Mel Corney, Kevin Quinn and Sarah Edwards show off the CricKids resources at the
By Lia Bichel
MORE than 800 Casey students are to be taught about cricket in order to learn Australian sport and culture.
Year 7 students will learn leadership skills, respect, fair play and equality while improving their literacy.
Endeavour Hills and Fountain Gate Eumemmerring College, Hampton Park Secondary College and Cranbourne Secondary College received student handbooks for the CricKids: Playing in Harmony program from Onside Victoria and City of Casey on Tuesday.
PR and communications manager for OnSide Victoria Sam Bonwick said the schools were chosen because of their high level of multicultural students.
“Each school has diverse cultures. In the Year 7 Endeavour Hill class, there are 60 different nationalities and those students speak a total of 40 different languages.”
Mr Bonwick said the program uses sport because of its ability to engage and connect young people and the wider community.
Victoria Spirit Women’s Cricket captain and project manager Sarah Edwards said OnSide Victoria was providing the schools with a valuable education experience.
“CricKids: Playing in Harmony resources are colourful, fun, and engaging,” she said. “These schools wouldn’t normally be able to afford this type of program.”
Running alongside the CricKids program will be come and try sports days, leadership training for students, and cultural awareness clinics for sports clubs.
The program will run for four years. Mr Bonwick said he hoped at the end of it the students would have developed leadership skills and an increased knowledge of Australian culture.
“An enjoyment and understanding of sport in this country can lead to a greater enjoyment and understanding of Australian life in general within CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities,” he said.
