Further resources and reading
Dive deeper into the research on what supports and limits First Nations peoples' participation in sport.
Dive deeper into the research on what supports and limits First Nations peoples' participation in sport.
- A deep dive into inclusive and cultural safety within netball, opens in a new tab, sportanddev.org, (13 July 2022). The Black Diamonds project – the first of its kind – reviewed the netball service delivery within Australia to ensure the policies and practices are transformed to better facilitate the engagement and retention of Aboriginal people within netball. Through yarning circles, an Aboriginal research methodology, it was discovered that one of the most common barriers that participants face within the sport of netball is discrimination and racism. Participants explained how throughout their lives, discrimination was experienced and felt in a variety of ways. Their experiences of discrimination ranged from segregation and not feeling welcome/not fitting in, to not being heard or feeling as if they do not have a safe space for feedback. Participants talked about how they would often brush off racist experiences outwardly, but inwardly would feel disrespected and isolated. The broad and life-long detrimental effects of overt and institutional racism are highly damaging, with these experiences often leading to poor mental and physical health.
- Sport and physical activity play important roles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but there are barriers to participation, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Bridget Allen, John Evans, The Conversation, (1 October 2021). Many factors influence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in physical activity and sport. These can be classified as facilitators, that enable participation, or barriers, that can make participation more challenging. Our new review found 62 different facilitators and 63 different barriers to physical activity and sport. Multiple, complex facilitators and barriers were experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults across Australia.
- Indigenous Health Education Program, opens in a new tab, Paralympics Australia, (2018-2020). A grant was provided through the federal Department of Health’s Indigenous Australia’s Health Programme enabled Paralympic Australia to undertake a range of activities from 2018-20 developing targeted evidence based chronic disease prevention, health promotion and physical activity education resources and community events to address the increasing incidence of chronic disease in Indigenous people with disability in a culturally acceptable manner. Following are some of the key messages and learnings relating to barriers and enablers for physical activity participation from the project’s community engagement events, consultations and interviews.
- Research Paper: Benefits and barriers of participation in physical activity for First Nations People with Disability, opens in a new tab, Dr Paul Oliver, Paralympics Australia, (accessed 11 August 2025). Sport can be a very powerful way of engaging First Nations people and providing positive outcomes in the areas of health and welfare.
- Sport can be an important part of Aboriginal culture for women – but many barriers remain, opens in a new tab, Michelle O'Shea, Hazel Maxwell, Megan Stronach, Sonya Pearce, The Conversation, (23 January 2020). Regular exercise is important for Indigenous women’s health, as it protects against obesity and chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. These conditions are more prevalent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than non-Indigenous people. Women’s physical activity benefits whole communities. Active mothers and aunts are important role models for their children and peers; while women’s involvement as sport leaders, coaches and participants can empower Indigenous girls to participate in sports at community to elite levels. In 2012, only 23.3% of Indigenous women played sport, walked for fitness or leisure, or were physically active in the previous 12 months. Key barriers identified included: Racism or vilification based on skin colour; for women living in remote Indigenous communities, transport costs and logistics significantly impacted their participation in organised sport. The costs of registering for a sporting team, for example, and having to purchase a team uniform meant they were unable to compete. Ongoing effects of colonisation have resulted in some women rejecting calls for them to become involved in “westernised” sport, instead preferring activities that are more culturally acceptable, such as music and crafts. Our research also found that some Aboriginal people viewed time spent participating in sport and physical activity as “selfish” because it took them away from their family care commitments and responsibilities. Facilitators included: fun runs, carnivals and community competitions. Indigenous-women-only classes and activities offered by local Indigenous organisations. Programs and interventions foisted on Indigenous women are unlikely to benefit them as individuals or their communities. Instead, healthy and active sisters and aunties are powerful role models.
- 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 include sport as a vehicle for engagement in physical activity.
