In a joint venture, Coles Little Athletics Australia and Athletics Australia have been working to establish a national framework and supporting resources for addressing diversity and inclusion in athletics. This framework will set out how, Little Athletics Australia and Athletics Australia, together will ensure athletics at all levels is welcoming and inclusive and is free from discrimination for everyone.
In 2016/17 Little Athletics Australia commissioned an independent review of inclusion and diversity. The resulting report highlighted a number of recommendations centering on three themes ‑ leadership, planning and practice. Broadly it was found that while there was some great work going on, however more work was needed to help centres, clubs and organisations take action on inclusion.
Following this, in mid-2017, work began on developing a new collaborative national approach. This work has included analysis of issues and opportunities across the sport, review of current membership and coach education. This work will culminate in the delivery of a clear national direction guided by the 7 Pillars of Inclusion developed by Play by the rules. As a result, Athletics will join other National Sport Organisations Swimming Australia, Netball Australia and the National Rugby League in establishing a national inclusion framework adopting the 7 Pillars of Inclusion as a core aspect.
Ultimately the inclusion framework will seek to empower the athletics community to shift from “good intention” to “good practice” when it comes to inclusion. In other words, helping everyone in athletics to not only understand and value inclusion but to also take action so that athletics reflects the diversity of the Australian community.
Importantly this framework seeks to highlight and share the good work already happening in centres across the country while also providing practical supportive tools, resources and approaches that can be put into practice by centres – leading to meaningful action towards increased diversity.
You can learn more about the 7 Pillars of Inclusion here.
Coles Little Athletics Australia and Athletics Australia are also looking at developing a ‘The Athletics. All In. Inclusion Action Plan Toolkit’ that will guide centres through creating a plan to tackle inclusion in your athletics center, club or organisation.
The toolkit provides you with goals that relate to the 7 Pillars of Inclusion. These goals reflect the good habits that lead to inclusion of everyone in the community.
The Australian population is diverse and is becoming more diverse. The demographics of our communities are changing and sport will play an important role in connecting, empowering and strengthening our communities now and into the future. Athletics has the opportunity to play its part by promoting inclusion, non-discrimination and health and well-being for everyone in the community.
According to research 1 in 3 people choose a sport based on how safe, fair and inclusive it is.[1] As a sport we need to acknowledge that our diverse community is seeking options that are welcoming, make people feel like they belong and provide opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way. But inclusion doesn’t just happen. In order to be inclusive we need to take action.
Research has shown that certain groups within our community face barriers and challenges when it comes to getting involved in sport[2]. In particular groups who face barriers include people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from low socio-economic circumstances and people who are female. Some of these barriers include:
· High cost and inflexible payment options
· Lack of accessible and safe transport to venues
· Lack of diverse role models and little diversity in all aspects of the sport (i.e. coaches, players, administrators, volunteers)
· Inflexible uniforms
· Inflexible timetables and scheduling
· Family, religious, or cultural communities/activities may take priority over sport
· Lack of understanding of sport
· Language barriers
· Actual or potential negative attitudes and discrimination
· Emphasis on winning and competition
There are many benefits for sports to include a broad range of people, these include:
· Increasing membership
· More players
· More volunteers
· Access to a wider network of community, family and friends
· More expertise in officiating, coaching and administration
· Greater social connections
· Closer engagement with the wider community, businesses, and potential sponsors
· Good, positive stories to share
· A fresher, more vibrant and innovative organisation
The business case for diversity and inclusion is compelling. If people are choosing sporting codes based on diversity and inclusiveness this becomes a critical factor in growing participation, engagement and commercial opportunities at all levels of athletics, ensuring on-going commercial viability.[3]
1. Publish an Inclusion Commitment Statement for your centre
By and large most people and most little athletics centres believe inclusion is important and valued. However, in order to make inclusion part of what centres do, accountability is key. Writing, publishing and promoting an inclusion commitment statement is an important step in expressing your commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Inclusive Sport Design helps sports clubs and organisations take action on inclusion. The website has a free tutorial and downloadable template to get you started as well as other useful resources.
2. Appoint an Inclusion Officer or Welcome Officer in your centre
An Inclusion Officer or Welcome Officer provides an important first point of contact for new members and takes responsibility for making sure your centre, club or organisation’s goals for inclusion are being delivered and tracked.
The Club Help website provided by Leisure Networks provides free resources to help clubs grow and develop. They offer a free Welcome Officer position description as well as other useful resources and tools.
3. Get educated
Achieving increased diversity through inclusive practice is everyone’s responsibility so we all need to take it upon ourselves to improve our knowledge, skills and awareness.
Play by the Rules promotes safe, fair and inclusive sport. The website provides free resources and learning opportunities you can start today.
· Become a Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO)
· Complete the PBTR Child Protection Online course
· Complete the PBTR Harassment and Discrimination online course
· Complete the PBTR Inclusion and Diversity scenarios
· Complete the PBTR Let Kids be Kids mini-course
Little Athletics centres can get involved in the following campaigns and initiatives to show their commitment to inclusion and promote welcoming and inclusive sport for everyone.
· Racism it Stops with me campaign
· You can play – anti-homophobia campaign
· Let Kids be Kids – sideline behavior campaign
[1] Oliver, P., The power of sport: Building social bridges and breaking down cultural barriers, 2014.
[2] Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), and the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA)
[3] Clearing House for Sport, Cultural Diversity in Sport, URL: https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/knowledge_base/organised_sport/sport_and_government_policy_objectives/Cultural_Diversity_in_SportAccessed: 22/06/2018
Coles Little Athletics Australia acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we work, run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.
We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country and recognize the role and value of culture.
