Role of sport

Sport can be a positive vehicle for community and cultural connectedness and individual education, health, social, emotional wellbeing, and life skills.
Sport can play a positive role in increasing physical activity participation and improving broader health, wellbeing, and community outcomes for First Nations people. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 62, 63
Most frequently sport is cited as a positive vehicle for community and cultural connectedness, as well as improving individual education, health, social and emotional wellbeing, and life skills. Evidence can also be seen for positive impact in increasing school/training/work attendance and reducing crime. 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 61, 62, 63, 64
Despite the potential positives, research highlights various areas that can be improved in programs for First Nations audiences, such as:
Improving consultation, communication, and effective co-operation with First Nations communities and other service providers. 15, 18, 19, 20
More evidence-based, collaborative research and robust evaluation of programs using sport for both sport participation and non-sport outcomes. 10, 16, 21, 22, 61
Recognising that sport is not a ‘cure-all’. 14, 23, 24, 25
Creating programs that focus on increasing First Nations women and girls’ physical activity and improving athlete/junior pathways. 15
Developing and promoting First Nations coaches, umpires, health workers, administrators, and role models at both community and elite levels. 20, 26, 27, 28
While the value of sport in promoting and encouraging healthy behaviours and communities is well recognised, without some of these improvements sport can also have a negative impact on individuals and communities. 27, 29
"The success of sports programs can be reliant upon strong partnerships fostered between Government, sporting bodies and the corporate sector…the benefits gained from sport were more than about simply increasing Indigenous participation in sport – it was about engaging the local community as a whole. Community involvement included encouraging Indigenous people to become involved in the administration, umpiring and coaching positions in addition to playing sport." 3
Janelle Saffin, Chair, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs report committee, "Sport - More Than Just a Game". (2013)
Resources and reading
Indigenous Marathon Project runners shed light on health of First Nations people as they train for New York Marathon, opens in a new tab, Anthea Moodie, ABC, (13 May 2024). Yorta Yorta man Koolyn Briggs is training almost every day for the New York Marathon as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project. But his lifestyle hasn't always been this healthy. "Eight years ago, I was 130 kilos," he said. "I was drinking five, six times a week, I wasn't eating healthy, I wasn't working out." The Melbourne electrician said he had a lot of mental health problems that "led him astray". "I didn't really have many other good influences in my life, and I didn't have any platforms like this [Indigenous Marathon Project] to engage in," he said.
Remote footy players take on tough conditions at Martu Youth Festival as West Coast Eagles scouts watch on, opens in a new tab, Jesmine Cheong and Eddie Williams, ABC Pilbara, (15 July 2023). Ms Badal is one of about 700 people who've travelled long distances on remote bush tracks to Punmu, for the Martu Youth Festival — a major event in Western Australia's Western Desert, celebrating sport, music and culture.
Peris hails sport as equaliser for Indigenous people, opens in a new tab, William Ton, Australian Associated Press/The Leader, (1 June 2023). Olympic champion Nova Peris has hailed sport as the great equaliser, recounting how as a young Indigenous girl it gave her the inspiration to dream when there was nothing else.
Games changers, opens in a new tab, Domini Stuart, Australian Institute of Company Directors, (1 September 2022). With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as a long-term goal, the Indigenous Advisory Committee is building opportunities for increased inclusion and participation of First Nations Olympians. A total of 4315 athletes have represented Australia at a modern Olympic Games. Just 60 are known to be First Nations people — and Patrick Johnson is one of the few. A proud Kaanju man, he was the first Australian to break 10 seconds for the 100 metres (9.93) — a national record that still stands — and represented Australia at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Johnson feels the Olympic Games has the potential to bring the country together by advocating equity, better health services, social justice, economic sustainability, innovation and a fair go for all. “My personal vision is that the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the Olympic movement in Australia can embrace and walk together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through increased understanding and recognition of our cultures, histories, knowledge and rights.”
Indigenous students’ views on AFL, rugby, opens in a new tab, MCERA/Flinders University, (25 October 2020). Playing football or rugby gives Indigenous students a chance to “feel proud” of their culture and people, a national study has found. The students said the sports were fun, enabled them to express their culture, provided them with support, and helped them connect with their families and communities. The 12 students came from several different mobs (Aboriginal cultural groups), five different high schools and one college.
The numbers highlighting Indigenous players' immense impact on Australian rules football, opens in a new tab, Cody Atkinson and Sean Lawson, ABC News, (20 August 2020). While some insist that sport and social issues should be kept separate, football has often been the stage where Indigenous leaders have found their voice, including the likes of Sir Doug Nicholls and Adam Goodes. The colossal impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander footballers is difficult to put in words. So, on the eve of this year's Indigenous Round, let's delve into some of the numbers that illustrate their contributions. 87 Indigenous Australians are currently on AFL lists — which is about 11 per cent of the entire playing cohort. 22 Indigenous players during this year's AFLW season, or 5 per cent of the competition.
