Thirty-two people from 15 different countries were welcomed as new Australians in a citizenship ceremony at Visy Park on Friday.

The ceremony was part of Carlton Football Club’s Multicultural Program designed to help newly arrived migrants, refugee and multicultural communities integrate into Australia through our unique game, AFL.

The ceremony was conducted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), together with the Carlton Football Club and was the final step for the 32 people to become Australian Citizens.

Jose Alvarez, the DIAC State Director, and Carlton CEO Greg Swann, welcomed our new citizens who all affirmed their loyalty and commitment to Australia, expressing their support for the values and principles that underpin their citizenship.



Through the Carlton Football Club Community Fund the Carlton Football Club encourages community strengthening and inclusion within the wider Australian community. The Fund is dedicated to further social inclusion and helping create opportunities for the wider community and the citizenship ceremony is an example of using the Australian game and Visy Park to assist in achieving the key objectives of the program.

Becoming an Australian Citizen is a big commitment and having the ceremony at Visy Park, the home of the Carlton Football Club, adds to the true Australian feeling of the important decision our new citizens have made.