Community Connect - Queensland

Our Community Connect participants and families joined us for Round 1 of the 2026 AFL season. With the support from the Gold Coast SUNS we provided transport, ticketing, SUNS merchandise and AFL experiences for everyone to enjoy. The Gold Coast SUNS also further considered what it means to be culturally inclusive by providing prayer rooms, halal food vendors throughout the stadium and other initiatives such as translated match day programs for all to feel genuine connection to the evening.

Every Saturday afternoon we are running a free AFL Community Connect program for all to join in. All ages and level of experience are welcome, learn the basic fundamentals of AFL in a culturally safe and welcoming environment. Location: CJ Greenfields Time: 4.30pm – 5.30 pm Every Saturday

This year our Annual Iftar Dinner in partnership with the Bachar Houli Foundation was held at the Durack Campus of the Australian International Islamic College. A vibrant evening bringing all walks of life to break fast together, learn and celebrate our cultural differences as one community.

Every Thursday we come together with the Matu Community to deliver an all-girls AFL Community Connect Program. Come down and join us with no experience needed. A culturally safe and welcoming environment to come along to. Location: 3 Melissa Street, Marsden Time: 6.00pm Every Thursday evening

In partnership with the Bachar Houli Foundation we ran our Annual Primary Schools Cup Day at Yeronga with over 150 students taking part in the day. The objective of our day is to work closely alongside our Islamic faith schools to provide opportunity and accesssbility to footy. Alongside organised AFL Nines fixtures students and staff experienced inflatables, an all-girls umpiring workshop and the day rounded out with a boys and girls 100m dash. A great way to engage and connect with some of our newer participants of the game.

To kick off Multicultural Queensland Month, our team of supporting staff walked alongside Multicultural Australia delivering the 2026 Luminous Lantern Parade. This event has grown and evolved since 2007 and shares the significance of walking in solidarity alongside newly arrived refuges and asylum seekers. We are proud to support employment and programs from our multicultural communities, and this was an incredible evening enjoyed by many of staff and families.

Our Cultural Diversity team proudly look for avenues to employ and diversify our casual workforce with people from multicultural backgrounds. This year we joined the Multicultural Mailer Career Expo as an exhibitor to promote and share information on how you can become a ‘Game Development Officer’ for the AFL. With over 1500 attendees through the doors it was a fantastic day of engaging with students, school leavers, and new settlers to Australia seeking employment.

AFL Queensland joined Multicultural Community Council Gold Coast to activate and walk in support of the Luminous in the Regions Parade. This was a vibrant afternoon of activations, food stalls, cultural dance, and performances enjoyed by the community. We proudly delivered alongside the Gold Coast SUNS and with thousands of people showing up to walk later that evening it was a fantastic first-time for AFLQ to be involved.

Our Community Connect program participants and families joined us for the Brisbane Lions Cultural Heritage Series. We had over 100 people in attendance with more than 90 people experiencing their first ever AFL game Live. Our guests were able to take part in an incredible pre-game experience watching the Brisbane Lions warm up from the boundary line. These sorts of supported experiences give context to what our Community Connect programs are all about in helping people find their place within AFL and having the opportunity to love and engage with Australia’s great game.

AFL Queensland joined SSI and Multicultural Sports Club for the third year in a row at the 2026 World of Cultures Festival. Another fantastic opportunity for the AFL and Community Connect to have a presence amongst families and youth. We enjoyed some footy as always, shared cultural performances and food rounded out by fireworks and celebrations of an incredible Multicultural Queensland Month for 2026.