Refugee communities from Melbourne’s south-east came together recently to compete in a soccer tournament to celebrate Refugee Week.

The Refugee Week Cup, co-hosted by refugee settlement agency AMES Australia and Melbourne City Football Club, saw around 60 people from more than a dozen communities participate in the tournament, held at the Community Court, in George Street, Dandenong, on World Refugee Day.

The six-a-side tournament was won by a team from the Melbourne Afghan Soccer Association with Melbourne City’s Refugee Allstars runners up.

Teams of clients and staff from AMES Australia’s Dandenong and Noble Park sites were co-winners of the Fair Play Award.

AMES CEO Cath Scarth said that as the ‘world game’, soccer was the perfect vehicle to bring together Australia’s diverse and refugee communities and to connect them with the broader community.

“Sport, and particularly soccer has the ability to bring people and communities together. And that is what happened at this tournament,” Ms Scarth said.

“It was wonderful to see the connections made today between individuals and communities and the friendly, collaborative spirit in which the matches were played,” she said.

“Coming together and learning about each other’s communities and traditions is always important but especially so at time when events overseas are impacting communities here,” Ms Scarth said.

Across the globe, soccer is seen as a way of bringing communities together, promoting social cohesion and connecting refugee communities with mainstream society.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has recognised the potential of soccer to help uplift, empower and unite refugees with their host communities, particularly children.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi has said that “sport has the incredible power to bring hope, to heal and to help shape the future for those forced to flee. In our work with refugees, we see daily what uplifting difference sports can make in their lives”.

Melbourne City FC was presented with a ‘Sanctuary Club’ award by AMES executive team in recognition of the club’s work in engaging, including and empowering diverse communities in Melbourne’s south east.

“MCFC has had a positive impact on the lives of refugees, diverse communities and individuals seeking sanctuary in Victoria’s through its inclusive and welcoming programs,” the award citation read.