- What works * Culturally safe physical activity programs that are community-led and adopt First Nations values act as key facilitators of engagement in programs. * Enhancing cultural identity through engagement in physical activity that has a cultural focus, and that fosters connections with family and kinship, enriches SEWB outcomes. * Other facilitators of physical activity participation include support from family and friends, and opportunities to connect with community or culture. * First Nations community involvement increases program effectiveness, relevance and sustainability.
- What doesn’t work * Programs that do not centre First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing are unlikely to be well received or effective. Generally, these programs have barriers that impede program participation and subsequently hinder potential improvements in SEWB. * These barriers include insufficient transportation, time inefficiency, high program costs, and conflicting family and community commitments. * Racism can act as a deterrent for First Nations people to participate in available programs, services and initiatives that enhance SEWB.
- Black Diamonds Report, opens in a new tab, Glass Jar, (April 2022). The first of its kind, the Black Diamonds Project reviews the netball service delivery to ensure that the policies and systems of netball in Western Australia are transformed to better facilitate the engagement and retention of Aboriginal people to the sport of netball. The dominant method of data collection was Yarning Circles, a uniquely Aboriginal methodology, with four stakeholder groups, across two phases. Top motivators: My friends, team, or club support and motivate me; Coaches support and motivate me; I like competing, I am talented; Netball is fun, I feel good when I play, I love the game. Top barriers: Discrimination and racism; Lack of support and understanding; Cliques, purple circles and politics; Communication.
- Indigenous Australians' Participation in Sports and Physical Activities: Part 2, Qualitative research, ORC International prepared 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. When discussing the actual benefits, the most common themes which emerged could be classed under the categories of physical health benefits (e.g diabetes prevention, cardiovascular health), mental well-being (alleviates stress, improves mood), social benefits (competition, social skills, family togetherness) and pride (increasing confidence). Barriers to participating in sport and physical activity varied by age and location, however, recurring themes across locations included costs associated with activities, lack of time, lack of motivation (feeling in a rut), injuries/ health issues, and lack of cultural inclusiveness. Cost was one of the most frequently reported barriers to participation–both for adults and their children. Across communities a lack of transportation was repeatedly highlighted as a barrier to participation. 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.
- 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 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 evidence provides a very strong social-benefit case for greater investment in structured AFL competitions in remote communities. For children some of the barriers identified for participating in Australian football, and sport more generally, included: sight problems (children with sight issues were less likely to play Australian football); being female; being from sole-parent or less advantaged families. Facilitators identified were: Identification with Indigenous culture. Children of families who own their home are around 20 percentage points more likely to have participated in sport. Children living in more advantaged neighbourhoods are more likely to participate in organised sport–however, these effects are less apparent in the case of participation in AFL. For adults, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions are less likely to have participated in organised sport. Indigenous people who smoke daily are 7 percentage points less likely to participate in sport. As was observed with children, cultural identification appears to be complementary to participation in general sports. However, people who speak an Indigenous language at home are around 11 percentage points less likely to participate in organised sport.
