Please note: Images in this article were taken before current COVID-19 safety measures were in place.
[Vision: Soccer game in progress]
Georgina Jerums
While the Socceroos went out early, World Cup fever still gripped the nation.
[Vision: People watching the soccer game - City in the Community]
And the week of the final a Melbourne game celebrated multiculturalism in our community.
George Halkias - Melbourne City Football Club
Ten or so countries represented and once the ball comes out they’re not as shy and not as anxious and they’re having a good time out there and they’re making new friends.
[Vision: Soccer players enjoying interaction with everyone]
[Vision: Soccer players enjoying interaction with everyone]
Marcela Marques - Victoria Police
When I’m working I always try to speak to the international people especially if I know that they’re from South America, because I know how it feels.
It’s not easy to come here, different culture, everything is different but Melbourne’s just - well it’s a great place, the best place in the world to live.
[Vision: People enjoying the football game]
And I just want these people to come and feel welcome.
[Vision: Soccer game in progress]
A diverse team from the Victoria Police took on international students from La Trobe and Swinburne universities at Melbourne Football Club in Bundoora.
[Vision: Soccer players jumping and posing for photograph]
To celebrate camaraderie and reinforce our state, home to about 200,000 international students from 170 countries.
It’s a safe environment in which to live and learn.
[Vision: Soccer game in progress - people watching game]
The game highlighted the Victorian Government’s International Student Welfare Program, which focuses on student safety, employability, health and social inclusion.
Yankee Lee - International Student
Definitely you can see that we have all international teams, that we’re against the Victorian Police, just they never have a match like this.
So it definitely is going to, you know, we have like a strong relationship between the police and students.
Simon Stevens - Acting Superintendent, Victoria Police
[Vision: Simon speaking with students - Simon speaking - Simon speaking with students]
Communication is the key to pretty much anything, but especially communicating with such a rich and diverse group of students in a multi-language barrier issues, we just want to make sure they understand that Victoria Police, we are a community police force.
[Vision: Two police officers talking - Soccer players interacting with each other at end of game]
We’re just part of the community.
[Vision: Gerogina Jerums speaking - Soccer players shaking hands at end of game
Melbourne ranks as the third best student city in the world, and this soccer game helped remind us of that in a relaxed manner away from the lecture hall.
[THE VICTORIAN CONNECTION]
[For more news and stories go to The Victorian Connection - connection.vic.gov.au]
[STUDY MELBOURNE]
[VICTORIA State Government]
[Speaker: Authorised by Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne]
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