There's only been one Indigenous umpire in VFL or AFL football: Glenn James. James umpired the 1982 and 1984 VFL Grand Finals.
2 per cent - the number of Indigenous coaches in the AFL system badly trails the participation rate of players. There have only been two Indigenous senior coaches in the VFL/AFL, and none since 1984 — when Barry Cable left North Melbourne.
Are sports programs closing the gap in Indigenous communities? The evidence is limited, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, John Evans, Rachel Wilson, The Conversation, (18 July 2019). To better understand the impact sport can have on Indigenous communities and how government investment could be better targeted, we undertook a review of 20 Australian studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2003 and 2018. Our review found some evidence that sport and physical activity increases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school attendance, improves self-esteem, and can enhance cultural connectedness, values and identity. But the studies were inconclusive on whether sport and physical activity can have longer-term benefits, such as improving educational or employment outcomes or reducing crime.
Sport’s important role in helping to Close the Gap, opens in a new tab. Dr Paul Oliver, Oliver and Thompson Consultancy, LinkedIn, (19 February 2016). The concept of sport as a tool to contribute to Close the Gap building blocks and targets is rooted in recognition that sport has unique attributes that enable it to contribute to community development goals. Sport’s universal popularity; its ability to connect people with communities; its capacity and reach as a communication platform; and its potential to empower, motivate and inspire make it a development tool that can be used to contribute to any number of objectives.
A new game, opens in a new tab. Stuart Rintoul, The Age, (17 May 2014). Racial tension between Aboriginal and African youths in Darwin has been quelled by a shared love of sport.
Physical activity and the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people, opens in a new tab, Macniven R, Tishler X, McKeon G, et al., Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, catalogue number IMH 021, (December 2023). Summarises existing evidence on the relationship between physical activity and First Nations SEWB. It describes the policy context and actions, as well as program approaches implemented with First Nations adults and children in Australia. It takes the form of a scoping review of academic research and grey literature, including governmental reports and policy documents. The article focuses on the strengths of First Nations people’s experiences and knowledge and concludes with a summary of the key messages from this report that are essential for understanding First Nations physical activity participation and SEWB. Includes summaries of several programs and initiatives that use sport as a vehicle for engagement in physical activity including Deadly Choices; Dead or Deadly; Traditional Indigenous Games (TIG) Program; Community surfing programs; Indigenous Marathon Program (IMP); Fitzroy Stars Football Club; Sport-Based Youth Mentoring Program; ‘Strong Men’: Aboriginal community development of a cardiovascular exercise and health education program; Sport and Active Recreation Program in an Indigenous Men’s Shed.
Youth Survey 2023, opens in a new tab, McHale, R., Brennan, N., Freeburn, T., et al., Mission Australia, (2023). The Mission Australia 2023 Youth Survey was completed by 19,501 young people aged 15-19 years from across the country. Young people were engaged via schools, local governments, community and service organisations, and through Mission Australia services. The survey was also available on the Mission Australia website, promoted via social media, and distributed to peak bodies, local governments, and community managed organisations. Some key findings include: Regardless of the type of challenge, a larger proportion of females than males mentioned that they found support from their teachers or professional supports, while a larger proportion of males than females mentioned the positive benefits of physical activity. Meanwhile, a higher proportion of gender diverse young people than females and males reported that nothing helped. Many young people said they turned to their friends and family to help them with their mental health challenges. They also listened to music or did physical activity when they were struggling with mental health issues. “Going to the gym and exercising. Playing football and going out bush for hunting, fishing and camping out on country.” Male, 17, NT
For First Nations people the top activities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people were involved in during the last year were sports (as a participant) (58.7%), sports (as a spectator) (44.8%) and volunteer work (34.1%).A higher proportion of males involved in sports (as a participant) (65.9% compared to 54.3%) and sports (as a spectator) (53.1% compared to 37.8%), while a greater proportion of females than males were involved in volunteer work (29.6% males compared to 39.7% females).
First Nations young people, both males and females, were less likely to participate in sport (as a participant or spectator) and to volunteer than non-Indigenous youth.
Do Better - Independent review into Collingwood Football Club’s responses to Incidents of Racism and Cultural Safety in the Workplace, opens in a new tab, UTS for Collingwood Football Club, (2021). The Report is an independent review that challenges Collingwood to take a leadership position in Australian sport by confronting racism. It also urges Collingwood to use its past to inform its future and to drive change in our game and, more broadly, our nation. These challenges Collingwood accepts without qualification. The club has adopted all 18 recommendations in the REPORT and has begun the process of implementing them. Full Report, opens in a new tab.
