She’s worked at the GIANTS as an accountant in their finance team for over three years but Amira Yusufu has found something beyond spreadsheets and reporting – she’s found a sense of belonging at a club she describes as family-like and deeply inclusive. 

While proudly calling Sydney home since 2012, Amira’s story begins far from the Harbour City. 

Amira is Uyghur, a Turkic ethnic group from northwest China. 

“I’m of Uyghur background,” she explained.  

“I grew up in my homeland, in the city of Kashgar. It’s a beautiful place.” 

Her early schooling was conducted in her native Uyghur language. Subjects like maths and science were taught in her mother tongue before moving to Beijing for university where she had to learn Mandarin to study her degree.  

In 2012 Amira made the monumental decision to uproot her life and move to Australia with her husband, joining her younger brother who had arrived earlier as an international student and completed high school in Sydney. 

“At first I only knew my brother.  

“We came for holidays and then we said, no, this is our place. 

“I feel like Australia is kind of a comfort zone.  

“We ended up building our family here.” 

While she proudly calls Australia home, for Amira, being Uyghur is who she is. 

“It’s my identity. I’m so proud of who I am.” 

Now a mother of two – with an 11-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter - Amira has raised her children in Australia but is still firmly focused on passing on the Uyghur language and culture at home. 

“They know their culture,” she said.  

“They are learning the language. 

“They are like sponges. They pick it up quickly.” 

One of the most important parts of maintaining and teaching their culture is a Sunday community language school run from the Casula Public School facilities. 

Every weekend, children from Uyghur families come together to learn language, culture, music, and dance. 

The program focuses on teaching Uyghur language to children born in Australia who may not otherwise have strong ties to their heritage. 

“It’s a community language school,” she said. 

“We run it every Sunday. 

“We add dancing class for girls, soccer for boys, we just try to make it fun,” she said. 

“Everyone loved it because of the soccer.” 

As someone so proud of her culture, Amira is a huge advocate for events like the GIANTS’ upcoming Cultural Heritage series celebration on Saturday in which the club will host a multicultural festival prior to the game.  

“Especially where we're based in Sydney, it's so diverse,” she said.  

“When you go to different suburbs you see all different cultures and I really like it. 

“The Cultural Heritage game is representing everyone in the same space, welcoming them and sharing culture and experiences.”  

Amira’s connection to culture is something she feels she can proudly wear on her sleeves at the GIANTS.  

“At the club it’s like a family,” she said. 

“Everyone being together.” 

She often uses her role as a bridge between communities, bringing families from her language school to GIANTS games and events. 

“I’m not Amira, I’m Ibrahim’s Mum from the GIANTS,” she said with a laugh. 

Her involvement has helped bring children from her community into AFL experiences for the first time. 

The club’s Cultural Heritage initiatives, in particular, have created meaningful moments. 

Last year, students from the language school performed cultural dances at a GIANTS game. 

“They still talk about it, and how happy they were.” 

For many of the children, AFL was completely new. 

“In my culture, boys love soccer and girls love dancing,” she said.  

“But when they saw the GIANTS game and they were obsessed.” 

Her own introduction to Australian Rules Football came after arriving in Australia. 

“I had zero knowledge. But now I’m into it.” 

With a background shaped by soccer culture, AFL was unfamiliar at first but has become part of her life through work, community, and family. 

“For me it’s a new sport. But now it’s strong connection. 

“Even if you are different language, different culture, you sit together. 

“Sports just bring people together,” she said.  

From Kashgar to Sydney, from Uyghur classrooms to AFL stadiums, her journey is one of adaptation without letting go of who she is.  

Through every move, every new experience and every community she's joined, one thing has remained constant. 

“It’s my identity,” she said again.