City of Stirling CaLD Youth Sport and Recreation Project
The CaLD Youth Sport, Recreation and Leisure Project is a co-initiative of the Department of Sport and Recreation, the City of Stirling and the Office of Multicultural Interests and is designed to engage diverse young people, particularly those from African and indigenous backgrounds, in organised sport, recreation and leisure activities.
The project focuses on suburbs in the Balga and northern Lawley Wards (Mirrabooka, Balga, Westminster and Nollamara) and the adjacent suburbs of Girrawheen and Koondoola, where there is a relatively high concentration of young people from these backgrounds who have low participation rates in organised sport and recreation.
The three-year project aims to use sport as a vehicle to help decrease social tension and at-risk behaviour that can result from feelings of marginalisation and alienation often experienced by CaLD young people, which can adversely affect their development and wellbeing. It is hoped that the project will build relationships, strengthen bonds and facilitate integration within the community.
The project is based at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre in Mirrabooka, and is staffed by full-time Special Project Officer.
Some of the objectives of this programme are to:
- Enable sporting and community groups the opportunity to showcase their club and recruit new members through a wider range of community events and activities
- Training relating to Inclusive participation in sport and recreational activities for established sporting clubs
- Training relating to Inclusive participation in sport and recreational activities for established sporting clubs
- Increase opportunities to collaborate with peak ethnic community organizations
- Additional support to assist with engaging multicultural youth into your sporting club
- Coaching workshops for multicultural youth
- New multicultural youth participation programs through sport and recreational activities
- Sport education and training workshops around engaging CaLD youth into sport, recreation and leisure activities
- Club development education specific to CaLD youth
- Coaching and officiating training courses for target group to be role models
If you would like further information or would like to register your interest please contact the City of Stirling on 9345 8555.
Let's all make a difference today!
Tips to help newly-arrived find a club
Joining a sporting club provides a great opportunity for newly-arrived young people to be a part of Australian society and find a safe place to develop and strengthen their English skills. However, the process of joining a club can be challenging if you don't know where to start.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) has developed a tip sheet on how to join a sports club for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds. The tip sheet is available on the DSR website (click on the sponsorship logo) and can be downloaded there or directly from the links below in the following languages:
Tips for newly-arrived young people who want to join a sports club
Sport is an integral part of Australia's way of life. Sport provides a range of physical, mental and social benefits. It provides an opportunity to improve your health and fitness, meet new people and develop friendships.
For newly-arrived young people, participating in sport provides an opportunity to be a part of Australian society and to find a safe place to develop and strengthen your English skills.
Tip sheets are available courtesy of the Department of Sport & Recreation to download in:
Tips for working with CaLD groups
When comparing structured sports to social physical activity, participation rates by CaLD people are relatively lower than people born in Australia. There is great potential for sporting associations and clubs to expand their membership by encouraging people of diverse backgrounds to join and participate. This tip sheet outlines the benefits of becoming an inclusive club as well as practical strategies to assist you.
Handy tips when working with CaLD groups:
- Make it interesting and fun
- Provide safe, friendly and accessible environments
- Mix physical and social activities
- Allow participants to help plan programs
- Include some female-only programs
- Group those of similar ages
- Build confidence by including some non-competitive activities
- Provide food and prizes to create a social atmosphere
- Create a relaxing environment through music and comfortable clothing
- Use simple and clear language
- Make it visual
Creating opportunities for greater participation, sport is a key medium for creating new relationships among disparate social groups.
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CaLD) and indigenous Australians can be vulnerable to social and structural disconnection. Research shows participation in sport provides increased opportunities for them to connect with the wider community.
Participation rates by people who have emigrated are relatively lower than people born in Australia. Opportunities exist for sporting associations and clubs to expand their services by encouraging people of diverse cultures to create clubs based on inclusiveness.