Racial Equality Review of Basketball Australia, opens in a new tab, Australian Human Rights Commission, (2021). In August 2020, the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) was engaged by Basketball Australia to undertake an independent Racial Equality Review (‘the Review’) of the sport at a national level. In conducting the Review, the Commission sought to engage with current and former national players and their families, coaches, administrators, and Basketball Australia staff by way of interviews, focus groups and written submissions. The Commission also undertook a ‘desktop audit’ of Basketball Australia’s relevant policies and procedures. The purpose of this engagement and audit was to examine and report on: Existing structural barriers to achieving racial equality within organisational policies, pathways, programs, leagues, governance, and culture within Basketball Australia; and, The experiences of current and former national players and their families, coaches, administrators, and Basketball Australia staff about the organisational culture at Basketball Australia, in particular as it relates to racial equality. This report outlines the Commission’s key findings, highlights international and domestic examples of good practice, and makes 12 recommendations for action and reform under three focus areas, including establishing targets to diversify Board membership and recruitment, embedding racial equality in all policies and education; delivering regular anti-racism and cultural awareness training; and improving opportunities and pathways for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander national players and national players from racial, ethnic, and/or ethno-religious minority groups to progress through the sport on and off the court. BA commit to addressing racial equality following independent review, opens in a new tab, Basketball Australia, (19 March 2021).
Football's Indigenous Engagement: State of Play, opens in a new tab, Professional Footballers Australia on behalf of John Moriarty Football, (November 2018). Engagement between the major sporting codes and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians provides a significant opportunity for mutual benefit. This report benchmarks the progress being made by sporting codes to highlight football’s missed opportunity and to call for a reignition of football’s Indigenous engagement. Engagement between the major sports and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians provides a significant opportunity for mutual benefit. For sports, there is a pool of talent to be tapped, and a community of potential supporters to be embraced. For Indigenous communities, sport has the power to enhance social, education and health outcomes, and provide a pathway to rewarding professional careers, in turn developing inspirational role models.
Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage Report 2020, opens in a new tab, (3 December 2020). This is the eighth report in the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage (OID) series. The information in this report provides a high level view of the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It identifies where progress is being made and draws attention to where more work is needed. Section 5.7 highlights some of the key data, outcomes, and areas for future research relating to sport and physical activity participation by Indigenous Australians.Participation in sport and recreational activities has beneficial effects on individuals, and contributes to community cohesion. About two in three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 3 years or over participated in sporting and physical recreation activities in 2014-15.
Playing in, or training for, organised sport was more common for Australian children overall than for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and this pattern is observed across all remoteness areas other than major cities.
Little research was found on facilitators for, and barriers to, improving participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in community activities. More research may be necessary to address this gap, and would contribute to building effective strategies into program design.
Indigenous Australians' Participation in Sports and Physical Activities: Part 2, Qualitative research, ORC International for the Australian Sports Commission, (March 2018). The research affirms the central role of sport and physical activity within Indigenous communities and the importance of sporting clubs and organisations to facilitate these opportunities. Increasing participation and overcoming barriers to sports and physical activities, for both adults and children was a priority amongst Indigenous people. The encouragement and facilitation of physically active traditional cultural practices can drive engagement and participation amongst Indigenous people of all ages – this was particularly evident in remote locations. Recommendations include ensuring that programs are culturally inclusive and respectful of Indigenous people, reducing costs, and increasing opportunities which are available within remote and some regional areas. While many issues related to sporting infrastructure, public transport and economic factors are beyond the remit of sporting clubs to solve, clubs can take some practical measures to improve participation amongst Indigenous Australians.
The Indigenous Marathon Foundation Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of the Indigenous Marathon Project, opens in a new tab, SVA for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, (2018). Between 2014-2016, 35 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people from around Australia were selected to participate in the IMP, and 33 crossed the finish line. In the three year period covered by this SROI analysis, IMP created significant value for graduates, their families, members of their home communities and Government. The total value social, economic and cultural value created by IMP between 2014-2016 is estimated to be $13.6m. When compared to investment of $2.1m, the SROI ratio is 6.6:1 based on the investment for three years between 2014 and 2016. That is, for every $1 invested, approximately $6.60 of social and economic value has been created.
After the Siren: The community benefits of Indigenous participation in Australia Rules Football, opens in a new tab. Michael Dockery and Sean Gorman,  Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre , (September 2017). This report aims to build on the narrative of Indigenous peoples’ participation in football at a grass-roots level, and the associated individual and community level outcomes. It is based on analyses of data from the 2014-2015 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS), supplemented by interviews with a number of stakeholders in West Australian communities. The community benefits of Indigenous participation in Australian Rules Football reveal the numerous benefits that participation in sport, and AFL in particular, bring to Indigenous Australians. Direct health benefits are apparent in both children and adults involved in AFL, with better mental and physical health outcomes compared to those who are not involved in sport. The report also highlights the broader role AFL can play in a community, by being the conduit through which community programs targeted at health and safety can be delivered, and the means through which communities can be brought together.
