Playing for the future: - Centre for Multicultural Youth

Playing for the futureand affordable housing and health services,families and communities are supported,police and the justice system are fair andresponsive, diversity is celebrated, andsocial exclusion is systemically tackled.Moreover, not all sport and recreationprograms or competitions have beneficialoutcomes for those participating. This paperdocuments good practice in terms of sportand recreation program delivery for newlyarrived and refugee young people. It similarlyidentifies some of the barriers to participationthat need to be considered in planning andimplementing targeted programs. Thesebarriers include issues around cost, transport,parent/guardian support, language, accessto facilities, and young people not knowinghow and where they can play.Finally, Playing for the future includesrecommendations for ways forward increating inclusive and sustainable sportand recreation opportunities that facilitatepositive outcomes for refugee young peoplein terms of their social inclusion, health andwellbeing.CMYI recommends:• Funding sustainable sport and recreation programs through• The creation of a dedicated funding stream;• Supporting young people’s participation through a small grantsscheme;• The recognition and resourcing of sport and recreation withinsettlement services.• Developing better linkages between the sport, recreation,settlement and community sectors through• Convening an inter-departmental meeting of keystakeholders.• Facilitating social inclusion of newly arrived communitiesthrough• Supporting bi-cultural workers and resourcing communitydevelopment approaches;• Encouraging supportive parents through a health literacyinitiative targeting newly arrived families.• Improving access to sport and recreation facilities in localareas through• Ensuring local government leisure services are accountable forequitable access to facilities;• Exploring ways for school facilities to be more accessible tolocal communities after hours.• An inclusive sports sector through• Embedding inclusive practices in State Sporting Associations;• Piloting a mentoring initiative at the local club level.• Further research be undertaken into• The impact of sport and recreation on settlement outcomes foryoung people;• Active recreation as a tool for ‘good settlement’.Page

Playing for the future2. Glossary of termsThe following terms are referred tothroughout this paper. This glossaryprovides some definitions and contextaround their meaning.IntegrationIntegration has been used in researchto define the goal of a well-settledperson or community and mayprovide a useful starting point indefining the goals and evaluating theoutcomes of Australia’s humanitarianprogram. Integration, as defined inValtonen (2004:74), isthe ability to participate fully ineconomic, social, cultural andpolitical activities, without havingto relinquish one’s own distinctethnocultural identity and culture.It is at the same time a process bywhich settling persons becomepart of the social, institutional andcultural fabric of a society.Integration, in contrast to assimilation,infers the full participation of newarrivals in the country of settlementwithout necessitating a loss of identityor a one-way process wherebyrefugees and migrants are simplyabsorbed into their new surroundings.Integration assumes that there aremultiple parts, identities, communitiesand so on, that make up the wholesociety, and that new arrivals are ableto contribute and become activecitizens of a cohesive and diversecommunity. (Olliff & Mohamed, 2007,p.3)Newly arrived young personA young person who was bornoverseas and has lived in Australia fora relatively short period of time. TheFederal Government defines ‘newlyarrived’ as someone who has beenin Australia for 5 years or less. Otherdefinitions vary according to thelength of time it is considered to taketo effectively resettle (up to 10 years).In this paper, we refer to newly arrivedyoung people using the FederalGovernment definition.Page RefugeeThe United Nations 1951 ConventionRelating to the Status of Refugees, towhich Australia is a signatory, definesrefugees as people whoare outside their country ofnationality or their usual countryof residence; and are unable orunwilling to return or to seek theprotection of that country dueto a well-founded fear of beingpersecuted for reasons of race,religion, nationality, membershipof a particular social group, orpolitical opinion...The UN Convention provides a restrictivedefinition centred on proving awell-founded fear of persecution.For example, the definition does notinclude people fleeing environmentaldisaster or economic deprivation,even where they must flee in order toavoid death.Some things to note about refugees:• Refugees have escaped situationsthat have endangeredtheir lives and their psychologicalhealth and wellbeing. Refugeesseek a new life in Australia notdue to free choice, but in orderto be protected.• Refugees have to leave theircountry under extreme andharsh circumstances, whichdoes not allow them the benefitthat migrants have in financiallyand psychologically preparingfor life in another country. Theyhave often lost family, seen andexperienced atrocities, spentyears in refugee camps or intransition from one country toanother, and ultimately suffereda high level of trauma. Refugeesrarely have the chance to makeplans for their departure: to packtheir belongings or to say farewellto their friends and families. Theyoften have little idea aboutthe country in which they areresettling and the nature of thesociety there. (CMYI, 2005)Social inclusion/exclusionThere are many and varied definitionsof social inclusion and social exclusion.For the purposes of this paper, werefer to Donnelly & Coakley (2002, viiiix):Social inclusion is about makingsure that all children and adultsare able to participate as valued,respected and contributingmembers of society. It is, therefore,a normative (value based)concept - a way of raising thebar and understanding wherewe want to be and how to getthere.Social inclusion reflects aproactive, human developmentapproach to social wellbeingthat calls for more than theremoval of barriers or risks. Itrequires investments and actionto bring about the conditionsfor inclusion, as the populationhealth and international humandevelopment movements havetaught us.Recognizing the importanceof difference and diversityhas become central to newunderstandings of identity at botha national and community level.Social inclusion goes one stepfurther: it calls for a validation andrecognition of diversity as well asa recognition of the commonalityof lived experiences and theshared aspirations among people,particularly evident amongfamilies with children.This strongly suggests that socialinclusion extends beyond bringingthe ‘outsiders’ in, or notions of theperiphery versus the centre. It isabout closing physical, social andeconomic distances separatingpeople, rather than only abouteliminating boundaries or barriersbetween us and them.

Playing for the future3. MethodologySport and recreationVicHealth (2007b) define sport as:…physical activity that iscompetitive, organised, involvesrules and may be participated ineither individually or as a team.This definition refers primarily tothose participating in sports asamateurs.The definition of recreation used in thispaper pertains to active recreation,which VicHealth (2007b) define as:…generally unstructured activitythat individuals freely pursue intheir uncommitted time (leisuretime) for a personal sense ofenjoyment that also benefitstheir physical, social or emotionalwellbeing.This definition can include activitiessuch as hip hop dancing, camps,excursions, creative art andphotography workshops, drama andso on.Young personThe UN defines ‘youth’ as someonebetween the ages of 15 and 24 yearsinclusive. In Australia, government andnon-government services commonlyexpand this definition to include 12 to25 year olds, and this is the definitionreferred to in this paper.It should be noted, however, thatthe concept of youth is understooddifferently across cultures as it relatesto life stages, roles within the familyand other social expectations.In developing this discussion paper, CMYI used a number of methods toconsult with sport and settlement providers and young people, and toengage with current literature and international thinking around sportand recreation in the context of settlement. The methodology usedincluded:Social inclusion: Sport and recreation as a tool for ‘goodsettlement’ forumA Refugee Youth Policy Forum/Multicultural Sport Network Meeting washeld on 4th April 2007 at CO.AS.IT in Carlton and was attended by over60 participants. The forum provided an opportunity for representativesfrom a cross-section of sporting associations, community groups, localcouncil and settlement services to discuss good practice in providingsport and recreation opportunities for newly arrived and refugeeyoung people. The forum included a panel of seven representativesfrom refugee and migrant communities who spoke about effectivestrategies for engaging both parents and young people, as well as akeynote speech by Monash University’s Brett Hutchins.Consultations with service providersFollowing on from the Sport and good settlement forum, a series ofconsultations and a follow-up forum (on 27 June 2007) was held withkey stakeholders and service providers from the community sportsand leisure sectors. An email requesting input from participants at theforum was sent out, and 11 workers responded with written responses.Feedback was also sought through the Southeast Multicultural YouthAction Group (MYAG), Southern Integrated CALD Network, AMES IHSSConsortium, and CMYI’s Policy and Program teams.Survey of refugee young peopleA survey of 25 young people (aged 13-21 years) was undertaken ata multicultural basketball program held at Springers Leisure Centre inKeysborough during the 2007 Easter school holidays. The program wastargeted and attended predominantly by young people from refugeeand migrant backgrounds. Teams participating in the competitioncame from a wide area of metropolitan Melbourne, from the West,North and Southeast.The survey was administered verbally. 18 of the respondents werefemale and 7 were male. The average age was 16.7 years. The majoritywere from African backgrounds, with two from Southeast Asia. 88%of respondents had been in Australia 5 years or less. Results from thissurvey are included in the appendices.Review of literatureA review of Australian and international literature was undertakento explore definitions and frameworks for understanding sport andrecreation in the context of settlement. (See references for fullbibliography.)Experiences of CMYI Multicultural Sport and Recreation ProjectCMYI’s Multicultural Sport and Recreation Project was initiated in 1998and the experiences and resources developed through this projectwere a key source of information for Playing for the future. A specificconsultation was held with the CMYI Sport and Social Health Team withstaff providing input into the recommendations.Page

