Best depiction of inclusive sport

This award recognises the best example of media that depicts the inclusiveness of sport and/or sporting communities. Entries may include stories or programs that promote participation and help break down social barriers. Issues covered may include gender equity, Indigenous Australians, multicultural groups, different age demographics or the role of volunteers in sport.

2021 Winner

Peter Dickson, ‘The Ripple Effect’, Dickson Films

On 17 April, 1993, the sporting landscape in Australia changed in one moment.

Champion AFL player for St Kilda Nicky Winmar, had had enough of the hatred and menacing racist taunts being hurled at him at Melbourne’s Victoria Park, and facing the opposition Collingwood crowd he pulled up his St Kilda guernsey, pointed to his chest and declared: ‘I’m black and I’m proud to be black’. To this day it remains one of Australia’s most iconic historic images. But what happened to Nicky after that?

The Ripple Effect is an emotional and raw portrayal of the ongoing effects of racism, opens in a new tab, discrimination and bullying to our mental health featuring high profile Australian athletes sharing their personal stories.

Highly Commended

Bowls Australia, ‘The Bowls Show’ & ‘The Right Line podcast and website’

Bowls is the most inclusive sport in the world and can be played by any person, at any age, at any time. Through Bowls Australia’s The Bowls Show, opens in a new tab and The Right Line podcast, opens in a new tab and website, opens in a new tab, the organisation shines a light on the sport’s inclusivity, including being one of the only games where a para-athlete can win an able bodied event.

Through its various platforms, Bowls Australia highlights how the sport caters for the entire community with diverse participants and programs to encourage even more Australians to take up the game.

Finalists

Mary Konstantopoulos, NRL.com ‘Holly’s story: Coming out helps Raiders reporter realise importance of being yourself’

Holly worked at the NRL for several years before she felt comfortable enough to speak to a journalist about being the national sporting organisation’s first openly transgender employee, opens in a new tab.

In a sport like the NRL, which is characterised as ‘old school’ and ‘blokey’, Holly’s story demonstrates the importance of being yourself and the steps that the NRL is taking to ensure that everyone feels welcome and can be part of the rugby league family.

The story has been clicked on more than 40,000 times giving Holly further confidence to share her story and assist others on their journeys.

Megan Maurice, Guardian Australia ‘Tackling homophobic attitudes: the straight men who play for gay rugby clubs’

This story highlighted the dropout rates of young gay and bisexual men in sport and the pervasiveness of homophobic language, opens in a new tab – to the point that even young straight men are leaving traditional sporting clubs. At gay and inclusive rugby clubs, young men have found a haven from toxic masculinity.

The story reached almost 100,000 readers and won the Pride in Sport Positive Media Award in 2021. It has also been used by Rugby Victoria to convey the importance of hosting pride games for local clubs and is part of the course material at Monash University for students studying to become PE teachers to highlight the importance of inclusion in sport.

Amanda Shalala, ABC Sport ‘Getting Back on Track’

This is a story of heartbreak, hardships, healing and ultimately hope, opens in a new tab. It outlines the incredible journeys of three African refugees and an Australian champion, who have found each other to form a unique elite athletics training group, as well as a family.

They have each had to overcome their own struggles, including mental health battles, fear of political and religious persecution, and poverty, in order to pursue their passion to run. This story demonstrates the capacity of sport to provide a lifeline, and a family, for those who desperately need it the most.