As Australia’s population becomes increasingly diverse, the role of sports in bringing people together has never been more vital.
Sporting clubs across the country are recognising the importance of inclusivity, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
By fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome and supported, regardless of their background, clubs can help build stronger, more connected communities, all while encouraging participation in sport.
The power of partnerships and community engagement
Forward-thinking clubs like Centenary Stormers FC and Logan Metro FC based in Queensland are working closely with community organisations such as Pushing Barriers to implement strategies that ensure all players can thrive in their sporting journey.
Pushing Barriers is a not-for-profit organisation that helps people from refugee backgrounds navigate Australia’s sport system by connecting them with local clubs and assisting families with communication, registration, fees, transportation and equipment.
Recognising that clubs don’t always have the resources to do home visits or sit down with parents to explain how it all works, Tracy Tucker, CEO of Pushing Barriers, says this is where community partnerships can help.
“I think creating a welcoming and inclusive environment all comes down to relationships,” Tucker said.
"Developing that trust relationship is essential. We start doing this at home visits and continue to build on it through our team liaison officer program.”
By working with community organisations in this way, clubs can provide a support system that eases the transition for families from CALD communities.
Inclusive leadership
Sam Escobar, President of Logan Metro FC, highlights that fostering an inclusive sporting environment often starts from the top.
Having a diverse committee of members, coaches, and managers can lend itself positively to understanding the needs of participants, particularly those from CALD communities.
“It's so important to have representation across all areas of the club so that you have people you can draw on when you need it,” Escobar said.
“I would imagine it'd be quite tough if you didn't have a diverse management and coaching group - it’d be hard for them to relate and understand some of those needs.”
Belinda Fisher, President of Centenary Stormers FC, echoes this sentiment: “We have people of diverse backgrounds on our leadership board, which is great, and we’ve taken on some of their ideas.”
Her club has made strides in inclusivity by making small yet impactful changes, such as adding halal-friendly options in the club canteen and introducing a multicultural liaison officer to the team.
These adjustments, while seemingly minor, have had a significant positive impact on the club's diverse membership.
Addressing transport and financial barriers
One significant challenge CALD communities face in accessing sports is transportation.
Clubs are finding creative solutions to address this by partnering with organisations and local businesses, arranging volunteer drivers, and coordinating with parents and coaches to transport players who might otherwise struggle to get to training and games.
At Logan Metro FC, for example, the club has collaborated with Beam, a local e-scooter company, to provide youth players with credits for scooter rides to training.
This initiative has reduced the burden of long walks to training sessions and has been widely embraced by the players.
To address financial barriers, many clubs are doing their best to keep fees as affordable as possible to make sport more accessible.
At Centenary Stormers FC, this involves using sponsorships money and government programs such as Get Started vouchers to cover administrative costs.
Both clubs also support parents by offering payment plans and aiding the process of applying for financial assistance to ensure no player is left out due to financial constraints.
Building a supportive and safe environment
As Sam Escobar has learnt, building a welcoming and inclusive sporting environment revolves around supportive and respectful communication.
“It’s not an overnight thing… if you are really committed to having members in your club from diverse backgrounds, it really involves having genuine patience and wanting to get messages across so they can learn how to adapt to these new environments because it is sometimes quite confronting how structured it is,” Escobar said.
Clubs must be willing to engage with families, understand their unique needs, and build trust through ongoing dialogue. Moreover, they need to be prepared to address issues like exclusion or racism head-on.
Working as a volunteer with Pushing Barriers, Emily McKenna stresses the need for clubs to develop systems to respond to such incidents promptly.
“Part of being culturally responsive is developing a system to respond to those incidents and letting players know that you take that really seriously,” McKenna said.
“It's about making sure that their experience and their time at the club is a positive and safe one.”
Being culturally responsive also involves creating spaces where players feel confident sharing their identities and ensuring that club activities are sensitive to cultural practices, such as Ramadan or other religious commitments.
Celebrating inclusion
As Centenary Stormers FC and Logan Metro FC demonstrate, inclusivity in sport is not just about ticking boxes; it’s about creating environments where everyone feels they belong.
As Sam Escobar beautifully puts it: "Every day is Harmony Week. You come here, and you just have so many different cultures, and that’s celebrated by just letting them be themselves. There’s power in that."
By embracing diversity and making thoughtful adjustments, sporting clubs can provide CALD communities with the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of sports and build meaningful relationships, all while paving the way for a more inclusive sport system in Australia.
For more strategies and resources on including multicultural communities in sport visit The Australian Sports Commission’s Inclusive Sport webpage and check out the new Multicultural Engagement Playbook.