Playing for the future4. BackgroundThis section provides some background to the issue,including an overview of some of the issues relating torefugee young people and resettlement (Section 4.1).Section 4.2 provides statistics on participation levels forrefugee and migrant communities in sport and recreation,and Section 4.3 gives an overview of the policy context inwhich sport and recreation programs for this target groupare funded and delivered.4.1 Resettlement and refugee youngpeopleThe refugee experience is by definition traumatic andcharacterised by persecution, displacement, loss, grief,and forced separation from family, home and belongings.This displacement has a profound impact on the individual,family and community. Many refugee young people andtheir families will have experienced some or all of thefollowing:• Forced departure from their country of origin;• Conflict, organised violence and human rightsabuses; and• A dangerous escape from their country of origin,travelling long distances, sometimes by foot and incramped conditions (RRAC 2002, p.4)Those who are unable to return home often spend manyyears in a country of first asylum, which is usually anotherdeveloping country (e.g. Kenya or Thailand). For someyoung people, the majority of their lives have been spentin transition countries and this profoundly impacts on theiridentity and settlement experience in Australia.New arrivals from refugee backgrounds are likely, as a resultof their pre-migration and migration experiences, to face See glossary for definitions of newly arrived, refugee, andyoung person The United Nations reports that, as of 2003, the averageduration of time spent in a refugee camp was 17 years (www.unhcr.org)Figure 1. Phases of refugee adjustmentcommon difficulties in adjusting to a new life in Australia.Young refugees also have needs that are distinct fromthose of older refugees. As well as adjusting to life in a newcountry, recovering from trauma, navigating education,employment and complex bureaucratic systems, refugeeyoung people must also negotiate family, peer, individualand community expectations within the context ofadolescence.Figure 1 reflects the phases of resettlement that manyyoung refugees go through. Phase 1 is characterisedby relief mixed with high expectations, feelings of beingdisoriented and confused, and numbness and anger.Phase 2 occurs when a young person’s desire for quickadjustment has not been realised and awareness of thechallenges to be met can be overwhelming. Phases 3 and4 are largely dependent on the settlement support andacceptance that young people experience, and this iswhere the support and links gained through participation ininclusive sport and recreation programs can be extremelyimportant. The extent to which a young person is able tobuild on strengths and effectively negotiate systems willdetermine whether they experience a growing senseof mastery and comfort in Australia, or alienation andmarginalisation.Despite the immense challenges of settling in a newcountry, it is important to recognise that refugee youngpeople often make remarkable progress and bring awealth of resources and strengths to the Australiancommunity. The refugee experience can bring aboutqualities such as resilience and resourcefulness, adaptability,a strong commitment to family and community,and a strong desire to achieve educationally. Newlyarrived young people often have broad internationalknowledge, multilingual skills and awareness of manycultures and communities. If well supported in the transitionperiod, refugee young people have demonstrated theirstrong capacity to be able to rebuild their lives, achievetheir goals and contribute dynamically to the broaderAustralian community.* Intervention - includingcreating inclusive andaccessible sport andrecreation opportunities.(Source: Adapted by CMYI from MinnesotaCentre for Victims of Torture, URL)Page

Playing for the future4.2 Involvement of newlyarrived and refugee youngpeople in sport and recreationWhile the demand for more targeted sportand recreation programs is frequentlycited by settlement and youth workers,there is little data to indicate currentlevels of participation for refugee andnewly arrived young people. A recentreport by Cortis, Sawrikar & Muir (2007)documenting the involvement of culturallyand linguistically diverse women in sport inAustralia suggests that participation ratesare substantially lower for those born innon English-speaking countries (see Figure2). This data does not, however, show abreakdown by age group or visa type.A recent Australian Bureau of Statisticsreport focusing on Migrants andparticipation in sport and physical activity(2006), while not broken down by ageor visa type, does support anecdotalevidence that refugee young peopleare under-represented in structured sport(see also Keogh 2002). However, higherparticipation rates in non-organised sport(Figure 3) reflect the importance of informal,social games that are often played in parksbetween friends, at community events andso on. These social games are commonlyhow sport is played overseas in refugeecamps and other countries, though thereare potentially different issues at play foryoung people participating in these kindsof activities in Australia (e.g. issues aroundaccessing grounds). Non-organised sport,while extremely important and valuable,is also likely to have a different functionin terms of settlement support becauseof its limited potential for linking youngpeople into wider social networks and toworkers who can provide information andsupport.“Many of these kids have fled their countryof birth and arrived in Melbourne to stay withsurviving family members. They’ve got some bigissues to sort out in their lives and playing sportgives them time out…”- Rhonda Hernandez, Northern MRC (VicHealth 2007a, p.2)Figure 2. Proportion of the population involved as players and nonplayersby birthplace, persons, Australia, 2004(Source: Cortis, Sawrikar & Muir 2007, p.11)Figure 3. Participation in organised and non-organised sport byregion of birth, Australia, 2002Organised (%) Non-organised (%)Oceania and Antarctica 56.4 72.9Sub-Saharan Africa 53.8 75.7Americas 50.6 77.8North-West Europe 48.7 76.7Southern and Central Asia 46.2 83.2South-East Asia 36.9 90.2Southern and Eastern Europe 26.1 84.1North-East Asia 25.4 89.7North Africa and the Middle East 17.2 87.8(ABS 2006, p.10)Page

Playing for the future4.3 The policy contextThe policy context for the provision of sport and recreationopportunities to newly arrived and refugee young peopleis complex as responsibility does not fit within any oneservice area. For example, responsibility for inclusivesport and recreation opportunities could potentiallylie with (Federally-funded) settlement services, thesports and leisure sector (particularly around structuredactivities/competitions), community- and ethno-specificorganisations, state and local government (for access togrounds and facilities, public health initiatives etc).In terms of settlement services, a recent articulation ofthe goals of humanitarian settlement services involves acommitment to “helping new arrivals participate in thecommunity as soon as possible after arrival. Settlementservices funded by the Department of Immigrationand Multicultural Affairs provide assistance to help newarrivals become accustomed to life in Australia. Theseservices focus on building self-reliance, developingEnglish language skills, and fostering links with mainstreamservices” (Commonwealth of Australia 2006, p.3).In terms of how settlement services link in with sport andrecreation programs as part of these goals, there are nosystemic programs or funding sources that support refugeeand newly arrived young people’s participation in sportand recreation. The Federal government’s IntegratedHumanitarian Settlement Services (IHSS) program does notfund the delivery of sport and recreation activities per se,but rather IHSS providers link new arrivals into existing localservices (including sport and recreation opportunities)based on identified need. Case workers in IHSS workwith families as a unit and do not have a specific youthfocus. Referrals to sport and recreation are not reportedagainst.The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’sSettlement Grants Program (SGP) funding is targeted atthose who have exited the IHSS and been in Australiafor six months or more. For example, Australian LebaneseWelfare provides casework, community education andgroup work to Arabic-speaking youth. SGP-fundedservices can provide group work activities that includesport and recreation components, although fundinggenerally does not cover the costs of program delivery(equipment, venue hire, etc).The sport and leisure sector, which obviously havethe skills and resources to run sport and recreationprograms, have varied commitments to accessibilityand inclusiveness. For example, some State SportingAssociations (SSAs) have been proactive in addressingbarriers to participation for refugee and migrant youngpeople (such as developing diversity and inclusionpolicies, targeted programs, liaison officers, staff training),however this is not a widespread practice across allsports and leisure providers. Government funding, forexample, is not contingent on SSAs being accountablefor implementing access and equity strategies. Localleisure services are frequently outsourced to companies A pilot phase for youth specific community guides in IHSS isabout to be trialled in the Southeast region of Melbourne. Thishas great potential to facilitate links between newly arrivedyoung people and local sport and recreation providers.Page

Playing for the futurethat use business models (user-pay) which do not naturallylend themselves to resourcing inclusive programs andservices for disadvantaged groups.On a state level, The Department of Victorian Communitiesaddresses health inequalities for marginalised groupsthrough their Go for Your Life initiative (www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au) and through the provision of grants such asStrengthening Communities, Support for Grassroots Sportsand Our Club, Our Future Sporting Uniforms Grant (www.grants.dvc.vic.gov.au). However, several of these grantsare short-term pilot projects and it is very difficult to createsustainable long-term outcomes or to get these initiativesre-funded through other avenues.The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)also provides a number of excellent funding pools thatinclude refugee and newly arrived communities as targetgroups. These include the Participation in Community Sportand Active Recreation Scheme, Building Bridges Scheme,and Active Participation Grants (www.vichealth.vic.gov.au). These grants have funded a number of targetedprograms (e.g. Maribyrnong City Council’s Newly ArrivedMigrant & Refugee Young People’s Recreation Project,Banyule City Council’s Bridging Gaps with Basketball),although they are also not long-term funding grants.At a local level, programs targeting refugee and newlyarrived young people tend to be funded through ad hoc andshort-term grants. Funding sources include: philanthropic(e.g. Sports without Borders www.sportswithoutborders.org.au), state sporting associations (e.g. the AFL MulticulturalProgram), related local and state government grants (e.g.VicHealth or local council grants), or tied to programssuch as the FaCSIA-funded Newly Arrived Youth SupportService (NAYSS) and Reconnect initiatives. Many ethnospecificsports clubs or organisations have found it difficultto secure funding through available grant programs. Forexample, the Longhorns Basketball Club in the Westernregion of Melbourne has been operating for three yearswithout any sustained financial support. The Club is run byvolunteers and involves around 100 young people fromrefugee backgrounds.It should be noted that all levels of government aregoverned by the Commonwealth Charter of PublicService in a Culturally Diverse Society (1998). This Charterhas been endorsed by Commonwealth, State and TerritoryGovernment and the Australian Local GovernmentAssociation, so represents a nationally consistent approachto the delivery of culturally responsive governmentservices. The Charter states that: “Access and equitypolicies aim to ensure that government services meetthe needs of people from diverse linguistic and culturalbackgrounds so they can participate fully in economic,social and cultural life” (Commonwealth of Australia 1998,p.1). What this means in terms of practice is varied. Forexample, some local councils have been more proactivein addressing access and equity issues, such as recognisingand addressing barriers to refugee communities accessingsport and recreation facilities, however this is not the caseacross all local government areas.Page

Playing for the future5. What role does sport and recreation play in thesettlement process?The high demand for sport and recreation activities for newly arrived young people is often cited by workers andagencies, yet little has been documented about the role sport and recreation plays in the settlement process. Thefollowing outlines some of the reasons why sport and recreation is popular among newly arrived and refugee youngpeople, the benefits that can accrue from inclusive and accessible programs (Section 5.1), and provides some casestudies and examples of good practice (Section 5.3 and examples throughout). This section also includes discussionof the barriers to participation (Section 5.2), as well as the limitations of using sport and recreation as a tool for ‘goodsettlement’ (Section 5.4).5.1 How can participating in sport and recreation assist young people to ‘settle well’in Australia?“Playing sport and participating in physical recreation offersimportant opportunities to enhance health and wellbeing. As wellas promoting well-documented health benefits (such as reducedrisk of cardiovascular disease), participation can offer a social andpolitical space in which to cultivate cultural diversity and promotesocial inclusion. [Figure 4] contains a summary list of the personal,socio-cultural and economic benefits of sport and recreation. Thesebenefits mean that enabling equal participation and dismantlingany barriers that exist for different groups is important not onlyfor individual wellbeing, but also for social cohesion and nationaleconomic performance.”- Cortis, Sawrikar & Muir, 2007, p.1Figure 4. Potential benefits of sports participationThe benefits of participating in sportand active recreation have been welldocumented in studies (see VicHealthwebsite). Figure 4, for example, shows someof the potential benefits of participation,ranging from personal through to socioculturaland economic benefits. Whilethese (potential) benefits are applicable toyoung people from any background, thecommon settlement experiences of newlyarrived young people mean that sport andrecreation can also provide additionalsupport as young people negotiate theirpast, present and future in Australia. Theseattributes include:Personal benefits• Physical health• Stress management• Self-esteem• Academic performance• Sense of achievement, meaning and lifesatisfactionSocio-cultural benefits• Social interaction and communitystrengthening• Reduced antisocial behaviour and crime• Promotion of ethnic and cultural harmony• Strengthening families• Promoting community involvement, prideand empowerment• Offering access for the disabled ordisadvantaged• Promotes ethical behaviour models• National cohesionEconomic benefits• Cost-effective health prevention• Fit, productive workforce• Business growth• Reduces costs of crime• Tourism• Employment• International representation and influence• Sport and recreation as a site for trustbuilding;• Sport and recreation facilitatingsettlement and transitional support;• Sport and recreation as a diversionstrategy;• Sport and recreation as a capacitybuilding opportunity;• Sport and recreation as a therapeuticoutcome;• Sport and recreation as an entry pointto broader participation;• Sport and recreation promotes healthand wellbeing;• Sport and recreation as a way to buildcommunity understanding. Refer to Section 4.1 on Refugee young peopleand resettlement(Adapted from Collins and Kay (2003:28-33). Cited in Cortis, Sawrikar & Muir 2007, p.42)Page 10