Indigenous Australians' Participation in Sports and Physical Activities: Part 1, Literature and AusPlay data review, ORC International for the Australian Sports Commission, (March 2017). Analyses were performed on data produced by the AusPlay survey and recent literature. The AusPlay data analyses found that, in keeping with previous research findings, Indigenous people were less likely than non-Indigenous people to have participated in sports or physical activities in the last twelve months. However, the AusPlay data suggested that Indigenous adults who did participate tended to participate more frequently and for longer session times. A wide range of benefits were identified in the literature on Indigenous sport and physical activity participation. These included benefits to health and wellbeing, education and employment, the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour, and increased social capital. It was also suggested that regular, organised, group participation created opportunities which could be leveraged for other service provision (such as health services), that it had potential economic benefits, and could contribute to reconciliation of Indigenous culture in the wider community. Sports clubs and associations were generally viewed as positive enablers of these benefits; however, authors cautioned against treating either sports and physical activity, or sports clubs, as some sort of ‘magic bullet’, noting that the benefits were inter-related, difficult to measure, and always occurring within a particular social and historical context.
The Social Value of an Aboriginal Run Sporting Club, opens in a new tab, La Trobe University, Centre for Sport and Social Impact, (2016). The social return on investment for the Rumbalara FNC indicates that for every $1 invested in cash, volunteer time and other resources to run the club, it generates at least $5.45 return in social value in terms of increased social connectedness, wellbeing, and mental health status of its members and other community members; employment outcomes; personal development; physical health; Indigenous pride and support for the delivery of a range of non-sport programs for the Indigenous communities in the greater Shepparton region
Supporting healthy communities through sports and recreation programs, opens in a new tab, Resource sheet no. 26, Vicki-Ann Ware and Veronica Meredith, produced for the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, (December 2013). Healthy communities are communities in which people have the physical and mental health and wellbeing needed to conduct their daily lives. This paper reviewed the available evidence of a range of sports and recreation programs in relation to their effects on supporting and building healthy communities, what we know, what works, what doesn't work, and what we don't know. There is some evidence, in the form of critical descriptions of programs and systematic reviews, on the benefits to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from participation in sport and recreational programs. These include some improvements in school retention, attitudes towards learning, social and cognitive skills, physical and mental health and wellbeing; increased social inclusion and cohesion; increased validation of and connection to culture; and crime reduction.
The Impact of Indigenous Community Sports Programs: The Case of Surfing, The University of Queensland, (June 2012). This report outlines findings from a research project that investigated the impact of community surfing programs on the lives of Indigenous Australians. The study examined whether surfing programs confer social benefits on participants and how surfing programs should be designed for sustainability and viability. The most significant finding related to the potential for surfing programs to connect participants so they could learn and develop in a variety of meaningful ways. Surf programs provided a way for Indigenous people to (re)connect with country, foster connections between participants and program providers, form bonds with other Indigenous children, and unite community members to reinforce and pass on aspects of culture. Beyond (and in some ways because of) this significant achievement, surfing programs were also found to generate other outcomes including: Participants learn to be safe and confident in the surf.
Programs offer an escape from boredom or difficult life conditions and provide a way for participants to physically exert themselves in a positive way.
Participants develop and can self-monitor their physical skills and improve aspects of their physical capacities.
Participants develop psycho-social skills related to confidence, self-esteem, empathy, maturity and independence, and these can have an impact beyond programs (at school and home).
Programs foster an understanding of first aid and surf etiquette which allows individuals to better navigate the coastal environment.
It should be acknowledged that programs were not without fault or limits. The findings of this research indicate that surfing cannot be considered to be a ‘cure-all’. Not everyone surfs or likes surfing, it is possible to be injured, and just because children surf does not mean they will stop anti-social behaviours. The subsequent recommendation is that:
Rather than emphasising the peripheral things sport can achieve, programs which do not explicitly and purposefully pursue other agendas (such as by strategic partnerships with health services) should be primarily considered with respect to the value of sport for sport’s sake.
Evaluation of the AFL Remote Regional Development Program - Wadeye, Colmar Brunton for the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, (20 February 2012). This report reviews the effectiveness of the AFL Remote Regional Development Program in Wadeye, Northern Territory. Wadeye is a large Indigenous community facing significant and complex disadvantage, and with a growing gang sub-culture among youth. As one initiative to help reduce gang violence and improve community cohesion, a structured football program was developed for young people, tied to participation in education or employment and non-offending. This AFL Program aims to increase participation in education and employment, reduce crime, provide activities and aspirational goals, promote a sense of belonging, build community strength, provide positive social norms, provide positive role models, and improve general health. This review assesses the effectiveness of the program in meeting its goals, the effectiveness of its implementation, and the potential of the program model to be applied more generally. According to analysis of the most significant change data, the top five changes that have occurred as a result of the AFL Program are: People feel prouder to live in Wadeye; Players are helped to stay out of trouble; Players are role models to other boys and men; Men/boys who play are more active/healthier; Players are taught skills - discipline, respect, organisation, team work, leadership. These results underscore the intangible put powerful effect that Wadeye Magic, in particular, is having on peoples’ morale in Wadeye as well as the perceived positive effect the Program has on helping players stay out of trouble and become good role models who are more active and healthier and who are learning leadership skills. Issues with communication, lack of effective co-operation with other service provides; failing to engage women or provide a Junior League competition were also highlighted as key areas for improvement within the program.
