A new era of participation and inclusion in Australian sport is upon us.

Some of the biggest names in Australian sport will gather at the 2011 Sports Without Borders National Conference in a landmark event. 

Sports Without Borders is a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing support for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds who are involved or want to get involved in sport.

Sport is a major tool for promoting social inclusion and social cohesion. To recognise this, Sports Without Borders is bringing together sportspeople, sporting clubs, federal, state and local government, sports administrators and educators to learn the facts, hear the stories, and learn about new practices, to tackle the big issues and find best practice solutions. 

Women, Indigenous Australians, people of all abilities as well as those from newly arrived communities, will be officially welcomed and will be the focus of discussion.

Key speakers will include:

• Minister for Sport; Indigenous Employment and Economic Development; Social Housing and Homelessness, the Hon. Senator Mark Arbib
• Victorian Minister for Sport, the Hon. Hugh Delahunty
• Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon Kate Lundy
• Olympian and Australian swimming champion, Grant Hackett
• Sports Without Borders Chairman, James Demetriou
• Chief Executive Officer of Inclusion WA, Paul Fleay
• AFL National Community Engagement Manager, Jason Mifsud
• Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Carmel Guerra
• General Manager of the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASC) Sport Strategy and Participation division, Judy Flanagan
• Founder and ‘Mayor’ of Hootville Communications, Brett De Hoedt
• Chair of International Year for Volunteers +10 Advisory Group, Sue Vardon (A0)
• Journalist and writer, Martin Flanagan
• Co- founders of creative think tank, ProjectProject, Chris Gillard and Raef Akehurst.

General Manager of the ASC’s Sport Strategy and Participation division, Judy Flanagan said Sports Without Borders is playing a significant role in getting people from today’s multicultural society involved in sport. 

‘Sport has the power to unite communities, increase self esteem, create a sense of belonging and assist with general wellbeing and health,’ Flanagan said.

‘We need to make sure that we get it right and ensure that everyone receives a fair go.’

The Sports Without Borders National Conference will put discrimination, outreach and recruitment in the spotlight in order to decrease the number of people who do not have the opportunity to participate in Australian sport.

For further information please visit http://sportswithoutborders.org/events/