- Indigenous Australians' Participation in Sports and Physical Activities: Part 1, Literature and AusPlay data review, ORC International prepared for the Australian Sports Commission, (May 2017). This report includes a summary of the key drivers and barriers of Indigenous participation explored in the AusPlay data, and summarised from the recent literature. Enjoyment was frequently cited in the literature as a prime motivation, with Indigenous people preferring to participate (or volunteer) in sport or physical activity for fun, not as a chore, which “exercise” was often perceived as. Associated with enjoyment were feelings of comfort, safety and belonging. It was also found that a perceived need to participate, for example, for health, fitness or weight loss reasons could be a strong motivator. For many Indigenous participants, the sports and physical activities they found most appealing were group activities that were culturally appropriate (for instance, having gender-specific groups), reinforcing family and community connectedness and collectiveness. When individuals had practical or emotional support or encouragement from family, friends, and even staff and other participants, they were more likely to be motivated to participate, and to keep participating. Having positive role models, in the form of older, more experienced participants from within the community, and professional Indigenous sportsmen and women, was also seen as motivating for young people and less experienced participants. A number of authors wrote that physical activity was perceived by some Indigenous Australians as an integral part of their day, inseparable from their lives with their families and communities, and not something to be chosen as an independent activity, in and of itself. The main barriers to participation referred to in the literature fell broadly under the following categories: Other commitments, especially to family or community; Personal illness or injury; Financial; Access; Safety or comfort; Different cultural construct of sport and physical activity; and, Racism. Undertaking activities that were perceived as being for an individual’s own benefit, rather than for the benefit of the family or community made some Indigenous people feel shame, and there were often negative community perceptions of exercising alone. Costs, either to enrol or enter venues, to travel (in remote areas), or for expensive equipment, could act as inhibitors to participation. Access was a barrier for Indigenous people in a variety of areas, especially in remote regions where facilities and choices of activities were limited, and distances made it more difficult to travel to participate in physical activity programs, or practice and compete in sports. Some young people from remote areas of northern Australia identified that climate-related factors, such as being too hot and sweaty, also restricted their ability to be physically active. Feelings about what was culturally appropriate, or different cultural preferences for “the way physical activities are constructed and organised, the spaces they take place in and the times they occur,” meant that some Indigenous people did not want to do certain sports and physical activities. Racism can act as a barrier both in preventing Indigenous people taking up a sport or physical activity, or continuing to participate.
- 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.
- What's the Score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism in Australian sport, opens in a new tab, Paul Oliver, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, (2006). This section of What’s the Score? provides a summary of reports, census’, surveys and publications related to the level of participation in sport by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds (CALD). There are a significant number of barriers faced by Indigenous and CALD people with regards to participation in sport. Some significant barriers to participation identified by the report include:
- Lack of access to sport and facilities due to remote geographical location.
- Exclusiveness of the current structure of some sports.
- Lack of familiarity with sporting clubs and environments and available services/activities.
- Lack of understanding of the rules of some sports or lack of confidence in physical ability to play certain sports.
- Potential threat, or experience, of discrimination or racism.
- Feelings of isolation.
- Language barriers.
- Lack of financial resources for activities and equipment.
- Lack of role models working in and playing the game.
- Absence of effective public transport.
- Family or cultural communities may take priority over sport.
- Barriers for young women within their own communities and from sporting organisations.
- Social and Behavioural Correlates of High Physical Activity Levels among Aboriginal Adolescent Participants of the Next Generation: Youth Wellbeing Study, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Christopher McKay, Simon Graham, et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 20(4), (February 2023). Physical activity typically decreases during teenage years and has been identified as a health priority by Aboriginal adolescents. We examined associations between physical activity levels and sociodemographic, movement and health variables in the Aboriginal led ‘Next Generation: Youth Well-being (NextGen) Study’ of Aboriginal people aged 10–24 years from Central Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales. Baseline survey data collected by Aboriginal researchers and Aboriginal youth peer recruiters from 2018 to 2020 examined demographics and health-related behaviours. Factors independently associated with higher odds of physical activity (including sport) 3–7 days/week were low weekday recreational screen time, having non-smoking friends and having fewer friends that drink alcohol. Lower odds of high physical activity were independently associated with being female and some findings differed by sex. The NextGen study provides evidence to inform the co-design and implementation of strategies to increase Aboriginal adolescent physical activity such as focusing on peer influences and co-occurring behaviours such as screen time.
- The Barriers and Facilitators of Sport and Physical Activity Participation for Aboriginal Children in Rural New South Wales, Australia: A Photovoice Project, opens in a new tab, Sarah Liew, Josephine Gwynn, Janice Smith, et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 19(4), (February 2022). Low physical activity participation is a behavioral risk factor for chronic disease, which is present at much higher rates in Australian Aboriginal communities compared to non-Aboriginal communities. Through photos and ‘yarning’, the Australian Aboriginal cultural form of conversation, this photovoice study explored the barriers and facilitators of sport and physical activity participation perceived by Aboriginal children (n = 17) in New South Wales rural communities in Australia for the first time. Seven key themes emerged from thematic analysis. Four themes described physical activity barriers, which largely exist at the community and interpersonal level of children’s social and cultural context: the physical environment, high costs related to sport and transport, and reliance on parents, along with individual risk factors such as unhealthy eating. Three themes identified physical activity facilitators that exist at the personal, interpersonal, and institutional level: enjoyment from being active, supportive social and family connections, and schools. Findings highlight the need for ongoing maintenance of community facilities to enable physical activity opportunities and ensure safety. Children held strong aspirations for improved and accessible facilities. The strength of friendships and the family unit should be utilized in co-designed and Aboriginal community-led campaigns.
