Indigenous & CALD Access
Indigeneous Communities
Although the overall participation rate in physical activity among our indigenous population is less than half that of the non-indigenous population, involvement in sport and recreation is an integral part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life and serves as an opportunity for cultural survival and revival.
Some of the benefits sport and recreation programs offer indigenous communities include; a very significant and positive-contribution to long-term health; a cost effective method to help combat substance abuse, cardiac disease, diabetes and obesity; a considerable impact on mental health disorders; and an effective element in diversionary schemes for youth. In addition, sport often provides the first opportunity for shared experiences between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians and for recognition of indigenous achievement.
CALD Communities
The Australian community is one of the most diverse in the world. With continued growth it has been acknowledged in order for migration to be successful in both policy and practice, the settlement policy for migrants need to provide opportunities to not only adjust to Australian life but for migrants to become active and vital participants in the community. Opportunities for newly arrived young people to participate in social and recreational activities with their peers are therefore critically important. Sporting activities have been recognised as a vehicle through which migrant and refugee young people can rebuild supportive relationships and a sense of identity in their new country.
Despite the proven benefits however, migrants are still underrepresented in measures of participation in sport and recreational activities. The ABS reports variation in participation rates among different migrant groups, ranging from 67.4% in people born in North-West Europe to just 31.2% in those who listed their country of birth as North Africa and the Middle East. Females from those countries had a participation rate of less than 20%.
Providing access opportunities for Indigeneous and CALD communities should be an important consideration for any sport or active recreation organisation.
Included below is information to help sport and active recreation clubs and organisations better understand some of the issues around Indigeneous and CALD access.
Click on the relevant links below to view and download documents.
Related Websites
Victorian Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation
www.vaysar.com
Centre for Mutli Cultural Youth
www.cmyi.net.au/
Ethnic Communities Council Victoria (ECCV)
www.eccv.org.au
Refugee Council of Australia
www.refugeecouncil.org.au
Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic)
www.yacvic.org.au