Playing for the future5.1.1 Sport and recreation as a site for trust buildingSport and recreation activities – including activities likedance, camps, excursions, etc – provide an ideal site fortrust building with young people from newly arrived andrefugee backgrounds. Sport is a familiar activity in whichyoung people readily participate. This provides fertileopportunity for those delivering services to engage withyoung people and build trust, having a significant flow oneffect for young people’s help-seeking during settlement.Case study: Tom*Tom, 14, was referred to a youth worker at a localmulticultural youth service due to conflict he wasexperiencing both at school and at home. Tom and hisfamily had been in Australia for six months at the time hewas referred. Tom was getting into fights at the Englishlanguage school and his parents were fearful for hissafety and the safety of those around him. He was alsoquite isolated.Mark, the youth worker, found it extremely difficult toengage with Tom at first, who had limited English andalso appeared resistant to talking about what was goingon. Mark decided to persist and change his approachby taking Tom to a local park to kick a soccer ballaround as a way of making him feel more comfortableat the beginning of each session. While they couldcommunicate only minimally at the park, Mark found thisan extremely useful way of building rapport and foundTom was more willing to talk when they got back intothe office and a telephone interpreter was engaged.Mark considers that soccer has been an extremelyimportant tool in supporting and working with Tom.Not only has it helped their relationship, but playingin a local park also led to Tom connecting with otheryoung people who joined in their casual games. In fact,after a year of working with Tom and his family, Markhas noticed that Tom has now made a number of goodfriends through soccer and is actively engaged in ateam made up of other newly arrived young people.When a local service recently ran a soccer competitionduring the school holidays, Tom was confident enoughto approach Mark to get assistance in registering ateam, and took a leadership role in getting the team toparticipate on the day.While involvement in soccer seems to have had anextremely positive effect on Tom, Mark has also seensome of the barriers newly arrived young people face ingetting involved in sport. For example, on a number ofoccasions Tom and his friends have been told to leavelocal sports grounds (access to public space), cost andlanguage have been major barriers to linking him inwith a local club, and access to transport has been anongoing issue.Despite these barriers, Mark says soccer has helpedto ground Tom. It has helped him to make friends andwhen he is playing his parents feel more confident thathe is safe. Although there are lots of things that Tom stillneeds to work through, he has begun to connect to thewider community in a more positive way.* Names and some details have been changed5.1.2 Sport and recreation facilitating settlement and transitional supportSport and recreation can be an effective componentin providing settlement support for newly arrived youngpeople. Opportunities to play sport or participate in funactivities in familiar and supportive environments can alsoprovide a site whereby information about other servicesand systems in Australia can be shared among participantsand through trusted workers.Figure 5 (see over) shows the results of a survey of 25young people taking part in a multicultural basketballprogram. Participants were asked to indicate their topthree reasons for participating in sport from a list of eightpossible responses. Interestingly, when the results arebroken down by those who have been in Australia for upto 2 years and those who have been in Australia for morethan 2 years, the top reasons for participating in sport arenoticeably different. That is, the role of sport in providingsettlement support – in terms of information and supportfrom coaches and language acquisition – is more clearlya motivating factor for more recent arrivals (Figure 6 - seeover). See Appendix for full detailsPage 11

Playing for the futureFigure 5.Figure 6. Top two reasons given for participating in sport by lengthof time in AustraliaRespondents who have been inAustralia < 2 years (n = 8)Respondents who have been inAustralia > 2 years (n = 17)5.1.3 Sport and recreation asdiversion“Sport is an importantelement in the lives of familiesand young people prior tosettlement – sport is played invillages and refugee camps –however because of a numberof barriers, young peopledon’t have the same access tosport when they first arrive inAustralia, so there is the riskthat they will drift towardsother less desirable activities.”- Endalkatchew Gage, MulticulturalYouth Worker, CMYIReason# whoincludedin Top 3I participate because 5it’s fun and the coach/captain helps me withother stuffI participate to learn 5new skillsI participate because 4it’s a good way tomake friendsI participate because 4it helps me to learn EnglishI participate so I can 4hang out with other youngpeople from my communityReason# whoincludedin Top 3I participate to learn 13new skillsI participate for fitness/ 10health reasonsI participate because 10it’s a good way to makefriendsYoung people from refugee and migrantbackgrounds can feel disconnected fromtheir family, community and peers as theysearch for their own sense of place inAustralia. This search can sometimes leadyoung people to come into contact withrisk-taking behaviour. Diversionary activitiessuch as sport and recreation may preventsome of this contact and give young peoplea sense of belonging. Participation doesnot, however, guarantee a diversionaryoutcome. Sport and recreation programsneed to be structured and coordinatedwith locally based services that can addressissues as they arise both on and off the fieldor program.“I tell parents if they arereluctant about their youngpeople participating - ‘At leastyou know where your kids are.Coz they’re either going to beout in the streets hanging out, orat the leisure centre/basketballcourt. Which would you ratherthey were doing?’”- Claudia Abakah, MulticulturalYouth Liaison Officer, CMYIPage 12

Playing for the future5.1.4 Sport and recreation as a capacitybuilding opportunitySport and recreation can be used to explore real lifeissues and challenges, particularly as they relate tothe dislocation and tensions inherent in the settlementprocess. Often viewed as a microcosm of life, the sportingfield provides an environment whereby actions andconsequences can be explored. Support workers can usethe competitive environment to draw parallels betweenwhat happens on the sporting field and in other areas oflife, such as school. In the same vein, targeted recreationprograms such as men’s/girls’ groups, camps and creativearts programs, can provide a space for young peopleto develop a range of life skills and explore their ownstrengths and personal development. This process does,however, require skilled workers who have gained thetrust and respect of young participants. A range of issuescan be addressed when viewing sport and recreation inthis way, including: communication, conflict resolution,racism/tolerance and self esteem.Case study: Longhorn Basketball ClubThe Longhorn Basketball Club was founded in 2003and is based in the Western region of Melbourne.The club is volunteer-run and involves around 100mainly-Sudanese young people. Manyang Berberi,a coach and founder of the club, is well respectedin his community and has built the club arounda strong philosophy of ensuring its members arewell supported and encouraged in other parts oftheir lives. For example, Manyang believes thatparticipating in structured sport requires commitmentand discipline, and the students who join must attendschool if they want to play for the club. Manyang,who is currently studying Sports Administration andBusiness Administration at University, not only shareshis skills and knowledge with club members, but alsoprovides a strong role model for the young peoplewho participate.“The major impact of trauma is abreak in connection, a confounding ofthe individual’s belief that human beingscan be trusted, or are predictable…and the most important pathway torecovery is connection. Using funinterventions can restore trust andfaith in humanity. Recreational andgroup activities (i.e. fun) are not onlyan engagement tool, they are in facttherapeutic interventions.”- Chris Hortin, Multicultural Youth Worker, CMYIissues they invariably face during settlement and inrecovering from the impact of trauma.The importance of fun as a motivating factor forparticipating in sport was also reflected in the survey of 25young people. When asked an open question about whythey participated in sport/recreation, the main responsescentred on fun and enjoyment. Some of the responsesincluded:•••••It’s great fun.I play for fun and for the future.It’s fun, and it keeps you fit (which is a bonus).I just like it.Make friends, have fun, keep fit.5.1.5 Sport and recreation as a therapeuticoutcomeProviding accessible sport and recreation opportunitiescan be important for newly arrived young people whohave experienced significant trauma prior to arrivalin Australia. Many refugee young people have spentprolonged periods in refugee camps and conflict zonesand may not have ever had opportunities to play asother young people have. Having the opportunity toplay – which is so important in the formative years of aperson’s life – provides a space for young people to formconnections and take some time out from the difficultPage 13