- Barriers and Enablers to Older Indigenous People Engaging in Physical Activity—A Qualitative Systematic Review, opens in a new tab, Margaret J.R. Gidgup, Marion Kickett, Tammy Weselman, et al., Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, Volume 30(2), pp.340-352, (2022). The objective of this qualitative systematic review was to synthesize all evidence to understand the barriers and enablers to older Indigenous peoples (aged 40 years and older) engaging in physical activity. Four databases were searched. Study quality was assessed from an Indigenous perspective, using an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander quality appraisal tool. Data were analyzed using thematic synthesis. There were 4,246 articles screened with 23 articles and one report included from over 30 Indigenous communities across four countries. Cultural Safety and Security was a key enabler, including developing physical activity programs which are led by Indigenous communities and preference Indigenous values. Colonization was a key barrier that created mistrust and uncertainty. Social Determinants of Health, including cost, were supported by successful programs, but if not addressed, were demotivators of engagement. Older Indigenous peoples identified barriers and enablers that can direct the development of sustainable, culturally appropriate physical activity programs.
- Facilitators and Barriers to Physical Activity and Sport Participation Experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Adults: A Mixed Method Review, opens in a new tab, Bridget Allen, Karla Canuto, John Robert Evans, et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 18(18), (September 2021). A systematic search was undertaken of 11 databases and 14 grey literature websites during 2020. The included studies reported physical activity facilitators and barriers experienced by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participants aged 18+ years, living in the community. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-two facilitators were identified: 23 individual, 18 interpersonal, 8 community/environmental and 13 policy/program facilitators. Additionally, 63 barriers were identified: 21 individual, 17 interpersonal, 15 community/environmental and 10 policy/program barriers. Prominent facilitators included support from family, friends, and program staff, and opportunities to connect with community or culture. Prominent barriers included a lack of transport, financial constraints, lack of time, and competing work, family or cultural commitments. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults experience multiple facilitators and barriers to physical activity participation. Strategies to increase participation should seek to enhance facilitators and address barriers, collaboratively with communities, with consideration to the local context.
- Footprints in Time: Physical Activity Levels and Sociodemographic and Movement-Related Associations Within the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Rachel Wilson, Tim Olds, et al., Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Volume 18(3), pp.279-286, (2021). Emerging evidence suggests that Indigenous children have higher physical activity levels that non-Indigenous children, yet little is known of the factors that influence these levels or how they may be optimized. This study examines correlates of achieving ≥1 hour/day of physical activity among Indigenous Australian children aged 8–13 years. Data were collected through parental self-report in the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children. Proportions of children achieving ≥1 hour/day physical activity, approximating the Australian aerobic physical activity recommendations, were calculated, and associations with sociodemographic, family composition, and movement-related factors were quantified using multiple logistic regression analyses. Half of the 1233 children achieved ≥1 hour/day physical activity. Children from families with low parental education and unemployment, remote residence, low socioeconomic status, and without a father in the household were more likely to meet the recommendations. Achieving ≥1 hour/day of physical activity was also associated with low levels of playing electronic games and total screen time. Sociodemographic correlates of physical activity among Indigenous Australian children run counter to those typically found in non-Indigenous Australian children. Further longitudinal examination of the predictors of these associations would provide a greater understanding of Indigenous physical activity determinants, to inform strategies to facilitate participation.
