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OnSide Victoria engages Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities and other disadvantaged groups by providing a variety of sport and recreation opportunities for all.
Together with Victoria Police, the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and other key stakeholders, OnSide Victoria is able to identify and address the wider concerns of the communities.
While sport provides an avenue for integration, it also assists with the overall health and wellbeing of the community by improving self esteem, leadership skills and fitness levels and reducing at-risk behaviour.
OnSide Victoria:
• Works with key partners to develop dynamic and innovative programs and resources that can be utilised throughout Australia by the education sector, State Sporting Organisations and Local Government.
• Provides opportunities for CALD communities to engage in decision making processes and assist them in working with other stakeholders such as the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, Victoria Police and Migrant Resource Centres.
• OnSide Victoria assists newly arrived and refugee communities in tackling the cultural, language and practical barriers they face on a daily basis such as:
- Cost of equipment, uniforms and registration fees
- Lack of sporting facilities and opportunities
- Lack of coaching clinics and mentors
- Lack of transport
- Lack of understanding of Australian sporting culture
- Intergenerational conflict
Our Vision Statement
Working together with our partners, OnSide Victoria will improve, enhance and empower the lives in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
OnSide Victoria’s guiding principles will be meaningful integration, sustainability and collaboration.
History of OnSide Soccer / OnSide Victoria
OnSide Soccer was established following the success of the ‘Kick Start’ program organised and conducted by Victoria Police, the Victorian Magistrates Court and the Collingwood Football Club. This program resulted in over 5000 disadvantaged young men and women and their parents or carers attending AFL matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
OnSide Soccer began in 2001, by a group of dedicated volunteers from the Victorian Magistrates’ Court, Victoria Police, the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, WISE employment, Football Federation Victoria, legal practitioners and Local Government Authorities.
At the 2006 Annual General Meeting, the Chairman of OnSide Soccer resigned and a new Board was elected. The decision was made by both the previous and incoming committee members that the organisation should transition in to a multisport domain to better reflect the needs of the wider community.
As a result of a serious of strategic planning sessions and the development of the operational plan, the name ‘Onside Victoria’ was introduced and ratified to truly represent the organisation as the demand for a multitude of sports grows.
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