Supporting First Nations Women and Girls
Empowering First Nations women and girls to be active has great health and community benefits.
Why is sport important?
Being active in sport helps protect First Nations women against health problems like obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Sport also brings everyone together. When First Nations women and girls get involved, especially through local clubs, the whole community benefits. Active mothers and aunts, and women in coaching or leadership roles, are powerful role models who inspire others to join in.
Being active is part of a long history
Before colonisation, being active was part of women’s daily lives, through activities like gathering food and swimming. This history and connection to Country stretches back at least 65,000 years.
But participation is dropping
Despite this rich history, participation in sport and physical activity has decreased over time. Now, only around 23% of Indigenous women play sport or are physically active compared with over 66% of non-Indigenous women.
What’s stopping them?
First Nations women and girls face specific barriers to taking part in sport. Some fear or feel uncomfortable using facilities due to past and ongoing racism – like being excluded from swimming pools as children. In remote areas, transport and costs for registration, uniforms or equipment can be too high. ‘Western-style’ sport may not always fit with traditional values that favour activities like music or craft for women. Sometimes community or family expectations and responsibilities make it harder to participate other than in a supporting role.
What could help?
Listen to First Nations women and work with them to create activities that fit their needs and encourage women and girls to enjoy sporting activities. Helpful approaches may include:
- community-based, family-friendly activities
- culturally safe spaces such as women-only classes and community events
- coaches and officials using sport to educate about the benefits of being active
- tools like fitness trackers or apps that can support motivation.
Supporting women in culturally respectful ways gives them real choices about how they want to be active. When First Nations women are empowered to participate, they become strong role models who help drive positive change in the whole community.
Further reading: Sport can be an important part of Aboriginal culture for women – but many barriers remain, opens in a new tab