Playing for the future5.1.6 Sport and recreation as an entry point tobroader participation“I want to play basketball with anyone. Itdoesn’t matter if they’re Sudanese. After Iknow them, it’s fun.”- Sudanese young woman, 16, on whatkind of sport she would like to playSport and recreation represents a practical and accessibleentry point for addressing the needs of young peoplefrom refugee and migrant backgrounds and providinglinks between and within communities. Newly arrivedyoung people may start by participating in an ethnospecificor targeted multicultural program, but aftergaining confidence can more easily be linked into otherparticipation opportunities, such as mainstream sportsclubs or competitions and different recreation activities.Figure 7 provides a visual representation of entry points fornewly arrived and refugee young people into sport andrecreation and broader participation.Do we need ethno-specific models?CMYI has found that young people from refugee andmigrant backgrounds identify with other young peoplefrom a similar background or experience and that this isan important factor in achieving participation. This doesnot mean that young people want to ONLY play withother young people from a similar background, but thatrecognition should be given to the importance of youngpeople being able to play with peers who they feelcomfortable with and who can provide mutual support.This may mean young people want to play with othersfrom the same cultural or language background, or withthose who have shared life experiences (e.g. with otherswho are newly arrived in Australia).Australian Lebanese Welfare (ALW), for example,have found that ethno-specific models, rather thancompounding isolation, provide an important vehicle foryoung people to gain the confidence to participate inwider community activities. ALW cite models where groupshave begun with a particular ethno-specific makeupbut have broadened out over time to incorporate arange of cultural backgrounds as evidence that this is adevelopmental and evolving process.CMYIs experience has also been that ethno-specificmodels do not necessarily have a ‘use-by date’, wherebynewly arrived young people move from playing with thosefrom similar backgrounds into mainstream teams, clubs orprograms. Once friendships/connections are established,it is only natural that young people will want to continue toplay together, whatever their background!Case study: It started with All Nations…Born in Afghanistan, Amanullah came to Australia inDecember 2005.“At that time, in my country, it was very difficult forlife. I didn’t play sport in Afghanistan because I didn’thave time - 6 days a week, 13 hours a day, I work, Imake carpet. No time for sport, no time for holiday,no time for a picnic. I love soccer in Australia. Socceris the best sport in the world. Soccer is a very hardsport - you have to train hard to play well and wehave been meeting for some months now 3 times aweek. We still do that even though the competitionis over. Playing soccer is healthy and good for lifein the future. When I first arrived in Australia, I had alot of time. I stayed home for 3-4 months becauseI didn’t know anyone and I didn’t know whereI could go. Now I find lots of friends from soccertraining. I play with different people from differentnationalities.I played left defender for the Harmony team in theAll Nations Tournament as part of the competition inthe south. It was wonderful. I am looking forward todoing umpire training this year. This will let me earnsome money in the sport I love.”- AMES Youth Program Participant, Noble ParkFigure 7. Sport and recreation as an entry point to broader participationPage 14

Playing for the future5.1.7 Sport and recreation promotes health andwellbeing“I want to be healthy, and sport is good for me.”- Sudanese young woman, 18,Participating in a sports club or recreation activity has beenshown to have positive social and psychological effects.These include increased self-esteem, better developmentof life skills, and increase in academic achievement.People seek participation in sport and recreation for threekey reasons – fun, fitness and friends, all of which contributeto our overall wellbeing (VicHealth 2006).For refugee and newly arrived young people who may nothave had the opportunity or time to play prior to settlement,participating in sport or recreation has many additionalhealth benefits, particularly in terms of mental health.For young people going through the difficult process ofsettling in a new country – where they have to learn newsystems, a new language and juggle the expectations offamily, friends and community – feeling positive about thefuture and their potential is extremely important. Playingsport in a supportive environment can provide a ‘timeout’ from the many challenges of settlement and a spacewhere young people can do something they are familiarwith. As Nelson Mandela so aptly put it, Sport speaks topeople in a language they can understand.5.1.8 Sport and recreation as a way to buildcommunity understanding“… sport and recreation has the potentialto help smooth what can be a dislocatingexperience of migration by offering familiarityand facilitating community connections. Sport canprovide a forum through which to express andpromote diversity; celebrate, maintain, revive andaffirm cultural difference; challenge stereotypesand enhance intercultural relations (Taylor, 2001;Hanlon and Coleman, 2006; Coakley, 2001).”- Cortis, Sawrikar & Muir, 2007, p.3-4Sport brings people together people together andcan be used as a tool to build better understandingwithin and across communities. An example of such amodel is the All Nations Soccer Competition. This annualround robin competition brings together a variety ofcommunities, and includes a social component withbarbeques and family activities organised after thematches. Players and supporters are brought togetherand the competition provides a backdrop for these socialactivities. An achievement of the All Nations model is thatit brings players and people from different cultures andbackgrounds face to face, requiring them to play againstand with one another despite their differences.Case study: Upfield Soccer Club…Like most first official training sessions, there is alot of excitement in the changing rooms. Storiesof summer exploits are relayed in five differentlanguages, thus making this gathering resemble aUnited Nations meeting. But all the diplomacy stopswhen Theo Myriskos, the club president, ChirstoFokianos, a senior board member, and head coachGurkan Topal enter the changing room to officiallybegin the season.After all the warm pleasantries are exchanged,Christo launches into a speech that can only begiven at a club as ethnically diverse as Upfield,home to players from ten different nationalities. Hisaddress is mainly catered to the new players who arelooking to join the Upfield family. “It’s important thatany newcomer that comes to Upfield understandthat their history has no relevance to their ability,”Christo says, his face stern but eyes full of empathyfor these young refugees, some of whom have leftterrified family members back in Iraq and Palestine.“Upfield treats everybody as an individual and wesucceeded for many years because of it. Everyoneis welcome and we are happy to have anyone aslong as they keep their history aside and just focuson playing soccer”.It is this belief that forms the charter of Upfield S.C.Many players who wear the blue and white ofUpfield profess that this team is not merely just asoccer club, but another family for youngsters whofled the terror and bloodshed of countries such asIraq, Palestine and El Salvador.“A soccer team that is rooted with good people,that doesn’t promote conflict and political agendaswill always create a bonding environment,” Christosays. “For a first time immigrant that wants to getinvolved with what Australia has to offer, Upfield is agreat starting point”.…Mohammed is one of the many Iraqi refugees whofound solace in Upfield. Amongst them are Sunnis,Shias and Christians, historic religious enemies whoare currently caught up in the bloody sectarianviolence back home. For these Iraqi players, thecurrent situation in their country has not affectedthe warm relationship they share with each other.Through the club these players discovered theyhave more in common than they first realised. “Weare here to play soccer in peace and make morefriends,” Mohammed says. “The players socialize alot and we always have a laugh before the sessionstarts. It also teaches you how to make friends andinteract with others”.Excerpt from “Playing for Keeps” by Saeed Saeed(www.saeedsaeed.com.au) published in SoccerInternational (April 2007 edition)Page 15

Playing for the future5.2 Barriers to participationBarriers to participation for refugee and migrant young people havebeen well documented in previous studies (see Wilson 1998; Keogh 2002),and while these barriers are commonly experienced by young peoplefrom a variety of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, theydo not deal specifically with the settlement context.In the survey of 25 young people undertaken for this paper, it wassuggested that barriers to sport participation vary with length of timespent in Australia. Figure 8 below highlights how responses reflect thedifferent barriers for those who are more newly arrived, and how thesebarriers shift over time as young people become more familiar withsystems and opportunities, but also with the stresses and tensions ofsettlement. That is, those who had been in Australia two years or lesswere more concerned with not knowing the rules or where to play,while those who had been in the country more than two years listedhaving other commitments and parents/guardians not being happywith their participation as the biggest difficulties. Transport was an issueregardless of length of time in Australia.Figure 8.The following provides a summary of someof the barriers to participation as theyparticularly relate to refugee and newlyarrived young people in the settlementcontext. They are broken down intostructural, mediating and personal barriers(Cortis, Sawrikar & Muir 2007, p.27).Structural barriersStructural factors relate to the availabilityand appropriateness of physical and socialenvironments, such as facilities, transportand support networks.• Unsustained once-off programsA recurring theme through consultationsand the forum was the frustration ofsecuring funding for sustainable ongoingprograms. With no dedicated fundingstream for sport and recreation programstargeting newly arrived young people,successful programs that are run are oftenshort-term and project-based. Where thereare youth workers working with refugee andnewly arrived young people (e.g. throughSGP, Reconnect and NAYSS), the difficultylies in justifying the cost of running a sport/recreation program to funding bodies. Sowhile a worker’s time may be covered forrunning group programs, finding money tocover the overhead costs of hiring facilities,coaches/teachers, transport to and fromactivities, equipment, and so on, is often amajor barrier.Page 16

Playing for the future“Sustainability is a big issue - oftenprograms that run are short-termand are reactive to what’s going on ina community. So if there’s a problem,agencies will come in and run a programfor a few months or years, and thenleave. But the need for that activity isongoing.”- Youssef Mohamed, Organiser, African Cup• Lack of inclusive and accessible programs forrefugee and newly arrived young peopleLinked to the previous issue, there are limited opportunitiesfor newly arrived young people to participate in targetedsport and recreation activities that are inclusive andaccessible. Providing sport and recreation opportunities tothis target group requires a recognition that a ‘one size fitsall’ approach is not always appropriate, and factors suchas cost, cultural appropriateness, transport, language,and a lack of familiarity with systems and structures, arebarriers that newly arrived young people face that manyAustralian-born young people will not (see Section 5.3Good Practice).“We have 200-300 young people inour community who have no plans; theirdiaries are empty. They’re just waitingfor an opportunity to participate in aregular activity.”- Chitlu Wyn, Foundation House(Karen Burmese Community)• Referral of young people into sport and recreationprograms through settlement servicesUnclear referral mechanisms for linking newly arrived youngpeople into sport and recreation opportunities is anotherstructural barrier. IHSS providers, who work with familieson arrival for up to six months, are not required to reporton the referral of young people into sport and recreationprograms. And while sport/rec referrals do take place,they are generally not recorded or prioritised, especiallyin a family model whereby the needs of young people areoften filtered through priorities set by parents/guardians.As noted earlier, the introduction of a trial of youth-specificcommunity guides within IHSS in Melbourne’s Southeastmay facilitate greater linkages in this regard. Referral points are generally related to health, trauma,education, employment services etcPrograms funded under the Settlement Grants Program(SGP) that do use sport and recreation as tools forengagement are not generally funded to work with youngpeople under the IHSS program and are reliant on referralsfrom IHSS. In some areas, referral between IHSS and SGPfundedyouth services do not routinely take place.Making successful referrals also requires resources anda recognition that simply giving a newly arrived youngperson information about a program or service and thenexpecting them to turn up is unlikely to be a successfulstrategy. Physically taking a young person (and possiblyparent/guardians) to a leisure centre, youth program orservice, will give the young person an opportunity to findout how to get there, what the activity is likely to involve,and introduce them to workers, other young peopleand systems. Although more resource intensive, such anapproach is more likely to result in young people accessingsport and recreation opportunities in the future.• Linkage between targeted sport and recreationprograms and mainstream programs andcompetitionsPathways for young people to further their involvementin structured sporting competitions are not always easilyaccessible. Often young people will have the opportunityto participate in one-off grassroots community tournamentsor play casually in the local park, but they don’t know howto go about joining a club. At the same time, many clubsare looking to recruit talented players and are awarethat this target group are an untapped resource, butthey don’t know where to start as far as making contactand recruiting players. CMYIs experience has shown thatsomeone working in a linkage capacity has the potentialto increase participation of refugee young people insport.As a recent example, several young men playing in anethno-specific competition at Friday nights in Melbourne’sSoutheast had expressed to the project worker that theywere keen to take their sport to the next level but didn’tknow what to do. The project officer made contact withthe State Sporting Association and found out about severallocal clubs who were looking to recruit boys to their clubs.The worker invited coaches and club officials down to theFriday night matches as ‘scouts’. The talent of the playerswas easily recognised and several of the young men wereinvited to join the clubs. Additional work then had to bedone by the project worker to access financial support forthe young men to pay registration fees, purchase uniformsetc.Currently, a linkage or transitions model such as this doesnot exist and this kind of linkage role falls on the shouldersof caseworkers (who often know little about sportingstructures) or multicultural development officers at SportingOrganisations (who are usually overloaded already).Page 17

