Project Title: Social Participation Through Sport
Location: Launceston City Council, TAS
Local Government Project

Project Details
The aim of the project was to encourage people from non-English speaking backgrounds to become involved in their local community through sport and recreation. This was done through:

• The development of a resource kit
• Educational and promotional campaigns
• The implementation of a mentoring program in collaboration with sports and recreational clubs 

The Open boundaries…fairer playing fields program introduced migrants to their new community in the very Australian context of sport.  New arrivals were linked with clubs and volunteer ‘buddies’ in sports such as swimming, soccer, basketball, table tennis, volleyball and even Latin dancing.

The benefits extended well beyond Launceston’s new arrivals.  The sports clubs learnt cross-cultural skills, raised their profile, made important networks, and attracted new members.  The volunteers had the satisfaction of helping new migrants really get on with life in Australia, and the whole community benefited through improved community relations.

The program was an initiative of the Launceston City Council in partnership with the Northern Tasmania Municipal Organisation, the Migrant Resource Centre of Northern Tasmania and Volunteering Tasmania.  A coordinator’s position was funded by an Australian Government Living in Harmony community grant, and the council contributed in-kind support.

Contact:
Community Development Manager
Launceston City Council
Ph: (03) 6323 3219

The very comprehensive Open boundaries … fairer playing fields document provides easily accessible information for sporting clubs, associations and teams on how to encourage participation in sport by people form CALD backgrounds.  Further copies are available by calling Community Planning on (03) 6323 3381.

Project Title: Increasing Access to Sporting Activities for Refugee Young People
Location: Brisbane
Local Government Project

Project Details
Brisbane City Council received an increasing number of requests for assistance from groups of newly arrived refugee young people who have formed sporting teams and need help with uniforms, equipment, places to play and ways to compete in competitions. Many of these young people have come from African nations, and most of the requests are for assistance to soccer teams.

In response to this issue an internal Refugee Reference Group was established, with representation from the Youth Team, Multicultural Team and Active and Healthy Team to look at how we can better support and work with groups of refugee young people wanting to play sport.

Some examples of work undertaken to increase access to soccer for refugee young people in Brisbane include:

• Donations of Soccer Equipment for recently arrived refugee young people.  Brisbane City Council co-ordinated the donation of soccer equipment from Brisbane Soccer Clubs. Four clubs – The Gap Soccer Club, Samford Rangers Soccer, Brisbane City Soccer and Southside Eagles have donated 414 jerseys, 188 balls and other equipment. Council then distributed this equipment citywide to the Sierra Leone, Liberian and Rwandan communities as well as the Somalia Youth Association.
• Soccer and Cultural Awareness Day.  This event created a safe and welcoming day for refugees and other Australians to come together. There was a soccer tournament, cultural displays and performances and a range of ethnic food. Teams from Iraq, Liberia, Rwanda, Eritrea, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Indigenous Australian young people and the Annerley Soccer Club competed in the soccer tournament.

Liberian Soccer Group and Crowd watches on at the Soccer and Cultural Awareness Day

Contact: Sport & Recreation Officer
Active and Open Spaces Team
Brisbane City Council
Phone: (07) 3407 0205
                                                                             

Project Title: Sk8'n'Sync - Mutual Acceptance by Young People
Location:  Shire of Carnavon, WA 
Local Government Project

Project Details
Through participation in activities at the local skateboard park, this project was aimed at building harmonious relations between young people from diverse cultural backgrounds (Vietnamese, European and Indigenous) by increasing cultural understanding and tolerance.

Sk8'nSync ('Skate in Sync') uses skateboarding as a focus to break down barriers and stereotypes, and achieve mutual acceptance.  Skaters aged 10-16 from each community will act as role models.   They will 'take control' of the skate park, making sure that it is a youth space accessible to all communities and workshop to gain cultural understanding, while boosting each other's skating skills.  Their message of understanding and tolerance will then be taken to younger children between 5 and 12 years old in demonstrations and events.  The publicity and recognition they generate will also act as an example to the adults of Carnarvon.

Contact: Shire of Carnarvon
Ph: (08) 9941 0000

Project Title: Deception Bay Community Youth Programs Assoc Inc
Location: Deception Bay, QLD
Community Based Project

Project Details
The D Bay Way project responds to local social issues affecting youth in the area. Through the project, youth from a range of backgrounds are working with local community leaders and organisations to discuss their concerns and aspirations in a Youth Reference Group (YRG). Sport and music activities are being organised for the YRG and other youth living in the area to increase their self-confidence, understanding and respect towards people of different backgrounds. The project also works with other local organisations and community groups to support community events that involve a broad cross-section of the local community and promote community harmony.

Contact: Deception Bay Community Youth Programs Assoc Inc
Ph: (07) 3204 0277