Evaluation of the AFL National Partnership Agreement, opens in a new tab, Collaborative Systemic Change for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, (November 2011). In 2008, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) entered into a funding agreement with the Australian Football League (AFL). The name of that agreement was the Australian Government AFL Partnership Agreement. The AFL has used funding under the Partnership Agreement for two programs: The AFL Club Fostership Program (later known as the AFL Club Partnership Program); and The AFL Ambassadors for Life Mentoring Program. The evaluators assessed that some very positive outcomes have been achieved through the Fostership Program - the motivation that the visits by AFL clubs generates and examples of cohesiveness and purpose that Australian Rules Football tends to bring to remote communities during a football season. The simple fact of feeling that their communities are being recognised through AFL Clubs visit was seen by Aboriginal community people as a positive. In return, the evidence suggests that AFL Clubs participating in the Fostership Program have benefited participating because players and officials have had the chance to meet and gain a better understanding of Aboriginal peoples in remote areas in Australia.
Evaluation of the Sporting Chance Program, opens in a new tab, Australian Council for Education Research (October 2011). The Sporting Chance Program - was an Australian Government initiative that started operations in secondary schools and colleges in 2007. The objective of the Sporting Chance Program was to encourage improved educational outcomes for Indigenous students (boys and girls) using sport and recreation. This review found that overall, the DEEWR Sporting Chance Program, despite some limitations, achieved what it has set out to do – that is to encourage improved educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Performance Audit of The Sporting Chance Program, opens in a new tab, Department of Finance and Deregulation, Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programs), (July 2009). The objective of the performance audit was to assess the performance of academies funded under the Sporting Chance Program and DEEWR’s management of the program. The audit did not assess the performance of the program’s education engagement strategies component as this did not commence until 2008.
The Future of Sport in Australia (2009). David Crawford, Australian Government, Independent Sport Panel, (2009). This report found that all levels of government were involved in the delivery of sport and recreation services to Indigenous Australians. It highlights that sport is a proven way to engage Indigenous young people but is under-resourced, and often not connected with other engagement programs. Sports facilities and resources are minimal in most remote communities. Much is being spent but little actually reaches the communities with much of the resources being absorbed in administration. Government departments and non-government organisations (NGOs) often use sport to achieve other social outcomes but they are not coordinated with sports infrastructure leading to wasteful, duplicated and ineffective outcomes. Put simply, there are too many missed opportunities in the lack of a coordinated strategy using sport as a means of delivering significant benefits to Indigenous Australians. Sport offers one of the most efficient and trusted pathways for success for many Indigenous people and communities. We underplay its significance in Australia and fail to take advantage of one of our clearest opportunities to deliver successful social outcomes—it’s not just about Aboriginal role models in sport—it is the total pathway of health, setting clear goals, aligning sporting opportunities with responsibility around education and employment. The Report recommended a rationalised, targeted approach to ensure that Indigenous Australians are receiving the best possible options to participate in quality sport and recreation programs.
What's the Score? A survey of Cultural Diversity and Racism in Australian Sport, opens in a new tab, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, (2007). This report aims to provide the basis for organisations to consider future policy strategies aimed at both addressing racism within sport, as well as promoting an inclusive and non-discriminatory attitude by players, supporters, and the public. The report highlights that sport can break down barriers in ways that other areas of society can struggle to match, by encouraging participation, integration, and diversity. It also plays an important role in creating ‘social capital’ by developing connections, openness, and respect between different individuals and groups. This can lead to better understanding, cooperation and social cohesion within communities, but Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are also not represented proportionally in sporting organisations, and very few have represented at the elite and national level.
Australian cricket, race, and First Nations Australians: the past and present, opens in a new tab, Chelsea Litchfield, Jaquelyn Osborne, Tracey Gale, Sport in History, Volume 42(3), pp.384-404, (2022). Games and sport during the colonial period in Australia were rarely hospitable to First Nations people. However, the first Australian cricket team to tour England in 1868 were predominantly First Nations men. While such a tour might appear to be a ‘triumph' for race relations in Australia, the details of the tour and treatment of the young men were haunting. The 1868 tour has been glorified in contemporary cricket circles, however, despite this, the promotion of the game to First Nations Australians is relatively recent. Over the last decade, Australian cricket has attempted to combat racism and promote First Nations player development through initiatives such as their Reconciliation Action Plan. One example of promoting the Black Lives Matter message and anti-racism has been carried out by Australia's national women's cricket team and the women's national T20 competition. In 2020, the Australian women cricketers made a conscious decision to promote the Black Lives Matter movement by engaging in a ‘barefoot circle' to acknowledge country before each match. This manuscript will explore the importance of the Australian women cricketers' actions and advocacy against the backdrop of Australia’s history and interactions with First Nations Australians in cricket.