Playing for the future• Access to transportTransport is a major issue for newly arrived young peopleaccessing sport and recreation opportunities. This isparticularly the case for those settling in areas wherepublic transport infrastructure is limited, such as in interfacecouncil areas or in regional settlement locations. Whereparents do have access to private vehicles, sport andrecreation is often not a priority in terms of driving youngpeople to and from activities.• Access to public space and facilities“An informal kick-around at a localpark has resource implications if thefield is assigned to a registered clubby a local council for a tenancy fee.Access to casual players may be deniedor questions asked about who isresponsible for organising the activityif it infringes on the use of the field bythe club. These arrangements may actas an almost imperceptible barrier to anewly arrived refugee who identifies anopen space suited to play, but not thegovernmental system that determinesits ownership, cost and maintenance.”- Brett Hutchins, Monash University,CMYI Forum Keynote Speech“So many times the boys get togetherand go down to the local parks to playsoccer with their friends, but beforethey even have time to put their shinpads on, people show up and yell atthem to get off the ground becausethey are going to be training or playing amatch. The boys don’t understand whatthey have done wrong and they getupset by being yelled at.”- Chitlu Wyn, Foundation House(Karen Burmese community)Restrictions around accessing community halls, soccerfields and basketball courts (which is exacerbated byfactors such as a lack of local facilities accessible to thegeneral public, public liability insurance and drought),can limit young people’s participation in sport andrecreation, particularly for informal, social participation.In some local areas there are very limited youth-friendlyfacilities and spaces to begin with (e.g. youth drop-in orrecreation centres), let alone facilities that are accessibleto and inclusive of refugee and migrant young people(e.g. facilities where women’s only activities can be run).For ethno-specific clubs, the cost of accessing facilities– such as hiring a basketball court or using a soccer field– can be prohibitive when teams are made up of newlyarrived and refugee young people who have limitedfinancial resources.

Playing for the futureMediating barriersOrganisational policies and social stereotypes, whichmight impede participation.• Lack of inclusive practices in existing sport andrecreation providersWhile some sport and recreation providers havebeen proactive in embedding inclusive practicesinto their organisations (for example, the AFL has setup a Multicultural AFL Project), others have been lessforthcoming. So while sport and recreation opportunitiesmay be generally available in local communities, they maynot be particularly accessible or inclusive of newly arrivedand refugee young people. This is particularly the case foryoung women, whose participation may be dependenton a degree of cultural sensitivity (e.g. being aware andflexible around uniform requirements so as not to excludeyoung women, being aware of transport considerationsand families’ fears around the safety of young women).A lack of awareness or inclusiveness of sport and recreationproviders mediates young people’s participation in anumber of ways. For example, attitudes of staff can makeleisure centres or programs unwelcoming and intimidatingplaces for newly arrived young people. Cultural insensitivity(often unintended) and a lack of flexibility in programscan also exclude some young people. Where sportsorganisations have tried to introduce inclusive practicesby employing multicultural development officers, a lack ofresources can limit their effectiveness, particularly if all theresponsibility for working with multicultural young peoplefalls to this one worker.It should be noted that being an inclusive club or centreis not just about saying “our doors are open to everyone”and expecting diverse groups to come on in. Sport andrecreation providers need to gain an understanding ofwhere they are at in terms of inclusiveness and assess whatneeds to be done. Fostering a climate of change is morethan just simply producing documents and programs. Itis about promoting a culture of inclusiveness within the“Taylor (2002) also found a degree ofincongruence between rhetoric and practicein sporting organisations. She found that 72per cent of sport associations saw themselvesas open to cultural diversity, yet few of these(12 per cent) could cite specific policies thatencouraged diversity in practice. Taylor foundthat soccer clubs were most likely to havepolicies in place (30 per cent), with softball theleast likely (4 per cent). This suggests a tendencyfor sporting organisations to see themselvesas open to diversity but failing to match this byputting structures in place.”- Cortis, Sawrikar & Muir, 2007, p.36“Language can create significant barrierswhen trying to encourage communities toparticipate, not only when communicatingverbally with individuals and groups, butsometimes when you translate resources intoanother language the words don’t translateappropriately. We know of several sportsthat have unknowingly dissuaded communitiesby using what English speakers wouldconsider passive terms, such as life guard,beach patrol, sports development officer,sports commission and tribunal in theirpublications. When translated, these wordsdon’t have the dual meanings that they do inEnglish and have very negative connotationsfor many of these individuals, who haveexperienced atrocities under oppressiveregimes.”- Sophie Franet, Co-ordinatorSport & Social Health, CMYIorganisation. Staff at all levels should be actively involvedin the process and management need to provide structureand practical support to enable change to occur.• Resettlement experience – Language barriers,unfamiliar structures etcAn obvious mediating factor in refugee and newly arrivedyoung people’s participation in sport and recreation relatesto the resettlement experience itself. Young people whoare dealing with the demands of settlement – of findingtheir way within complex new systems and structures,learning a new language, etc – may not prioritise sportand recreation or may simply not know where to play orhow to access existing opportunities. This was reflected inthe results from the survey of young people (see Figure 8),which indicate that for those who had been in Australialess than two years, not knowing the rules or where to playwere some of the biggest challenges they faced. Furtherto this, young people may have limited understanding ofhow structured sport in Australia works in general and howto progress to higher levels of competition.“We are all more than ready to jump [when itcomes to participating in sport], but we don’tknow how to jump. We just need someone toapproach us and ask us to join in.”- Karen Burmese young man, 18 (through interpreter)Page 19

Playing for the future• Parent/guardian supportA major mediating factor to young people’s participationis around parent/ guardian support (Keogh 2002; Wilson1998). Parents/guardians are often fearful for the safetyof their young people, particularly young women, andmay be reluctant to allow young people to be involvedin activities they are unfamiliar with. Parents/guardiansmay not understand the potential benefits of sport andrecreation in terms of health and wellbeing, and maywant their young people to focus more on study or work.In addition, many programs rely on parent support toensure participants can get to venues and cover costs,and families that are newly arrived often have many othercompeting commitments that make this involvementimpractical. As one forum participant describes:It seems to me that the main barrier to refugee andmigrant young people participating in sport andrecreation is not having the parents implicated tosupport and encourage children’s participationin the activity. Refugees or migrants families don’tsee sport as a priority. It comes far behind housing,education, employment and understandably theyare not ready to spend on it. On other hand, inthe Australian sport community most of the sportingclubs are run by parents (coach, committee, referee,transport) and without parents’ availability, a carfor transport and money to join the club and payfor the equipment, children could miss out on theopportunity to participate.- Philippe Roussel, CMYI Forum participant• Culture of sport in Australia and overseasThe culture in which mainstream sport is played in Australiacan mediate newly arrived and refugee young people’sinvolvement considerably. For example, some sportingenvironments in Australia (such as club competition) mayinvolve a culture of drinking alcohol after/during games,swearing, sledging or aggressive competition. To a newlyarrived young person who is unfamiliar with the culturalnuances of sporting environments, such behaviour maynot only be culturally inappropriate, but also may beperceived as quite insulting and/or threatening.On the flip side, cultural expectations of how sport is playedoverseas may not readily translate into the Australiansporting environment. For example, there may be strongcultural understandings or expectations about youngwomen’s participation in sport. Games overseas may beplayed in a much more unstructured and flexible way (forexample, players turning up at different times and joiningin when they arrive).“In our culture, there is very littlethat is more inappropriate or insultingthan being sworn at. It is a mark ofgreat disrespect. Having come from anoppressed society, we are very sensitiveto and easily upset by such things.”- Karen Burmese young man, 17 (through interpreter)“Everyone always mentions that weare late to training and events and stuff,but no one seems to understand thatuntil we came here, we have never livedby a clock, never wore a watch. It takesa lot of getting used to.”• Racism/discrimination- Sudanese young man, 15Racism and discrimination within sport – and in theAustralian community more broadly – is a mediating factorthat may deter young people from participating. If youngpeople feel targeted or unwelcome, they are unlikelyto want to participate in sport and recreation programsoutside their own friendship group or ethnic community.Consultations indicated that racial discriminationwithin sport is prevalent. The types of racism ethnicyoung people experience include verbal andphysical abuse, ostracism and exclusion. Twoexamples of this are young ethnic people beingreferred to in derogatory terms or not receiving equalplaying time.Young people experienced racial discrimination fromwithin clubs and during sporting contests and theperpetrators included coaches, parents, spectatorsand other participants. Often when incidents ofverbal abuse are not addressed satisfactorily withinthe sporting environment, they lead to physicalviolence.Parents can also experience racism, as illustratedin the example of a Vietnamese father whoaccompanied his daughter to a netball competitionand found the other parents reluctant to talk to him.As a result, the parent was unwilling to return and theyoung woman subsequently changed sports.- Wilson 1998, p.27Page 20

