from all cultural backgrounds have an opportunity to get involved in Australian rules football.
We offer a range of multicultural programs for people of all ages, including hands-on skills learning in schools, talent pathways and state representative teams and umpiring opportunities.

Get Involved
Welcome to Australian Rules Football
Welcome to Australian Rules Football is an introductory school program to teach kids about footy. This is a five-week program conducted in primary schools with a high level of multicultural enrolments. It consists of weekly clinics, run by SANFL staff, which aims to teach students all the basic skills of Australian football including handballing, kicking and marking.

Multicultural Umpiring Academy
SANFL’s Multicultural Umpiring Academy has been designed to help South Australians with a multicultural background to get involved in umpiring footy. Participants are taught the skills of all three disciplines – field, boundary, and goal umpiring – with the aim of transitioning umpires into junior leagues throughout South Australia.

Talent Pathways
AFL Multicultural All Nations – Diversity Championships
Each year, talented young footballers with a multicultural background have the opportunity to represent South Australia at the All Nations – Diversity Championships.
Nineteen players under the age of 15 are selected to compete in the week-long carnival against all other states and territories.

Bachar Houli Academy
The AFL Bachar Houli Academy is a high-performance football talent camp for emerging players of Islamic background aged 14 to 16.
Named after well-known Richmond player Bachar Houli, the academy aims to develop participants’ leadership and football skills, along with providing genuine pathways to pursue football at an elite level.

AFL Community Ambassador Program
The AFL Community Ambassador Program is aimed at engaging multicultural and Indigenous communities through a network of dedicated volunteers.
Ambassadors help connect the AFL with their communities and promote Australian Football activities as a vehicle for engagement and inclusion.
The program provides community leaders with an official platform to become involved in the introduction and coordination of Australian football related programs in their communities, as well as opportunities for professional development.

Promotion
SANFL participates in multicultural festivals throughout the State to promote its multicultural programs.