AMES youth students training at Whitten Oval.

More than 70 youth students from AMES Footscray, Werribee and St Albans have begun an AFL football orientation and training program as part of the Western Bulldogs CALDplay program.

Three AMES teams will take part in the program to run through May and June culminating in a CALDplay Gala Day at the Whitten Oval on 11 June.

The day will see men’s and women’s matches and the involvement of Victoria Police and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

The event is the seventh annual CALD Carnival and is now a feature of Refugee Week. The initiative is aimed at forging relationships and strengthening community bonds in Melbourne’s west. AMES Manager of Youth Programs Margot Hennessy said there was a lot of excitement over this year’s program.

“We have dozens of students who are very keen to get started training and playing so everyone is really excited about the initiative,” Margot said.

“Once again many thanks to the Western Bulldogs for hosting this amazing program,” she said.

For more information on this story, contact the Communications Unit on: 9938 4031.