Sport organizations and reconciliation in Australia, opens in a new tab, Ashlee Morgan, Violetta Wilk, Sport in Society, Volume 25(11), pp.2339-2364, (2022). This article explores the current mobilization of Australian sport organizations in contributing to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. This study focuses on the formal commitment of sport organizations to the reconciliation process. Through a stakeholder theory perspective and a shared value lens, 22 Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) were examined using text analytics and visualization software, Leximancer. It is concluded that, while continuing their regular business, sport organizations can be advocates of social justice and a RAP can contribute to the organization’s stakeholder ecosystem and guide its management processes and activities. However, questions remain as to how measurable and impactful the strategies and activities are, particularly in the mitigation of racism in Australian sport.
‘ … if my family didn’t play football … we would literally have pretty much nothing’: how high school Aboriginal students continue culture through rugby league and Australian football, opens in a new tab, John Williams, Shane Pill, John Evans, et al., Sport, Education and Society, Volume 27(1), pp.57-71, (2022). Sport, including rugby league and Australian football (AFL), was used in Australia to teach British values and gentlemanly behaviour to show Aboriginal people their ‘place’. This study explains how both sports have meaning for high school students, as an unintended outcome of their introduction to Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Figurational sociology, through its concern with long-term processes, is used to examine the importance of AFL and rugby league to 12 Year 7–10 (age 12–16 approximately) participants. Data were collected using six semi-structured interviews and were interpretively analysed. Instead of experiencing a sense of being ‘civilized’ or enlightened through their involvement in AFL and rugby league, participants instead spoke about both sports offering: (i) personal meaning through enjoyment and identity creation; (ii) family and community connections; (iii) support networks from family members, peers and others; and (iv) opportunities to continue their culture. It would seem then that the introduction of rugby league and AFL to Australia’s Indigenous peoples has resulted in the adaption of both sports for cultural and other reasons. It is possible that similar reconstruction of meaning is experienced by Indigenous groups beyond Australia who were similarly colonised by Western nations.
Sport as a cultural offset in Aboriginal Australia?, opens in a new tab L.K. Sheppard, S.B. Rynne, J.M. Willis, Annals of Leisure Research, Volume 24(1), pp.29-50, (2021). Sport-for-development is increasingly employed as a tool for domestic development within marginalized communities. In Australia, sport is assumed to have a ‘natural fit’ with Aboriginal communities – accordingly it is utilized in a variety of ways. In seeking to challenge and examine this situation and the dominant / unquestioned / invisible assumptions inherent, we propose the notion of cultural offsetting – whereby sport is positioned as a way of offsetting a variety of losses that Australian Aboriginal communities and peoples have experienced and continue to experience. Within the context of sport, this article examines whether cultural offsetting using sport is feasible and/or desirable. While the conclusion reached is that Aboriginal peoples have been using sport as a cultural offset for some time, serious questions remain regarding the capacity of sport-for-development programmes to offset the variety of losses (e.g. culture, language, identity) experienced by Aboriginal Australians.
The impact of physical activity and sport on social outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: A systematic scoping review, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Karla Canuto, Rachel Wilson, et al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 22(11), pp.1232-1242, (2019). Of the 1160 studies identified, 20 met the inclusion criteria and were published between 2003 and 2018. Most studies reported positive findings across multiple, broad outcomes of education (N = 11), employment (N = 1), culture (N = 9), social and emotional wellbeing (N = 12), life skills (N = 5), and crime reduction (N = 5). Some evidence was found for increased school attendance and improved self-esteem resulting from physical activity and sport participation as well as enhanced aspects of culture, such as cultural connections, connectedness, values and identity. The authors conclude there is some evidence of benefit across the six social outcomes from physical activity and sport programs. This promotes their continuation and development, although critical appraisal of their methods is needed to better quantify benefits, as well as the generation of new evidence across indicators where gaps currently exist, particularly for employment and crime reduction outcomes.
Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: Indigenous Marathon Foundation, opens in a new tab, Macniven R, de Castella R, Seriat EB, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 52(20). pp.1302-1303, (2018). IMF takes a challenging goal (training to run a marathon in 6 months), uses it to change lives and then supports graduates to use running to inspire positive change, promote healthy lifestyles and build self-belief, pride and self-worth in others. IMF is embedded in communities and uses local role models, in contrast to many other role modelling programmes that use ‘fly in fly out’ sport or health professionals to deliver physical activity promotion. Thus, it operates in a sustainable manner, building capacity among local Indigenous people to reach hard-to-reach groups through this role modelling and the achievement of initiating previously inactive people to take up running.