- Barriers and facilitators of sport and physical activity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents: a mixed studies systematic review, opens in a new tab, Tamara May, Amanda Dudley, James Charles, et al., BMC Public Health, Volume 20, Article no.601, (2020). This study was focused on a comprehensive identification of barriers and facilitators at each level of the social-ecological model. From this process, gender and geographic location emerged as areas in which individual engagement with PA and sport was highly influenced by environmental, community, and policy factors. At the individual level, the most commonly reported barriers related to shyness/ embarrassment, self-perception of not being good enough as well as lack of motivation and time. Barriers to participation in PA identified in relation to girls and young women show how the complex interactions of interpersonal and cultural factors, associated with gender can be strongly determining the personal behaviour of individuals. At the interpersonal level having family and friends who were active was one of the most commonly reported facilitators; and if they were inactive this was a barrier. This highlights the importance of participation in sport/PA for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, in that they act as role models for children. For some young people their perceived lack of ability or the experience of losing in a sporting competition were deterrents to participation in and enjoyment of PA and sport. For the five studies conducted in regional and remote areas, barriers to participation in PA were particularly evident at community and environmental levels. These included lack of access to sporting facilities, organised PA and sport programs and transport to and from venues. Living in a ‘hot and sweaty’ climate and restrictions to travel in the wet season were also deterrents to participation in PA for young people from some communities in the Torres Strait Islands and the Cape York Peninsula. However, in the regional city of Geraldton (WA) the opportunity to engage in PA in natural environments such as parks, beaches and bush tracks was an important facilitator. Taken together, programs which offer sporting participation options for all family members (children, adolescents and adults), which appeal to males and females, are accessible through existing transport and related infrastructure, and are committed to communities through formal partnerships are needed. There are unique barriers in remote areas including, lack of programs in the local language, the transient nature of teachers, climate factors and a lack of (ongoing) sporting programs which will need targeted approaches to overcome. Overall, the health benefits of sport as well as its ability to provide future opportunities for young people are also a key facilitator. Public health campaigns broadening these messages to cover both physical and mental health could increase participation in sport and thus derive improved health outcomes.
- Physical activity and sport participation characteristics of Indigenous children registered in the Active Kids voucher program in New South Wales, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Bridget Foley. Katherine Owen, et al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 23(12), pp.1178-1184. (2020). Of the 671,375 children aged 5–18 years, 36,129 (5.4%) were Indigenous. More Indigenous children than non-Indigenous children met the physical activity guidelines before registering in the Active Kids program. Indigenous children had greater odds of meeting physical activity guidelines across all socio-economic quartiles. Among non-Indigenous children, odds reduced with social disadvantage. Indigenous children (38%) were less likely to participate in organised physical activity and sport sessions at least twice a week compared to non-Indigenous children (43%). Indigenous children living in major cities had higher sport participation levels compared with those living in outer regional and remote areas. The Active Kids voucher program achieved population representative reach among Indigenous children, whose physical activity levels were higher than non-Indigenous children across all socioeconomic quartiles. The program has potential to supplement Indigenous children’s physical activity levels using organised sessions and reduce sport drop-out among older children.
- Indigenous Australian women promoting health through sport, opens in a new tab, Megan Stronach, Hazel Maxwell, Sonya Pearce, Sport Management Review, Volume 22(1), pp.5-20, (2019). Drawing from an agency/empowerment theoretical framework, the authors posit that, given support and opportunities, Indigenous women can become empowered to improve their mental and physical health through participation in sport. Sport managers can facilitate Indigenous women's agency in the effects of colonisation, which continues to be the basis of health issues for this cohort. Listening to Indigenous women and facilitating opportunities for them to take control of their own participation can help facilitate this process. Indigenous-women's only opportunities, partnerships with health agencies and sports organisations, culturally safe spaces and Indigenous women acting as role models are some factors that may augment Indigenous women's agency, and thus empowerment. Government, sports, community organisations and health agencies which provide these conditions in their program design can help to overcome entrenched social, historical and health inequalities that Indigenous women may experience.
