Cultural, racial and linguistically diverse communities
Participating in sport is valuable and meaningful for everyone and can have broader impact for Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
Sport can be a place where negative social stereotypes and barriers can be broken down and replaced with positive ones, leading to broader social harmony.
Sport can also help newly arrived migrants navigate the challenges of life in a new country, such as learning the language and building social relationships.
To promote more inclusive sport practices in our community, the Australian Sports Commission have developed a Multicultural Engagement Playbook, in collaboration with The LOTE Agency, to help enhance the active involvement and representation of multicultural communities in the sport sector and create a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment.
The playbook is separated into three key sections available for download.
The Multicultural Engagement Playbook is designed to help sports organisations better understand and meet the goal of increasing overall participation and engagement in sport. It is important to understand the Why and the What before you launch into the How. As a guide
Ready (The Why)
This is the current state. Use these slides to help build a case for the importance of this work with your key internal and external stakeholders. The statistics within this presentation are hard to ignore if organisations want to future proof their sport.
The ASC Multicultural Engagement Playbook - Changing Face Of Australia
Set (The What)
These are the findings from our research. It’s important to understand the experience people from a diversity of backgrounds have had in sport in Australia and the reasons for those experiences. This can help inform your work and key actions you want to adopt.
Check out the report for more details on the research process and findings Research Insights Report with Appendix.
Go (The How)
The action plan adopts a flexible approach. You may wish to pursue one action at a time or address those actions most pertinent at the current time to create change. There are no specific timelines for working through each action and not all actions may be relevant to your sport or area of the business. The pace at which you work through it will depend on the size of your sports organisation, level of commitment, time and resources you are willing to commit. However, the sooner you implement GO, the sooner you will see results.
Case Studies
Creating Inclusive Clubs for CALD Communities
As Australia’s population becomes increasingly diverse, the role of sports in bringing people together has never been more vital.
Sporting clubs across the country are recognising the importance of inclusivity, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
By fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome and supported, regardless of their background, clubs can help build stronger, more connected communities, all while encouraging participation in sport.
The power of partnerships and community engagement
Forward-thinking clubs like Centenary Stormers FC and Logan Metro FC based in Queensland are working closely with community organisations such as Pushing Barriers to implement strategies that ensure all players can thrive in their sporting journey.
Pushing Barriers is a not-for-profit organisation that helps people from refugee backgrounds navigate Australia’s sport system by connecting them with local clubs and assisting families with communication, registration, fees, transportation and equipment.
Recognising that clubs don’t always have the resources to do home visits or sit down with parents to explain how it all works, Tracy Tucker, CEO of Pushing Barriers, says this is where community partnerships can help.
“I think creating a welcoming and inclusive environment all comes down to relationships,” Tucker said.
"Developing that trust relationship is essential. We start doing this at home visits and continue to build on it through our team liaison officer program.”
By working with community organisations in this way, clubs can provide a support system that eases the transition for families from CALD communities.
Inclusive leadership
Sam Escobar, President of Logan Metro FC, highlights that fostering an inclusive sporting environment often starts from the top.
Having a diverse committee of members, coaches, and managers can lend itself positively to understanding the needs of participants, particularly those from CALD communities.
“It's so important to have representation across all areas of the club so that you have people you can draw on when you need it,” Escobar said.
“I would imagine it'd be quite tough if you didn't have a diverse management and coaching group - it’d be hard for them to relate and understand some of those needs.”
Belinda Fisher, President of Centenary Stormers FC, echoes this sentiment: “We have people of diverse backgrounds on our leadership board, which is great, and we’ve taken on some of their ideas.”
Her club has made strides in inclusivity by making small yet impactful changes, such as adding halal-friendly options in the club canteen and introducing a multicultural liaison officer to the team.
These adjustments, while seemingly minor, have had a significant positive impact on the club's diverse membership.
Addressing transport and financial barriers
One significant challenge CALD communities face in accessing sports is transportation.
Clubs are finding creative solutions to address this by partnering with organisations and local businesses, arranging volunteer drivers, and coordinating with parents and coaches to transport players who might otherwise struggle to get to training and games.
At Logan Metro FC, for example, the club has collaborated with Beam, a local e-scooter company, to provide youth players with credits for scooter rides to training.
This initiative has reduced the burden of long walks to training sessions and has been widely embraced by the players.
To address financial barriers, many clubs are doing their best to keep fees as affordable as possible to make sport more accessible.
At Centenary Stormers FC, this involves using sponsorships money and government programs such as Get Started vouchers to cover administrative costs.
Both clubs also support parents by offering payment plans and aiding the process of applying for financial assistance to ensure no player is left out due to financial constraints.
Building a supportive and safe environment
As Sam Escobar has learnt, building a welcoming and inclusive sporting environment revolves around supportive and respectful communication.
“It’s not an overnight thing… if you are really committed to having members in your club from diverse backgrounds, it really involves having genuine patience and wanting to get messages across so they can learn how to adapt to these new environments because it is sometimes quite confronting how structured it is,” Escobar said.
Clubs must be willing to engage with families, understand their unique needs, and build trust through ongoing dialogue. Moreover, they need to be prepared to address issues like exclusion or racism head-on.
