PRESS RELEASE – Shinpads & Hijabs Launch

On Wednesday more than 100 female students from the Islamic College of Brisbane at Karawatha will
participate in small sided football games as part of a brand new program to hit Queensland - Football United.
Football United, a grass roots community program based out of the University of New South Wales in Sydney,
already has great tenure in New South Wales having been delivered for over four years and engaging more than
2,500 young people from refugee backgrounds in organized football competitions in and around Western
Sydney. The program is endorsed internationally by FIFA and nationally by the Football Federation of Australia
and Football New South Wales.
A similar story is beginning to be told in South East Queensland, with a number of partners on board to assist in
the delivery of the Shinpads & Hijabs program, including Football Queensland, Brisbane Roar Football Club
and the Australian Sports Commission.
Shinpads & Hijabs is funded through Multicultural Affairs Queensland in the Department of Communities and
National Action Plan funding from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and run by through its local
partner Q-Connect.
The program, which will focus on empowering Muslim women to coach and deliver their own football games
already has six local female Muslim community representatives signed on as volunteer coaches and will be
coordinated by football enthusiast and Young Queenslander of the Year 2010, Yassmin Abdel-Magied. In
addition the program will build links between the Islamic College of Brisbane and other local education
Centres, by providing footballing opportunities to girls from other institutions, hosted at the ICB.
Inspiration and mentoring will be provided by Queensland W – League club Brisbane Roar Westfield W-League
players as part of the club’s ongoing commitment to cultural diversity through the Queensland Roars Against
Racism partnership.
Islamic College of Brisbane Principal, Dr Mubarak Noor said the female student body was looking forward to
the opportunity to learn more about football and to participate in a safe and culturally sensitive environment.
“Sports and recreational activities in Australia are not always inclusive to the needs of young women from
diverse backgrounds, and many barriers exist that limit opportunities for young Muslim women in participate
in organised sport activities”
Dr Noor said he was delighted that a number of female community leaders from within the local Muslim
community had volunteered to participate in the program as coaches.
“Having women from within our own community develop the skills necessary to coach our young women is a
great step towards increasing the number of girls who play organised sport. Equally the commitment of the
project partners such as Football Queensland and Brisbane Roar FC working to address participation barriers
will result in positive outcomes all round,” he said.
Wednesday’s games will include an official launch with Brisbane Roar FC players, Government representatives
and other dignitaries with the full program set to kick off next Wednesday, 4 August 2010.
Media information only:
The launch event runs from 1.30pm to 3pm at the Islamic College of Brisbane, 45 Acacia Road,
Karawatha. Photo and other media opportunities featuring students from the school can be arranged
at the event. Please register to nejla@q-connect.com.au if you intend on being at the school. Media
contact on the day will be Angie Spencer.
Media Contacts:
Football United: Angie Spencer 0433 027 107
Brisbane Roar FC: Daniel Lato 0438 830 201