- ‘It’s more than just performing well in your sport. It’s also about being healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually’: Indigenous women athletes’ meanings and experiences of flourishing in sport, opens in a new tab, Leah Ferguson, Gillian Epp, Kellie Wuttunee, et al., Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, Volume 11(1), pp.1-19, (2019). The purpose of this study was to explore the phenomenon of flourishing in sport for Indigenous women athletes. Two Indigenous community sport advisors were instrumentally involved throughout the study. Sixteen Indigenous women athletes (M age = 21.5 years; 10 First Nations, 6 Métis) from urban, rural and remote communities in a mid-Western Canadian province participated in sharing circles and symbol-based reflection to share their meanings and experiences of flourishing in sport. A four-step phenomenological structural analysis was used to analyse transcribed data. Four essential components and one facilitating component emerged as the general structure of flourishing in sport: (1) Multidimensional Community Support (having support from and for one’s family, home and sporting community); (2) Personal Accomplishments (setting and attaining individually tailored goals); (3) Persistent Growth (constant self-betterment); (4) Wholistic Athletic Excellence (excelling as a whole; physically, intellectually, spiritually and emotionally); and, (5) Humble Recognition (being acknowledged; a facilitating component). Nurturing Indigenous women athletes’ flourishing in sport requires athlete-specific attention and collaborative community engagement.
- Indigenous Australians Perceptions’ of Physical Activity: A Qualitative Systematic Review, opens in a new tab, Emma Dahlberg, Sandra Hamilton, Fatuma Hamid, et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 15(7), (2018). Four major themes emerged: family and community, culture and environment, sport, and gender differences. Men highlighted sport and going on walkabout as preferred types of physical activity while women preferred family-focused activities and activities and support for women's sport. Several studies found exercise was supported when in the context of family and community but was considered shameful when done only for oneself. Sport was regarded as playing an influential role in bringing communities together. Group, community, or family activities were desired forms of physical activity with the environment they are conducted in of high importance.
- Physical activity among indigenous Australian children and youth in remote and non-remote areas, opens in a new tab, John Robert Evans, Rachel Wilson, Clare Coleman, Wing Young Nicola Man, et al., Social Science and Medicine, Volume 206, pp.93-99, (2018). This study examined levels of PA in the Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2012-13. It also examined the relationship between PA and participation in education and self-reported health among 15–17-year-olds. Overall, participation rates appear to be high, with 64–84% of youth reporting at least 60 min of PA on the previous day. A gender gap was evident, with lower levels of activity among girls. PA decreased with age, particularly at or around the age of puberty. There were no significant associations between PA and either self-reported health or engagement in study. There was a relationship between high PA and low area-level socio-economic status in remote areas, but no association in non-remote areas.
- The “ripple effect”: Health and community perceptions of the Indigenous Marathon Program on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, Australia, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Suzanne Plater, Karla Canuto, et al., Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Volume 29(3), pp.304-313, (2018). We examined perceptions of the Indigenous Marathon Program (IMP) in a remote Torres Strait Island community. Barriers to running in the community were personal (cultural attitudes; shyness) and environmental (infrastructure; weather; dogs). Enablers reflected potential strategies to overcome described barriers. Indigenous questionnaire respondents were more likely to report being inspired to run by IMP runners than non‐Indigenous respondents. Positive “ripple” effects of the IMP on running and broader health were described to have occurred through local role modelling of healthy lifestyles by IMP runners that reduced levels of “shame” and embarrassment, a common barrier to physical activity among Indigenous Australians. A high initial level of community readiness for behaviour change was also reported.
- The facilitators and barriers of physical activity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander regional sport participants, opens in a new tab, Claudie Péloquin, Thomas Doering, Stephanie Alley, et al., Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Volume 41(5), pp.474-479, (October 2017). Participants were 12 Indigenous Australian adults, and 12 non‐Indigenous Australian adults matched on age, sex, and basketball division. Most participants reported engaging in regular exercise; however, the Indigenous group reported more barriers to PA. These factors included cost, time management and environmental constraints. The physical facilitators identified by our Indigenous sample included social support, intrinsic motivation and role modelling. This study is the first to compare the perspective of Indigenous Australians to a matched group of non‐Indigenous Australians and provides useful knowledge to develop public health programs based on culturally sensitive data.