Playing for the futurePersonal barriersIndividual barriers such as a lack of time,money, skills, fears about safety, and poorself-image• Lack of time, other commitmentsNewly arrived young people are oftenextremely busy. Many are learning a newlanguage, have family commitments suchas accompanying parents/ guardians toappointments, assisting with interpreting,looking after younger siblings, and haveconsiderable study and work pressures. Foryoung people with disrupted educationwho have to cope with the demands of theAustralian education system and their highexpectations to achieve academically, thepressures of ‘catching up’ can mean manyextra hours of homework and out-of-schoolhourslearning. Refugee young people areoften working part-time as well as studyingand may be contributing to family finances orsending money to family overseas. The manyresponsibilities and commitments of youngpeople mean that they may not have time toparticipate in sport and recreation programs.5.3 Good practiceA comprehensive study has been published around inclusivepractices in sport and recreation (CMYI & Gary Henshall &Associates 2005). To access the Report into Good PracticeSports Inclusion Models for young people from culturally andlinguistically diverse communities go to www.cmyi.net.au/AllCMYIPublications#R. The following is an overview of someof the main themes relating to good practice in planning anddelivering inclusive sport and recreation activities to refugee andnewly arrived young people.Basic principles• Maximise choices available to young people;• Create a safe, supportive environment. Allow for challenge ina non-threatening way;• Be as predictable as possible and provide information aboutthe activity you are running and what will happen;• Acknowledge previous skills and experiences – build onknowledge;• Work in partnership (with sport, community, multicultural,settlement services) to maximise effectiveness and draw ondifferent expertise;• Make it fun!• Financial constraintsFinancial pressures are often severe forrefugee families, particularly when families arepaying off overseas debts or sending moneyto relatives in refugee camps or countriesof origin. Refugees usually arrive with nopossessions or financial assets and have to starttheir lives again. Therefore, the considerablecosts associated with sport and recreationactivities (membership fees, transport, weeklyfees, clothing and equipment) can often betoo much for a family to cover.• Not knowing the rulesIn terms of structured sport, young people whohave spent time in refugee camps may neverhave been exposed to the kind of recreationalactivities or sports played in Australia. Forexample, refugee young people are unlikelyto have seen or heard about Australian RulesFootball before coming to Australia, let alonelearnt the rules or played before. Having theskills and knowledge to participate in a sportis something that is acquired, and thereforeprograms introducing games and teachingbasic skills are essential to facilitate newlyarrived young people’s involvement.Page 21

Playing for the futureCultural awareness• When planning a program, be aware of theimportance of religious events or community activitiesthat young people may prioritise (e.g. church service,Saturday morning language classes, or fasting forRamadan);• Work around important community events or, betterstill, find ways to integrate your program into thecommunity (e.g. hold a family fun day for Eid);• Contact your local Migrant Resource Centre for a listof important cultural festivals and religious practicesfor communities in your area.Involving families and communities• Work with bi-cultural community workers who canprovide cultural support and role modelling, as well asbuild trusting relationships with families;• Employ bi-cultural workers or mentor refugee youngpeople to become leaders (coaches, referees,captains etc);• Translate information to distribute to young peopleand parents/guardians;• Call families (with interpreters where needed) and talkto them about the program;• Hold a community meeting using interpreters to discussyour proposal. To maximise success, go to establishedgroups;• Invite family members and community leaders to seethe program first hand;• Promote the program and recruit young peoplethrough schools, English Language Schools/Centres,ethnic media, community organisations and MigrantResource Centres;• Informed consent is essential. Provide first languageinformation to families. Access generic translatedparent consent forms for activities via the CMYIwebsite (www.cmyi.net.au/AllCMYIPublications#P);• Given many families seek greater connection with oneanother, try running family events that have activitiesfor young people of different ages as well as familymembers.Cost• Make activities free or less than $5;• Select low cost activities that young people and theirfamilies may access themselves in the future;• Where possible, make exceptions for young peoplewho are enthusiastic and committed but who cannotafford to pay;• To reduce costs, form partnerships with agenciesoffering in-kind or financial support.Transport• Try to provide transport or meet at a local point, closeto public transport and familiar to the young person(such as their school or the railway station);• Make sure activities finish before dark so that youngpeople can get home safely. This is important for youngwomen for whom it may be culturally inappropriatefor them to be unaccompanied after dark.Choice of activities• Activities need to be non-threatening. Some newlyarrived young people may not have developed theknowledge or the skills to enable them to participatein certain activities. Ensure an instructor is provided foryoung people that may need assistance.• Mixing Genders: Some cultures do not allow boysand girls to participate together. For example, askingyoung women and men to hold hands can beinappropriate. Split the group or run separate girls’and boys’ activities.• Clothing: Some cultures have more strict dress codes.Families may feel comfortable with young peopleparticipating as long as they can maintain culturaldress codes. Simply ask about what is okay. If anactivity requires special equipment or clothing makesure that you can provide it, or let people know whatis required well in advance.Communication• Be aware of the type of language you are using andkeep it as simple as possible. Even Australian jargon,such as ‘give it a go’, could confuse a young personwho is more recently arrived;• Don’t presume that everyone has a good levelof knowledge about the activity. Concepts suchas ‘swimming between the flags’ could be totallyunfamiliar to a newly arrived young person;• Check about the level of English that is spokenand understood by the group. Ask for ideas fromparticipants about the meaning of key terms andconcepts (in a non-testing or competitive way);• Encourage questions and requests for help;• Use visual aids, demonstrations and body languageto help communicate your message;• Try not to “dumb down” your language by speaking inbroken English, in an accent or shouting.Page 22

Playing for the future5.4 Limitations in using sport and recreation as a tool for ‘good settlement’“Barriers to participation and involvementin community-based activities include cost,parental support and language, as well asdifficulty in understanding how Australiansports organisations and competitionstructures work. To this list must beadded limited employment opportunities,difficulties in navigating governmentbureaucracies, and problems in accessingeducational resources and services.The fear and experience of racism anddiscrimination, as well as social isolationand cultural displacement complicatematters further. Faced with this scenario,sport and recreation cannot solve theseproblems. There is no quick fix on offerhere. These activities can be but one partof a much broader community engagementand settlement program. Unless this iskept clearly in mind, there is an everpresentdanger that sport and recreationwill remain of limited use, or at worst,work against the objective of effectivecommunity settlement.”- Brett Hutchins, Monash University,CMYI Forum Keynote SpeechHaving outlined the potential benefits of sport andrecreation in terms of settlement, barriers to participationand good practice, it is important to emphasise thatsport and recreation should not be seen as a ‘cure all’.Sport and recreation programs can only ever facilitatepositive outcomes for refugee young people in thecontext of a society that addresses the other barriers totheir full participation and social inclusion 10 – ensuringthere are appropriate education and employmentpathways, accessible and affordable housing and healthservices, families and communities are supported, policeand the justice system are fair and responsive, diversityis celebrated in welcoming communities, and socialexclusion is systemically tackled.It must also be noted that sport in particular can be a siteof tension and conflict. The internal logic and structureof sport is competitive, systematically demanding winnersand losers. Sport is based on the principle of them andus, and these opposing positions are what create thedrama and excitement of sport. However, viewed fromthe perspective of community building and cross-culturalunderstanding, it can also act as a barrier to fraternity,friendship and mutual acceptance (Hutchins 2007). Toaddress the negative aspects of competition, programsneed to be prepared and run competitions whereparticipants are clear that the aims of the project are notas much about winning or losing, as about learning andgaining new skills.In the same vein, recreation opportunities where the keyfocus is fun – such as camps, hip hop dance programs, artsand storytelling workshops, excursions, cooking and life skills– can be just as effective (if not more effective) in termsof settlement support as structured sport competitions,where there are rules, teams, winners and losers.10 See glossary for definition of social inclusion/exclusion.Page 23

Playing for the future6. Recommendations and conclusionThis discussion paper has highlighted the benefits of creating inclusivesport and recreation opportunities in supporting refugee young peopleto ‘settle well’ in Australia. The difficulty in proposing ways forward is thatresponsibility for creating sustainable and accessible opportunities doesnot clearly sit with any one stakeholder. That is, a range of strategiesare required – from resourcing settlement workers to deliver programsas an effective means of engagement, to supporting bi-cultural workersand volunteers from within communities to access facilities and utilisetheir own skills, to supporting young people to participate in mainstreamcompetitions through the promotion of inclusive sporting clubs andassociations.The following recommendations were developed through consultationwith a range of service providers (sport, community, settlement):6.1 Funding sustainable sport and recreationprograms6.1.1 Creating a dedicated funding streamThere is a significant need for increased funding and grant opportunitiesfor sport and recreation initiatives that target young people from refugeeand newly arrived backgrounds. Whether programs are deliveredthrough community, settlement or sporting bodies, a funding pool shouldbe created for grants that support different participation models (e.g.improved access to mainstream, ethno-specific clubs, settlement workersdelivering programs in partnership with sporting bodies, or multiculturalprograms).Such a funding stream should take into consideration the realistic resourcesrequired to plan, develop and deliver effective programs. The VicHealthParticipation Grants provide a good funding model in this regard, as theyresource planning and community consultation stages as well as enablinga realistic amount of time for program delivery.Federal and State Departments with a stake in the provision of bothsport and recreation and settlement services 11 should meet to considerhow such a funding stream can be created and coordinated (seerecommendation under Linkages).11 For example, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Sport andRecreation Victoria, VicHealth, and the Department of Families, CommunityServices and Indigenous Affairs12 The ‘Active After-school Communities’ is an after school hours structured healthand physical activity program that emphasises safe and fun experiences that isdelivered nationally to primary schools and Child Care Benefit approved AfterSchool Hours Care Services. The cornerstone of AASC is the involvement of the localcommunity in the delivery of the program. For more details, go to: www.ausport.gov.au/aasc“From our experience,we are often involved indiscussions or consultationsregarding the issue of accessand inclusiveness in sportand recreation. Yet we stillhaven’t seen any outcomes oraction from this – volunteersare still under-resourced andshoulder most of the burden.They burn out. We still can’tget access to equipment,grounds, and training forcoaches/ referees/etc. Weknow the issues. Now weneed the resources!”- Representative, Soccer club withmajority refugee young people“I would like to stronglyrecommend that the CMYIshould copy the successfulmodel of the Active AfterschoolCommunities Program(AASC) 12 which coordinatesand provides funding forprimary schools for theorganisation of sports afterschool hours. The schoolsare allowed to select suitablesports program and contractdeliverer who designs andconducts the program tospecification.”- ‘Lanre Bolarinwa, ABM WorldwideSport, CMYI Forum ParticipantPage 24

