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Speech at FFA - UNICEF Australia Partnership Launch

I believe that sport can be unbelievably powerful - not just for keeping us active and healthy but it can also improve societies and communities, locally and globally.

Sport has the power to bring communities together. It has the power to boost our economies, our tourism and trade. It can educate us and teach us the value of team work.

And it has the power to help those most in need.
Today's announcement of a partnership between the Football Federation of Australia and UNICEF will be a first for both and it's a special privilege for me to be here to launch this initiative as I feel as Minister for both Sport and Youth it is a perfect fit for both my portfolio responsibilities.

In many ways UNICEF and football are natural partners.
Both are global in reach, both are dedicated to improving the lives of the world's youth and both believe football is a great way to do just that.

Football has a history of helping those most in need and is this partnership is another great example of the world game's capacity to do this

The FFA will be in good global company as a partner of UNICEF.
It already has a partnership with FIFA since back in 2001, and many Football superstars such as David Beckham and our own Harry Kewell are also UNICEF goodwill ambassadors.

So with many FIFA representatives joining us in Australia currently for the World Congress I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate FIFA on its leadership in the field of corporate responsibility and how it uses the world's most popular game to improves the lives of many right around the world.

One example of this was the launch last year of the Goals for Girls! program to use the international appeal of football as a platform for a global campaign to contribute to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls. The campaign will promote education for girls and child-friendly schools as the most effective approaches to achieving this end.

In partnering with UNICEF, the FFA of course partner with the world's leading advocate for children. And whilst UNICEF have operated in Australia since the early 1960s I understand this is the first time that they have signed up a sporting partner.

UNICEF specialise in critical issues of child poverty and issues of basic healthcare, primary education and child protection.

They work with government and partners in 155 countries to improve the lives of children. In many countries UNICEF uses sport-based programs to improve children's lives and to strengthen communities.

The Federal Government is a great supporter of UNICEF in Australia and our commitment to UNICEF has grown to core funding this year of $14.5 million as we too search for new and better ways to work together.

Equally we note that Frank Lowy and the FFA have revitalised the sport of football in Australia. They deserve all our thanks for their unstinting hard work in ensuring football has become a more dominant player on the Australian sporting landscape than it has ever been before.

As I noted in Parliament yesterday the growth of football in Australia is extraordinary - a 22% increase in registered players over just 5 years.

Our Government are very keen to assist the amazing transformation of the sport and as you may know allocated $32 million in the recent budget to do this

We are very happy to support both of these organisations. we are particularly happy in supporting the continued growth of football in this country and welcome the fact that as a result of this partnership it will bring much needed assistance for the most vulnerable children on the planet.

On behalf of myself, the Prime Minister and the Australian Government I congratulate and thank you for ensuing that football in Australia truly helps to make the world a better place.

ENDS

THE HON KATE ELLIS MP

MINISTER FOR SPORT

Wednesday 28 May 2008

Football Federation Australia/UNICEF Australia partnership launch

Museum of Contemporary Arts

Sydney

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