- Correlates of physical activity among Australian Indigenous and non‐Indigenous adolescents, opens in a new tab, Rona Macniven, Shane Hearn, Anne Grunseit, et al., Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Volume 41(2), pp.187-192, (2017). Physical activity levels in Indigenous and non‐Indigenous adolescents in the out‐of‐school setting were similarly low in this large disadvantaged adolescent sample. Indigenous girls, those from fragmented families, or those feeling disengaged from their community had particularly low activity levels. Consistent with previous research, male gender and sports team membership were associated with higher levels of physical activity in this sample, as well as maternal employment and community involvement which are less well established correlates. However, it is evident that the relative importance of some factors and their association with physical activity may differ between Indigenous (gender, maternal employment, confidence) and non‐Indigenous (sports team membership, community involvement) adolescents. Importantly, our data found a stronger gender difference in the Indigenous sample compared to the non‐Indigenous participants. This may be due in part to cultural factors relating to gender in Indigenous communities, which may require culture‐specific solutions such as initiatives targeted to Indigenous girls. We found sports team membership was associated with higher levels of physical activity in both the total and the stratified non‐Indigenous sample, but not among the Indigenous respondents. The lack of association found in this Indigenous sample may reflect cultural preferences towards unstructured physical activity such as Caring for Country programs. Higher levels of feeling confident were found to be associated with higher physical activity among the Indigenous participants only.
- Perceived barriers and enablers to participation in a community-tailored physical activity program with Indigenous Australians in a regional and rural setting: a qualitative study, opens in a new tab, Ashleigh Sushames, Terry Engelberg, Klaus Gebel, International Journal for Equity in Health, Volume 16, (2017). The aim of this qualitative study was to explore perceived barriers and enablers to attending an eight-week physical activity program in a rural and regional setting which aimed to improve health outcomes, but had a low attendance rate. Overall, there were positive attitudes to, and high levels of motivation towards, the physical activity program. Enablers to participation were the inclusion of family members, no financial cost and a good relationship with the principal investigator, which was strengthened by the community-based participatory approach to the program design. Barriers to program attendance were mostly beyond the control of the individuals, such as ‘sorry business’, needing to travel away from the community and lack of community infrastructure.
- Sistas’ and Aunties: sport, physical activity, and Indigenous Australian women, opens in a new tab. Stronach, Megan, Maxwell, Hazel, Taylor, Tracy, Annals of Leisure Research, Volume 19(1), pp.7-26, (2016). Indigenous women have alarmingly low rates of participation in organized sport and physical activity (PA) in contemporary Australian society. To gain a better contextual and cultural understanding of the issues involved, we discussed the life experiences and the place of sport and PA with 22 Indigenous women. A complex amalgamation of cultural beliefs and traditions, history, gendered factors, and geography are presented in the women's stories. Sport and PA were highly regarded, providing the women with opportunities to maintain strong communities, preserve culture, and develop distinct identities as ‘enablers’. The women called for culturally safe spaces in which to engage in PA and noted the need for Indigenous females to act as role models.
- 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.
- Opportunities, Barriers, and Constraints To Physical Activity in Rural Queensland, Australia, opens in a new tab. Eley R, Bush R, Brown W, Journal of Physical Activity and Health Volume 11(1), pp.68-75, (2014). Research in six diverse rural Queensland shires found that half the respondents failed to meet Australian physical activity guidelines and 1 in 5 reported no activity. Some barriers to physical activity (i.e. family commitments) were similar to those from urban areas. Rural barriers included climate, culture of exercise, and community leadership. It was concluded that the promotion of healthy lifestyle in rural environments need to be tailored to the local community and not necessarily replicate urban programs. While this research does not specifically address Indigenous communities or individuals, a substantial proportion of the Indigenous population live in rural, regional and remote communities, and these issues are therefore likely to apply.
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