Playing for the future6.1.2 Supporting young people’s participation through small grantsIn overcoming the financial barriers many newly arrived and refugeeyoung people face in accessing sport and recreation opportunities,the State Government of Victoria, through the Department for VictorianCommunities, should consider further supporting the expansion of theSports Without Borders (SWB) initiative (www.sportswithoutborders.org.au)and the Our Club, Our Future - Sporting Uniform Grants Program 2007. SWBis currently funded through philanthropic donations and was formed out ofan agreement between Swinburne University of Technology, the HellenicSports Association (ATHLOS) and the Victorian Multicultural Commission.With enhanced financial resources, such small grants programs canby instrumental in assisting refugee and newly arrived young peoplewith limited resources to access existing mainstream competitions andprograms.6.1.3 Recognising and resourcing sport and recreation withinsettlement servicesThe importance of sport and recreation opportunities for newly arrivedyoung people should be recognised through settlement services. TheDepartment of Immigration and Citizenship funding requirements shouldrecognise and resource the provision of group work programs – includingsports, arts, personal development, etc – as effective engagement andreferral tools for SGP-funded services. An example of a funding modelthat incorporates brokerage money to run group programs is the FaCSIAfundedReconnect and NAYSS initiatives.6.2 Developing better linkages between the sport,recreation, settlement and community sectors6.2.1 Convening inter-departmental meeting of key stakeholdersFederal and State Departments with a stake in the provision of bothsport and recreation and settlement services should convene an interdepartmentalroundtable meeting to co-ordinate a whole-of-governmentapproach to ensuring sport and recreation opportunities are inclusiveand accessible to newly arrived and refugee young people. This shouldinclude stakeholders from the Department of Immigration and Citizenshipand the Department of Families, Community Services and IndigenousAffairs, and from the Department of Victorian Communities – Sport andRecreation Victoria, VicSport, Victorian Multicultural Commission andVicHealth.“At the moment, settlementproviders funded throughSGP aren’t funded to workwith IHSS families. However,given the importance ofsport and recreation fornewly arrived young people,youth-specific organisationsSHOULD be funded to runactivities with young peoplein IHSS (first six months),especially those on SHP visasas a priority, as sport and rechelps link young people inwith other services/support.”- Zara Bautista, MulticulturalYouth Worker, CMYIPage 25

Playing for the future6.3 Facilitating social inclusion of newly arrivedcommunities6.3.1 Supporting bi-cultural workers and resourcingcommunity development approachesWhile bi-cultural workers and volunteers from within communitieshave been recognised as vital to the success of sport andrecreation programs in engaging refugee and newly arrivedyoung people, funding and resourcing rarely reflects the time andcommitment needed for successful and sustainable communitydevelopment approaches. That is, the resources required toensure bi-cultural workers can get accreditation if required (asumpires, coaches, etc), young people are mentored, workersand volunteers can access facilities, expertise and resources,form partnerships with sports associations and clubs, and so on,needs to be factored into program planning and supportedthrough appropriate funding.Other potential avenues for tapping into the skills and strengthsof bi-cultural workers is for the Department of Employment andWorkplace Relations to support the development of YouthTraineeships and school-based apprenticeships within thesports sector for young people from refugee and migrantbackgrounds. Within sporting associations, CMYI is working withAFL SportsReady to adapt their Indigenous Employment Programto CLD communities. This may be a useful model for other sportingassociations to follow.“Realistic funding - how many biculturalyouth workers are fundedto work 2 or 3 days a week? But thereality of the work is that it’s morelike a 7-day-a-week job if you arefrom a community and you’re workingwith that community. There needs tobe greater understanding by fundingbodies of the demands of the roleof the ethno specific worker on theground, and the significant after hourstimes allocated to supporting theircommunities.”- Ahmed Ahmed, Jesuit Social Services, CMYIForum Panel Member“Trust can be developed by involvingkey figures from the community- agencies should tap into theseuntapped community resources(people with skills, knowledge, etc.) asthis both empowers the communityand builds trust.”- Dr Khairy Majeed, MRC Northeast, CMYIForum Panel Member“Training of CALD and refugeeyoung people in all areas of sportand rec i.e. umpires, coaches, players,administration etc.”- Health Promotion Officer, ISIS Primary Care,Hobsons BayPage 26

Playing for the future6.3.2 Encouraging supportive parents through healthliteracyOrganisations running sport and recreation programs should followbest practice in working with refugee young people and theirfamilies (see section 5.3). Bi-cultural workers can help to bridgethe gap and engage parents/guardians around young people’sparticipation in activities. However, a multilingual resource shouldalso be developed as part of health literacy initiative to promotethe benefits of sport and recreation for young people. Theresource (e.g. an information flyer or media campaign on ethnicradio) should be widely available for services to use as a toolin promoting activities that engage newly arrived and refugeeyoung people and their communities.6.4 Improving access to sport and recreationfacilities6.4.1 Ensuring local government leisure services areaccountable for equitable access to facilitiesDifficulty accessing facilities has been identified as a major barrierto refugee and newly arrived young people’s participation in sportand recreation. As an access and equity issue, local governmentleisure services should take leadership in addressing the barriersthat prevent marginalised members of local communities fromaccessing local grounds and facilities and ensuring equitableaccess to resources.This includes ensuring that leisure services staff receive appropriatecultural awareness training, and policies are in place addressingdiversity and inclusion. The client base and staffing of leisureservices should also reflect the diversity of the local community(e.g. hiring bi-cultural workers and supporting their accreditation/training needs will facilitate not only greater access for refugeeand migrant young people, but also strengthen and empowerlocal communities).For leisure services that are outsourced using business models,successful tenders should be required through fundingagreements to ensure that services provided are accessibleto the local community (including refugee and migrant youngpeople) and that the demographic profile of service users reflectsthe demographic profile of the local community.6.4.2 School facilities accessible to communities after hoursOne strategy for addressing the shortage of accessible sport andrecreation facilities in local areas, and the high demand placedon these by different interest groups, is for the Department ofEducation and Training (DE&T) and the Department of VictorianCommunities to explore a statewide strategy for opening upschool facilities after hours to local communities. Issues aroundhow school facilities are managed after hours, insurance andpublic liability, are areas that will need to be considered throughthis strategy. However, schools that have been proactive inengaging local communities by adopting a ‘school as communityhub’ approach may provide useful models that can be replicatedin other regions (e.g. Carlton Primary School in the City of Yarra).“Building trust with parents is key…Need to provide education for parentsto enhance their understanding andawareness about the importance ofsport for children.”- Dr Khairy Majeed, MRC Northeast,CMYI Forum Panel Member“Parents sometimes don’t understandthe need and benefit of sport/recreation/arts as a re-settling tool.More work can be done in gettinginformation to parents (via communitylanguage radio and newspapers) aboutthe needs and benefits. Otherwiseparents may have the mistaken beliefthat sport/recreation takes away timefrom doing homework.”- Chi Vu, Western Edge Youth Arts“State sporting bodies and localgovernment should be accountable forbeing inclusive of refugee and migrantyoung people. So if local governmentare funded to provide services andmake facilities accessible to localcommunities, this should be reflectedin statistics and participation rates. Arerefugee and migrant young people usinglocal services? If not, why not?”- Chris Hortin, Multicultural Youth Worker, CMYI“Supporting ethnic communities toaccess venues/facilities - local councilscharge high rates for access tosports grounds, which excludes somecommunities (e.g. in Flemington, councilsponsored soccer team so they changedtheir name to Flemington Eagles, thenthey got a $4000 electricity bill fromcouncil for using the field) - need towork around this.”- Ahmed Ahmed, Jesuit Social Services,CMYI Forum Panel MemberPage 27

Playing for the future6.5 An inclusive sports sector6.5.1 Embedding inclusive practice in State SportingAssociationsEmbedding inclusive practice into State Sporting Associations(SSAs) has the potential to increase the accessibility of structuredsport to newly arrived and refugee young people. One way toencourage SSAs to be accountable for access and equity is for(State Government) funding to be tied to certain benchmarks– such as ensuring all SSA staff receive cultural awarenesstraining, diversity and inclusion policies are developed andimplemented, bi-cultural workers are supported to becomeadministrators, coaches and referees, programs are developedand implemented for targeted groups (e.g. events for newlyarrived young people and their communities that lead to furtherparticipation opportunities), and data collection captures thediversity of members/client base. Moreover, SSAs need to ensurethat inclusiveness is not left to a single Multicultural DevelopmentOfficer, but is embedded into the whole organisation and thework practices of all staff.“AFL and Cricket Victoria go to theschool so young people can get thefeel for the sport, this is more effectivethan taking five or six kids to a cricketclub. You need to present the sport attheir level.”- Ahmed Ahmed, Jesuit Social Services,CMYI Forum Panel Member“Inclusion training for all sports todevelop grassroots understanding of(sometimes subconsciously formed,rather than intentionally created)barriers. “- Ellie Pietsch and Kate Don,Women Sport and Recreation Victoria6.5.2 Piloting a mentoring project at the local club levelAt a local club level, a sports club mentoring/buddy projectshould be piloted to document how refugee and newly arrivedyoung people can be linked into local sports clubs through thetraining and support of youth sports leaders (i.e. young peoplealready involved in a club providing peer support to facilitateinclusion of refugee and newly arrived young people). Sucha project, which facilitates social connectedness as well asthe participation of newly arrived young people in sport andrecreation, could provide a model that could be applied acrossmany different sport and service areas.“In the scope of my study I recentlyimagined a type of mentoring programbetween volunteer young leaders(Sport Support Leaders) in sportingclubs to take in charge of a youngrefugee/migrant each and facilitatetheir inclusion in their club. Thefamilies would be involved by anagreement to support the project.The young leaders would be recruitedand trained by the agency (Migrantresource centre or CMYI for example)around leadership, cross-culturalcommunication, decision making etc...It would be a one year commitmentand if the sport support leaderwants to leave the club he/she makessure (with the help of the club) thatsomeone else will take his/her role.This system has the advantage oflowering the needs of CALD parentsby assisting the young refugee/migrantwith transport (young leader parents,roster in the club etc.) and by reducingthe cost of equipment and fees (withfunding and club support).”- Philippe Roussel, CMYI Forum participantPage 28

