A new hockey program in Toowoomba is helping foster that sense of community and connection that’s so integral to the wellbeing of Yazidi refugees. It provides them an opportunity to engage with the sport and become part of Australian culture. This program is jointly operated by Hockey Australia and the Toowoomba Hockey Association. It empowers migrants to develop connections with their peers, increasing their English fluency and confidence.
Asmhan Kankah, one of the Arabic teachers in the program, is living abroad for the first time. She expresses the challenges of adapting to a new environment, saying, “I don’t know the speaking, I don’t know anybody, difficult, first time living in a different country. Like when I go to hockey, like we make a friend and trying together and talking together and we are running together, everything is together.”
Alluvia Ameerah Silo, 21, who arrived in Australia in 2023, feels the same way. She shares how she has been able to gain English language proficiency and connect with new friends through playing hockey. “Hockey has helped us Yazidis to be happier, and that’s what I like about it most,” Asmhan adds.
Jessie McCartney, current manager of the Toowoomba Hockey Association, manages the program every Friday. And she knows it’s important to set up a really supportive environment, especially since many participants start out feeling nervous and alone. “We knew that when they first came that they would be nervous and their English language was still developing and they had never played the sport before,” she explains. “It was really important that we had a very nurturing environment that was just about building connections with people.”
Local volunteers Karen and Geoff Murdoch help drive Ameerah to practice and work with her on the field. The United Nations staff tell me how pleased they are to witness the Yazidi community increasingly interact with the locals. “We felt these kids deserve to have people welcome them into their circle,” Karen states. “I think they have come out here and they have found their group.”
In addition to inspiring confidence amongst the Yazidi refugees, the program has been key in positioning some of the refugees to find jobs themselves. Geoff shares his thoughts on how his perception of the refugees’ experience has changed. “I really had no idea of what they were going through,” he acknowledges. “We have done quite a bit of research on it and you get a much better understanding of what they’ve been through.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2021 census data, Toowoomba has Australia’s largest proportion of Yazidi residents. Additionally, the hockey program provides a developmentally appropriate recreational activity. It is equally an important and compelling tool to counter and disrupt stereotypes and myths about refugees. Karen believes that everyone involved has benefitted from this interaction: “The program has made me feel younger.”
