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Media Release

Strengthening Indigenous Communities - A sporting chance for Indigenous youth

9 May 2006 BUD 12/06

Young Indigenous girls and boys will have increased opportunities to engage in education and sports activities, following the Australian Government’s allocation of $19.6 million for 20 school-based sporting academies and related strategies in the 2006-07 Budget.

"Sport often ignites the interest of many Indigenous children, helping to develop knowledge and skills which will help shape their futures," said the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP.

"The Australian Government is supporting the expansion of successful models of sporting academies that help young Indigenous people engage positively in sport and succeed in education and later life.

"In these new school-based sports programmes, young Indigenous girls and boys will engage in a range of sports and activities that will help build their confidence and skills, and assist them to achieve better education outcomes."

In 2007, the initiative will enable more than 1,000 students to attend up to 12 sports academies, located within schools or school precincts, offering a range of sports and recreation activities. This will increase to 1,700 students from every state and territory with some 20 academies in place by the end of 2009.

"This programme emphasises the importance the Australian Government places on providing positive educational and sporting environments to address the most important issues that young Indigenous Australians say are affecting them – those of substance abuse, crime and justice, education, health and well-being," said Minister Bishop.

"The sports academies will develop strategies to engage or re-engage young Indigenous people in school, build self-esteem and life skills and help inspire these young people and their communities."

The initiative will be implemented nationally in partnership with national and state sporting bodies that have strong affiliations with schools, and in collaboration with state and territory governments. Corporate and philanthropic organisations will also be encouraged to partner in these arrangements.

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

• This initiative will ensure that more young Indigenous girls and boys have the chance to experience positive education and sports activities with a view to improving their health, employment and education outcomes.
• It builds on the successful models of sporting academies that help young Indigenous people engage positively in sport and succeed in their education and later life.

Who will benefit?

• Sport will be used to engage Indigenous teenagers (girls and boys) nationally to assist in improving their education, health and employment outcomes, self esteem and life skills.
• The initiative will be implemented nationally in partnership with national and state sporting bodies that have strong affiliations with schools, and in collaboration with state and territory governments. Corporate and philanthropic organisations will also be encouraged to partner in these arrangements.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

• From 2006-07, the Australian Government will provide $19.6 million over four years to:
  • deliver school-based sports programmes in up to 20 academies nationally; and
  • related initiatives to address racism in sport, promote cross cultural awareness, showcase the contribution Indigenous people make to sporting life, and provide opportunities to participate in sporting carnivals.

What have we done in the past?

• The Government has supported similar sporting academies that help young Indigenous people engage positively in sport and succeed in their education and later life.
• The initiative builds on leading examples of early intervention strategies (for example the Clontarf Football Academy approach in WA) that have been demonstrated to work well for young Indigenous people.
• In 2004, the Clontarf Foundation operated academies in secondary schools in Perth, Kalgoorlie and Geraldton, with:
  • between 80 and 100 participants in each academy;
  • an average attendance rate of 78%;
  • an average retention rate of 82%; and
  • 83% of graduates from the programme achieving full time work.

When will the initiative conclude?

• The initiative will continue until June 2010.

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