Playing for the future6.6 Further research6.6.1 Sport and settlementThis paper provides a starting point in terms of critical thinkingaround sport and recreation as a tool for ‘good settlement’.However, it is recognised that much more comprehensive researchis necessary in order to inform best practice and understanding ofhow sport and recreation impacts on settlement. Research thatexplores the outcomes of participation in sport and recreationfor newly arrived young people, and particularly for youngwomen, as well as provides some critical analysis of how sportand recreation programs fit within a broader settlement servicesystem, will be instrumental in informing future social policy andfunding directions.6.6.2 Active reactionWhile there has been some research undertaken into newlyarrived and refugee young people and their participation insport, and there are some funding streams available (e.g. SportsWithout Borders, VicHealth grants), less work has been done todocument the outcomes, barriers and benefits of newly arrivedyoung people’s participation in active recreation programs (e.g.creative arts, life skills programs, girls’ groups, music and drama).Certainly, there is substantially less funding available for targetedactive recreation programs than there are for sports. Furtherresearch into this area could strengthen our understanding ofhow to support the personal development and wellbeing ofrefugee young people during settlement.6.7 ConclusionPlaying for the future has documented how inclusive andaccessible sport and recreation programs play an important rolein supporting newly arrived and refugee young people to ‘settlewell’ in Australia. And while these programs should not be seenas a cure all, they nevertheless have the potential to promote thehealth, wellbeing and social inclusion of refugee young peoplein Australia. The challenge now is in creating an environment thatrecognises and resources sustainable and inclusive sport andrecreation opportunities that harness and build on the strengthsof young people.Sport has the power to change theworld, the power to inspire,The power to unite people in away that little else can.Sport has the ability to givehope where there was once onlydespair.It breaks down racial barriers.It laughs in the face of all kinds ofdiscrimination.Sport speaks to people in alanguage they can understand.- Nelson Mandela, World Refugee Day 2006Page 29

Playing for the future7. ReferencesAustralian Bureau of Statistics, 2006, Migrants andparticipation in sport and physical activity, ABS, CanberraCentre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, 2006, Engagingculturally and linguistically diverse communities in physicalactivity: a discussion paper, CEH, CarltonThe Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion, 2002, Socialinclusion, CESI, UK. Available: www.cesi.org.ukCentre for Multicultural Youth Issues & Gary Henshall& Associates, 2005, Report into Good Practice SportsInclusion Models for young people from culturally andlinguistically diverse communities, CMYI, CarltonCentre for Multicultural Youth Issues, 2005, Refugee andCLD Young People: Definitions - Info Sheet No. 11, CMYI,CarltonCommonwealth of Australia, 2006, Australia’s Support forHumanitarian Entrants 2005-06, DIMIA, CanberraCommonwealth of Australia, 2003, Report of the Reviewof Settlement Services for Migrants and HumanitarianEntrants, DIMIA, CanberraCommonwealth of Australia, 1998, Charter of Public Servicein a Culturally Diverse Society, DIMIA, Canberra. Available:www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/_pdf/culturally-diverse/charter.pdfCortis N, Sawrikar P & Muir K, 2007, Participation in Sportand Recreation by Culturally and Linguistically DiverseWomen, Social Policy Research Centre, University of NewSouth WalesDepartment of Victoria Communities, 2006, Social Inclusionand Social Exclusion: Research Paper, State Governmentof VictoriaDonnelly P & Coakley J, 2002, The role of recreation inpromoting social inclusion, The Laidlaw Foundation:CanadaDykes J & Olliff L, 2007, Sport and recreation as a tool forsocial inclusion: The experiences of refugee and migrantyoung people, Sports Tip Sheet 8, Centre for MulticulturalYouth Issues, Carlton. Available: www.cmyi.net.au/AllCMYIPublications#SHutchins B, 2007, Keynote speech: CMYI Sport and SocialInclusion Forum, 4th April, CO.AS.IT, CarltonKeogh V, 2002, Multicultural Sport: Sustaining a LevelPlaying Field, Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, Carlton.Available: www.cmyi.net.au/AllCMYIPublications#MOlliff L & Mohamed F, 2007, Settling In: How do refugeeyoung people fair within Australia’s Settlement System?Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, Carlton. Available:www.cmyi.net.au/AllCMYIPublications#SO’Sullivan K & Olliff L, 2006, Settling in: Exploring GoodSettlement for Refugee Young People in Australia, Centrefor Multicultural Youth Issues, Carlton. Available: www.cmyi.net.au/AllCMYIPublications#SRees S & Pease B, 2006, Refugee Settlement, Safety andWellbeing: Exploring Domestic and Family Violence inRefugee Communities, Immigrant Women’s DomesticViolence ServiceRefugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC), 2002,Strategy for Refugee Young People, DIMIA, CanberraRoebuck R & Bourne M, 2006, Examples of EffectiveStrategies for Addressing the Congregation of YoungPeople around Retail Outlets, Transport Hubs and in otherPublic Places: Summary Paper. Wyndham City Council &Victorian Safe Communities NetworkRWB & Associates, 2002, Social Inclusion/Exclusion: whatkind of inclusion, for whom and on what terms. Available:http://rwbsocialplanners.com.au/articles.htmSaunders P, 2003, Can social exclusion provide a newframework for measuring poverty? SPRC Discussion PaperNo. 127, Social Policy Research Centre, University of NewSouth WalesSports Without Borders, www.sportswithoutborders.org.auValtonen K, 2004, ‘From the Margin to the Mainstream:Conceptualising Refugee Resettlement Processes’,Journal of Refugee Studies, 17, 1 p70VicHealth, 2007a, Bridging Gaps with Basketball,Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Carlton.Available: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/assets/contentFiles/bridging%20gaps.pdfVicHealth, 2007b, Sport and Active Recreation Factsheet, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Carlton.Available: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/assets/contentFiles/SportFactSheet_April%2007.pdfWilson S, 1998, Creating a Level Playing Field — Increasingthe participation of young people from ethnic communitiesin sport, Ethnic Youth Issues Network (now CMYI). Available:www.cmyi.net.au/AllCMYIPublications#CPage 30

Playing for the future8. AppendixSPORT AND SETTLEMENT SURVEY RESULTSA survey of 25 young people (aged 13-21 years) wasundertaken at a basketball program held at SpringersLeisure Centre in Keysborough during the Easter schoolholidays in 2007. The program was targeted and attendedpredominantly by young people from refugee and migrantbackgrounds. Teams participating in the competitioncame from a wide area of metropolitan Melbourne, fromthe West, North and Southeast.The survey was administered verbally. 18 of the respondentswere female and 7 were male. The average age was 16.7years. The majority were from African backgrounds, withtwo from Southeast Asia. 88% of respondents had been inAustralia 5 years or less.Q. 2 Why do you participate in sport/rec?When asked an open question about why they participatedin sport/recreation, the main responses seemed to bebecause “it’s fun”, or because “I like it”.Quotes included:••••••••••It’s natural. I like it.I like it and I’m tall.It’s great fun.I play for fun and for the future.It’s fun, and it keeps you fit (which is a bonus).I want to be healthy, and sport is good for me.I just like it.Because I’m tall. Basketball is for tall people and it’sa good sport.I love sport so much.Make friends, have fun, keep fit.Q. 3 Which of the following are the THREE mostimportant reasons that you participate in sport?Q. 1 What sport/rec activities have you beeninvolved in over the last year?The top three reasons given for participating in sportwere:1. I participate to learn new skills.2. I participate because it’s a good way to makefriends.3. I participate because it’s fun and the coach/captain helps me with other stuff.3. I participate for fitness/health reasons.All of those surveyed played in some sort of team or hadbeen engaged in sport/rec activities over the last year.Unsurprisingly, 24 mentioned playing basketball regularly(the survey was undertaken at a basketball competitionheld in the school holidays).Other sports mentioned included:7 = Soccer5 = Volleyball2 = Athletics1 = Badminton1 = Tae Kwando1 = Netball1 = DancingInterestingly, when the responses are broken down bythose who have been in Australia for up to 2 years (n =8), and those who have been in Australia for more than2 years (n = 17), the top reasons for participating in sportwere noticeably different. That is, you can see more clearlyhow participating in sport/recreation helps during theinitial settlement period in terms of support (I participatebecause it’s fun and the coach/captain helps me withPage 31

Playing for the futureother stuff), language acquisition (I participate because ithelps me to learn English) and social connectedness (It’sa good way to make friends, and I get to hang out withother young people from my community).Q. 4 If you could do/play any kind of sport withanyone, what would it be?Other difficulties mentioned (but not listed) were:language, fitness, and having to get up early.Although responses to this question were quite varied,some interesting themes emerged. Grouped by theme,some of the responses included:I don’t care who I play with• I want to play with white people, either for or against.It’s a good way to meet people.• I want to play basketball with anyone - it doesn’tmatter if they’re Sudanese. After I know them it’sfun.• I’d like to play basketball, and I’d be happy playingwith anyone.• I want to play in any team; I want to meet newpeople and get skills.• I only want to play basketball. I am happy as long asit’s a friendly, good team.• I want to play with mixed nationalities but my ownage group.Level of competition is important (want to play in bigger/higher comp)• I want to play more competition basketball in abigger comp.• I want to play basketball in any team, but I want toplay in top competition.• I’d like to play basketball in the European league.I want to play with my friends••I’d like to play netball with friends.I’d like to play volleyball in a competition with myfriends.I’d like to do running, with my friends.•Want to learn a new game or play a sport I’m not alreadyplaying••I’d like to know how to play hockey and cricket.I want to play tennis or footy in a competition. Doesn’tmatter who, just people in same age group.I’d like to play in a soccer competition.•Like with the reasons for participating in sport/rec, thebarriers varied with length of time spent in Australia. Thosewho had been in Australia two years or less were moreconcerned with not knowing the rules or where to play,while those who had been in the country more than twoyears listed having other commitments and parents/guardians not being happy with their participation as thebiggest difficulties. Transport was an issue regardless oflength of time in Australia.Top two difficulties by length of time in AustraliaTop two reasons given by respondents who have been inAustralia < 2 years (n = 8)•••Not knowing the rules 5I don’t know where I can play 4Transport 4Top two reasons given by respondents who have been inAustralia > 2 years (n = 17)•••I have other commitments (study/family) 11Parents/guardians not happy for me to play sport 8Transport 8Q. 5 What do you find are the most difficult things foryou in participating in sport?The top three difficulties indicated by respondents were:1. I have other commitments (study/family).2. Transport.3. I don’t know where I can play.3. Parents/guardians are not happy for me to playsport.Page 32

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