Indigenous Women's Sporting Experiences: Agency, Resistance and Nostalgia, opens in a new tab, Gary Osmond, Murray Phillips, Australian Journal of Politics and History, Volume 64(4), pp.561-575, (2018). This paper offers specific and broader insights on sport in Australian Indigenous communities and on the entanglement of the sporting past with the histories and politics of race and gender in Queensland. In repositioning researcher and researched in Aboriginal sport history, this paper demonstrates the potential of transformative narratives about the experiences of Indigenous Australians.
A snapshot of physical activity programs targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Michelle Elwell, Kathy Ride, et al., Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Volume 28, pp.185-206, (2017). A total of 110 programs were identified across urban, rural and remote locations within all states and territories. Only 11 programs were located through bibliographic sources; the remainder through Internet searches. The programs aimed to influence physical activity for health or broader social outcomes. Sixty five took place in community settings and most involved multiple sectors such as sport, health and education. Almost all were free for participants and involved Indigenous stakeholders. The majority received Government funding and had commenced within the last decade. More than 20 programs reached over 1000 people each; 14 reached 0–100 participants. Most included process or impact evaluation indicators, typically reflecting their aims.
An evaluation of an Australian Aboriginal controlled-community organization’s remote sports-based programme: a qualitative investigation, opens in a new tab, Louisa Peralta, Renata Cinelli, Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics, Volume 19(7), pp.973-989, (2016). Current research suggests that Aboriginal-controlled organizations should play a larger role in developing and implementing sports-based programs for Aboriginal young people. In this paper, we explore the influence of an Aboriginal-controlled organization and its government-funded remote sports-based program on Aboriginal participants and non-Aboriginal stakeholders.
Aboriginal Rules: The Black History of Australian Football, opens in a new tab, Sean Gorman, Barry Judd, Keir Reeves, et al., International Journal of the History of Sport, Volume 32(16), pp.1947-1962, (2015). This paper is interested in the significance of Australian football to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. In particular, in the cultural power of football and how it has foregrounded the struggle and highlighted the contribution that Indigenous people have made to the national football code of Australia. It also discusses key moments in Indigenous football history in Australia and questions further that a greater understanding of this contribution needs to be more fully explored from a national perspective in order to appreciate Indigenous peoples’ contribution to the sport not just in elite competitions but also at a community and grass roots level.
Expecting too much? Can Indigenous sport programmes in Australia deliver development and social outcomes?, opens in a new tab Tony Rossi, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Volume 7(2), pp.181-195, (2015). Sport holds a special place in the national psyche of many nations with claims for sport being far reaching. More recently sport has been identified as a development and an educational tool in the areas of health and behaviour modification. Against the backdrop of the Close the Gap blueprint for Indigenous Australians and within the context of competing claims for sport, this paper discusses whether sport can genuinely contribute to community development in Indigenous Australian communities. Drawing on cases from sports-based programs that spanned a 5-year research program and informed by a theoretical framework inspired by Sen’s notion of ‘Development as Freedom’, this paper makes the case that sport can be a robust developmental tool capable of delivering social outcomes to marginalized communities.
Indigenous Participation in Australian Sport: The Perils of the ‘Panacea’ Proposition, opens in a new tab, John Robert Evans, Rachel Wilson, Bronwen Dalton, et al., Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Volume 7(1), (2015). The argument that participation in sport among disadvantaged populations can produce positive outcomes in wide range of areas has been a consistent theme in academic literature. In Australia, participation in sport among Indigenous Australians has been proffered as a ‘panacea’ for many Indigenous problems; from promoting better health and education outcomes, to encouraging community building, good citizenship and entrepreneurship. Parallel to this has been a focus on documenting and analysing sport participation among Indigenous Australians in elite sport which often concludes that Indigenous Australians have an innate and ‘natural ability’ in sports.
On and off the field: a Bourdieuian perspective on the significance of sport to urban Aboriginal Australians, opens in a new tab, Kathryn Browne-Yung, Anna Ziersch, Fran Baum, et al., Sport in Society, Volume 18(6), pp.717-733, (2015). Sport is highly valued in Australian society and is one of few environments where Aboriginal Australians have opportunities to excel and engage with non-Aboriginal people; however, there is little evidence to suggest that sport has led to social improvements in Aboriginal communities or any transfer of engagement into non-Aboriginal dominated activities. While much has been written about elite Aboriginal sportspeople, less is known about how other Aboriginal people feel about sport and its place in their lives, including how it is linked to social capital (the benefits that accrue to individuals and groups through their network membership). Drawing on in-depth interviews and applying Bourdieu's theory of practice, this paper examines the role of sport in social capital creation for Aboriginal people living in urban settings. While sport facilitated important social and cultural resources, there were limitations to its ability to reduce disadvantage for Australian Aboriginal people.
The power of sport: Building social bridges and breaking down cultural barriers, opens in a new tab [thesis], Dr Paul Oliver, Curtin University, (September 2015). Is sport effective at breaking down cultural barriers within sporting communities for Indigenous Australians and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds? Can it build social bridges by contributing to wider social issues? Drawing upon insights from those in this field, this thesis finds that sport is not the magic 'cure-all' that some assume. However, if managed correctly, sport can be an excellent medium for encouraging valuable debate, and can assist with positive social change.
