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 Sport and Recreation
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Overview of issues
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Resources relating to Sport and Recreation
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Overview of issues
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Many refugee and migrant young people settling in Australia face issues such as social isolation, depression, culture shock, language difficulties and, for refugees, recovery from the effects of torture and trauma. Opportunities for newly arrived young people to participate in social and recreational activities with their peers are therefore critically important.
While sport and recreation can be a useful tool for engagement, there are a number of barriers which refugee and migrant young people face which may prevent them from accessing sport and recreation opportunities. These include:
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Parental support
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The experience of resettlement in a new country is both difficult and daunting. Individuals and families are required to adjust to a different culture, language and social systems. With all of these daily challenges, young people’s involvement in sport and recreation may not be seen as a high priority for newly arrived parents. Family or cultural commitments may take priority over sport, making it difficult for parents or guardians to be involved as volunteers, spectators or providing transport on a regular basis.
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Financial cost
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With resettlement costs and often large families, the costs associated with sport and recreational activities (e.g. registration, uniforms, transportation to and from venues) can often be too much for a newly arrived family to cover. Other resettlement costs such as basic utilities, housing and education may take priority over sport and recreational activity.
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Access to venues
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Young CLD people tend to rely on public transport to access sporting venues. Facilities and grounds that are isolated and difficult to access using public transport can discourage young people from participating. Sporting grounds or facilities that are centrally located and close to public transport play an important role in making sport more accessible for CLD young people.
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Lack of information about Sporting Associations and Clubs
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Some migrants and refugee young people may have never participated in structured sport before and may be unfamiliar with the notion of sporting clubs and processes, such as council allocation of grounds and the incorporation of clubs.
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Opportunities for CLD young women
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CLD young women have limited opportunities to participate in sport and recreation due to barriers experienced from both sporting environments and from within their own communities. Barriers can include: lack of appropriate facilities; difficulties in securing female coaches; lack of programs available; and culturally inappropriate uniform requirements.
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Discrimination
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Experiences of racism or discrimination can deter a CLD young person from participation in a new sporting environment. If they are not made to feel welcome there is little incentive for continued participation. Discrimination can be manifested verbally, through actions, physical abuse and exclusion.
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Resources relating to Sport and Recreation
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 VicHealth's Promoting the Mental Health and Wellbeing of New Arrival Communities: Learnings and Promising Practices
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 | Drawing on the stories of 15 funded projects, this publication illustrates a range of strategies for promoting mental health and wellbeing in new arrival communities from research and community strengthening through to advocacy and social marketing. It also presents the case for investment in mental health promotion in new arrival communities.
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City of Whitehorse Youth Project - Increasing Access to Sport and Recreational Clubs in Whitehorse by Young People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds. (October 2005)
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| Report detailing the findings of research the Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne) undertook on strategies to increase access and participation in local sports clubs for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds.
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