The program offers 16–24-year-olds the opportunity to volunteer within the club, delivering community programs and match day activations across the season. Successful applicants learn valuable skills in sport management, event management and community engagement. Past program graduates have gone onto ongoing employment roles within the Melbourne City club or have used their experience to work within other sporting organisations. Head of Community at Melbourne City, Sunil Menon is proud of the program’s ability to impact the lives of young women and men.

“We use football to build connections and relationships and to talk to young people about things like education, employment, wellbeing and gender equity,” Sunil said.

“We look to empower lives through football, looking to uplift physical and mental health through the game. We celebrate to know we're helping young people get a step up into employment.”

Melbourne City FC shares a connection with Premier League powerhouse Manchester City through their mutual ownership. This connection provides program participants the opportunity to travel overseas and spend time at an international club, learning and connecting with Young Leaders from all over the world. Program graduate, Josie Mirachi used her Manchester experience to improve her skills and has gone on to mentor current participants in her role as Community Program and Event Coordinator at Melbourne City FC.

“I had the opportunity to see what the other young leaders in other countries are doing and learn from them,” Josie said.

“We also learned a lot from the coaches over in Manchester. To be able to take all that knowledge and bring it back here and then help educate the others in our city is cool.”

Fellow alumni and now Football Operations Coordinator at Melbourne City, Anthony Mercuri says the program was life changing, opening his eyes to the power of sport to break down barriers and connect people from all walks of life.

“The coolest part was working with newly arrived refugees to Australia who couldn’t speak English. it's a bit cliche, but together we spoke the language of football,” Anthony said.

“The program gave me a different perspective on life and what sport can do to connect the community.”

The Young Leaders program is testament to the power of sport and sport volunteers to impact community. For more information about the program, visit Young Leaders - Melbourne City (melbournecityfc.com.au).