To play Papunya: the problematic interface between a remote Aboriginal community and the organization of Australian Football in Central Australia, opens in a new tab, Judd, Barry, Butcher, Tim, Sport in Society, Volume 18(5), pp.543-551, (2015). This paper outlines issues arising from engagement with the remote Aboriginal community of Papunya. Researching the relationship between the community's football club and the organization of competitive fixtures in the Central Australian Football League (CAFL), we found that contrary to popular discourse the well-being of men in Papunya may be damaged by their participation in ‘town football’. We outline the nature of the current relationship between Papunya and the CAFL and the efforts of Elders to reshape the organizational interface via the establishment of an ‘on-country’ football league. We highlight that organizational rhetoric about reconciliation and cross-cultural awareness is not enough to warrant effective working relationships with Papunya people. We argue that there is a need to move beyond recognition of difference that is embodied in such agendas to develop strategies of interface inclusive of Aboriginal understandings of football.
The community network: an Aboriginal community football club bringing people together, opens in a new tab, Alister Thorpe, Wendy Anders, Kevin Rowley, Australian Journal of Primary Health, Volume 20(4), pp.356-364, (2014). The aim of the present study was to understand the impact of an Aboriginal community sporting team and its environment on the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of young Aboriginal men, and to identify barriers and motivators for participation. Results of the interviews were consistent with the literature, with common concepts emerging around community connection, cultural values and identity, health, values, racism and discrimination. However, the interviews provided further detail around the significance of cultural values and community connection for Aboriginal people. The complex nature of social connections and the strength of Aboriginal community networks in sports settings were also evident. Social reasons were just as important as individual health reasons for participation. Social and community connection is an important mechanism for maintaining and strengthening cultural values and identity. Barriers and motivators for participation in Aboriginal sports teams can be complex and interrelated. Aboriginal sports teams have the potential to have a profound impact on the health of Aboriginal people, especially its players, by fostering a safe and culturally strengthening environment and encompassing a significant positive social hub for the Aboriginal community.
Sport development programmes for Indigenous Australians: innovation, inclusion and development, or a product of ‘white guilt’?, opens in a new tab Tony Rossi, Steven Rynne, Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics, Volume 17(8), pp.1030-1045, (2014). Under the legacy of neoliberalism, it is important to consider how the indigenous people, in this case of Australia, are to advance, develop and achieve some approximation of parity with broader societies in terms of health, educational outcomes and economic participation. In this paper, we explore the relationships between welfare dependency, individualism, responsibility, rights, liberty and the role of the state in the provision of Government-funded programmes of sport to Indigenous communities.
Cathy Freeman and Australia’s Indigenous heritage: a new beginning for an old nation at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, opens in a new tab. Leanne White, International Journal of Heritage Studies, Volume 9(2), pp.153-170, (2013). The paper examines representations of heritage and identity at the of the Sydney Games and how these images were played out in wider discussions about the future of the Australian nation state. The choice of Cathy Freeman was widely considered the ‘right’ choice and served to emphasise the highly considerable indigenous themes throughout the Opening Ceremony. The emphasis on indigenous culture continued during the Games and into the Closing Ceremony in a way that was partly orchestrated and partly developed a life of its own due to the actions of particular individuals. The Sydney Opening Ceremony was a significant moment for all Australians and pointed the way for how the nation might present itself to the international community in the new millennium.
What makes us different? The role of Rumbalara Football and Netball Club in promoting Indigenous wellbeing, opens in a new tab, Joyce Doyle, Bradley Firebrace, Rachel Reilly, et.al., The Australian Community Psychologist, Volume 25(2), pp.7-21, (2013). The Rumbalara Football and Netball Club has competed in regional football and netball leagues since 1997, continuing a tradition that began with the Cummergunja football teams of the 1890s. The Club is an important contributor to cultural identity for Aboriginal people in the Goulburn-Murray Rivers region of northern Victoria. It is a place where Aboriginal people can (re)connect with community, language, and stories of culture and history. It is also a vehicle for building relationships with mainstream Australia. Through competing in regional football and netball leagues, the Club brings Aboriginal community into mainstream society, working towards and demanding recognition, equality, and respect for Aboriginal people. The Club’s hosting of visiting players and supporters enables mainstream visitors to accept reciprocity from the Aboriginal community. These characteristics of participation make up part of ‘being healthy’ for Aboriginal people. Because they drive engagement of Aboriginal people with the Club, they are foundational to the Club’s programs and activities that fit with a more conventional definition of ‘health promotion’, including programs to increase physical activity and improve diet, promote engagement of young people in education, and facilitate employment opportunities. The Club also engages in research which seeks to describe the breadth, strategies, and effectiveness of this health promotion activity.
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