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Facilities and Access
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse People

 

Australia has a diverse population which is reflected in both elite and grassroots sport. A great example is the sport of football (soccer) which has a long history of participation by people who migrated to Australia from many countries around the world.

While many sporting environments may already reflect our diverse community there are still many opportunities to improve accessibility that every sport organisation in Victoria should consider. Ensuring that facilities are accessible, your communications are accessible and that barriers around the cost and location of programs are minimised is something that every sport organisation should continue to focus on. This will not only make your sport more accessible to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds – it will help you sport to be accessible to everyone.

If your organisation is working with culturally and linguistically diverse people, including newly arrived migrants or refugees, there are a few things you should consider in accessing programs:

  • Is the cost of your programs, membership or competition fees a barrier to some people?
  • Is transport a barrier and is there an opportunity for you to conduct activities in various locations which make it easier for people to attend?
  • Do you have equipment for people to borrow so they can try your sport?

These points are expanded upon in the Activities and Programs page below. Another consideration is whether cultural differences create a barrier that you may not be aware of without speaking to the local community.

In Australia the bedrock of local sport participation and administration is clubs and associations. Most are traditionally run by volunteers. Yet in many countries where migrants and refugees originate from, the way sport is delivered is likely to be different. Therefore, don’t assume that newly arrived people understand that way clubs operate. People from diverse backgrounds may be uncertain about approaching a club because of fears of racism or lack of familiarity with the environment.

While the barriers mentioned above are commonly referred to in research and feedback from State Sporting Associations, each community is different and has different needs. Your organisation will benefit by getting to know your local community and consulting with community leaders. If you aim to offer opportunities to a specific group – such as newly arrive people from the same country – then try to speak to them directly so that you understand the barriers they face and the benefits they are seeking. This allows you to tailor you programs to meet their needs. Community leaders may include the leaders of local community support organisations, leaders of migrant and refugee support organisations, leaders of religious institutions, or prominent members of migrant communities.

It is important to ensure you sport’s facilities are accessible to everyone by using Universal Design principles to guide the design of new facilities or upgrades to existing facilities. This is common practice that is supported by both Local Government Authorities and the State Government. Through the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund, Sport and Recreation Victoria provides funding to Local Government Authorities and sports clubs to develop and design facilities, and every project must incorporate Universal Design principles.

While all 7 principles are designed to make facilities accessible to everyone, there are a few principles that specifically assist in creating accessible environments for people from non-English speaking backgrounds:

  • Simple & Intuitive. The use of a design or program should be easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills or current concentration levels.
  • Flexibility in Use. The design of facilities and programs should accommodate a wide range individual preferences or abilities.
  • Perceptible Information. The design or program communicates the necessary information effectively to the participant, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

For more information about Universal Design principles, click here to view an infographic developed by Vicsport and the State Government of Victoria.

Remember, Universal Design means designing for everyone!

Sport and Recreation Victoria has some useful resources to assist your organisation, including their Design For Everyone Guide, and their guide for accessible signage and wayfinding.

Funding for facility design and improvements can be accessed through National or State Sporting Associations, local councils and the Victorian Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.

To enable greater participation by people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, activities and programs should be made accessible. This means breaking down common barriers associated with equipment, costs and transport.

It also means thinking about the nature of your sport and how you can design or modify activities to make them more accessible to people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Some things you might like to consider include:

  • Flexible program delivery. Consider the timing and location of programs and how making small adaptations could assist some people to participate. If you consult with the local community, you can find out if there are any cultural or religious events or activities that would take priority over sporting participation. At the same, cultural or religious festivals could provide an opportunity for your organisation to get involved and provide program demonstrations or come n try activities. Using non-traditional spaces, that are commonly used by local communities, is something that many sport organisations are doing to make their sport more accessible to everyone.
  • Uniforms. In some cultures, women and girls’ dress codes are modest. A flexible uniform policy allows appropriate dress codes for multiple cultural and religious beliefs.
  • Support for clubs. Many sport clubs want to increase their membership and include more people from the local community but don’t have the resources to do so. If National or State Sporting Associations can provide financial assistance or incentives, this will help clubs to take proactive steps to be more inclusive. Local councils also provide community grants which can assist in this area.
Breaking Down Barriers 

There a few common barriers to participation which people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may face. Helping to address these barriers will make your sport more accessible and allow more people to participate.

Cost

Your organisation can help people participate by reducing costs and/or offering financial assistance where possible. This may be enabled by a grant you receive from the State Government, your local council, or your State Sporting Association or other community grant sources. It is very important to ensure you are equal in your approach. Financial assistance should be available for those who need it. A universal approach to providing financial support means there is less chance of stigmatising particular groups or individuals and ensures a greater take up of support from those who would otherwise not participate due to financial barriers. You might also consider providing variable fee structures for different activities, or staggered payments for memberships, thereby providing greater flexibility for interested participants.

Location and Transport

Consider how your organisation can offer programs and activities outside of your traditional environment or facility – especially if your sport is based within a fixed geographical location (such as football / netball clubs). Some options you could consider are:

  • Running programs in local parks.
  • Running programs in central locations near shopping centres, schools, community organisations or central shopping districts.
  • Partnering with community organisations to provide transport for people to get to and from your club.
  • Offering an accessible version of your sport, which could include existing modified programs or basic skills and introductory sessions.

There are many great examples of the work that Victorian sports clubs have done to break down barriers for people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Here are a few examples provided by the Centre for Multicultural Youth:

Case Study

Tennis Victoria’s Accessible Community Equality (ACE) program

During the State Sporting Association Participation Program, Tennis Victoria created the ACE program which provided funding to tennis clubs to deliver inclusive actions and initiatives to develop their culture and inclusive practices with a focus on culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Tennis Victoria’s approach is to allow clubs to volunteer to participate in the program, thereby ensuring that participating clubs have the motivation to deliver successful initiatives.

Sport organisations use many forms of communication to promote and deliver sporting opportunities. This includes written and visual communication on websites, in emails and social media. It also includes face to face communication.

Therefore, it is important that your organisation works to ensure all formats of communication are accessible to everyone. This might mean providing translated resources on your website, connecting with the national Translation and Interpreting Service when necessary, providing communications in Easy English, using diverse imagery and helping your volunteers and coaches with simple communication techniques.

There are several resources which can help your organisation with creating accessible communications in your sport.