Working as a volunteer with Pushing Barriers, Emily McKenna stresses the need for clubs to develop systems to respond to such incidents promptly.
“Part of being culturally responsive is developing a system to respond to those incidents and letting players know that you take that really seriously,” McKenna said.
“It's about making sure that their experience and their time at the club is a positive and safe one.”
Being culturally responsive also involves creating spaces where players feel confident sharing their identities and ensuring that club activities are sensitive to cultural practices, such as Ramadan or other religious commitments.
Celebrating inclusion
As Centenary Stormers FC and Logan Metro FC demonstrate, inclusivity in sport is not just about ticking boxes; it’s about creating environments where everyone feels they belong.
As Sam Escobar beautifully puts it: "Every day is Harmony Week. You come here, and you just have so many different cultures, and that’s celebrated by just letting them be themselves. There’s power in that."
By embracing diversity and making thoughtful adjustments, sporting clubs can provide CALD communities with the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of sports and build meaningful relationships, all while paving the way for a more inclusive sport system in Australia.
For more strategies and resources on including multicultural communities in sport visit The Australian Sports Commission’s Inclusive Sport webpage and check out the new Multicultural Engagement Playbook.
Inclusive Coaching Practices
The role of a coach goes beyond just teaching the fundamentals of a sport. It’s about fostering an inclusive environment where every player can thrive.
This involves understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds of each player and supporting them to grow both on and off the field.
Drawing on experience from community clubs, these inclusive strategies will help coaches better engage and support diverse teams and participants from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
Understand the player's experience
Players with CALD backgrounds can come from all over the world, yet one thing they often have in common is the enthusiasm they bring to the game.
Douglas Jones, a coach at Centenary Stormers Football Club who trains multiple multicultural teams, says that recognising and harnessing this energy is key to building a cohesive team where all players feel valued.
"A lot of the kids in these teams are so passionate about the game. They give everything they've got, and that passion raises the whole team culture," Jones says.
Coaches should also be aware that for some players, structured club sport may be a completely new concept.
“While you might get players with different skill levels, for many, it’s their first year playing club sport, so they are not used to that environment, they're not used to the structure,” Jones added.
Simplify communication
To overcome language barriers, keep instructions as simple as possible and consider alternative ways of communicating.
Fellow Centenary Stormers football coach Saeed Ali structures sessions around teaching the basics to ensure new players can follow along.
"Keeping it simple allows the players to understand the field of play, their role, and what they need to do," Ali explains.
Meanwhile, Jones advises coaches to be mindful of non-verbal cues.
"If you can read their face and they're not getting it, it’s my obligation to stop talking and find a different way to explain,"
This can involve demonstrating techniques physically, finding alternative ways to say something or asking other players or adults to translate.
Build trust through genuine engagement
Establishing trust with players and their families is central to engaging participants from CALD communities.
"You have to walk the walk and not just talk. If you follow up your talk with action and show that you care about them and their welfare, they will start to trust you," Jones emphasises.
Engaging with families and showing interest in players' lives outside of sport can strengthen relationships, making players more receptive to support and coaching.
Foster team unity and cultural exchange
A form of inclusive coaching is creating opportunities for players to bond and learn from one another.
Queensland-based coach Duy Nguyen recommends organising informal team activities to bring players together outside of games.
This can also be a good opportunity to celebrate different cultural traditions and build a stronger and more united team.
"Organise a barbecue with halal sausages for the Muslim players, invite their families, and let them learn from each other," he suggests.
He also emphasises the importance of respecting and accommodating religious practices, such as Ramadan.
"We make sure that players who are fasting have enough energy to last the whole game, and we allow breaks during training sessions," Nguyen explains.
“I think that’s the beauty of a multicultural team; we learn so much about each other, and we respect each other that way.”
Encourage personal growth and life skills
The discipline required in sporting environments can also translate beyond the game.
Duy Nguyen factors this into his coaching to support players achieve personal growth.
"In life, you need to be prepared. Here, it's the same thing,” he says.
“I lay the foundations at the beginning of the season, the expectation for players to turn up on time and have the right uniform to play.
“I want the boys to understand the discipline that they need to achieve things not just in sports but also in their personal life at school and work."
This holistic approach to coaching helps players develop both on and off the field and is especially valued by parents.
Inclusive coaching is about more than just teaching the fundamentals of a sport. It's about understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds of your players, fostering a team culture that values every individual, and helping each player grow both as an athlete and as a person.
By implementing these inclusive practices, coaches can create an environment where all players feel supported, understood, and motivated to succeed.
Women and Girls in Sport
Despite the strides made towards gender equity, women and girls still face an uneven playing field when it comes to sport.
For those with culturally diverse backgrounds, the barriers to participation are especially challenging with the fight for inclusivity and recognition an ongoing effort.
This article sheds light on some of the stereotypes and challenges women and girls experience in sport while highlighting inclusive club practices paving the way for a more equitable future.
Address stereotypes and cultural norms
Gender stereotypes have long been a barrier preventing women from engaging in sports. While female athletes and sportswomen are on the rise, these stereotypes still exist and are experienced by women and girls from a grassroots level to coaching and leadership roles.
Isabella Fraser, a coach at Centenary Stormers Football Club in Queensland, says she’s often overlooked by parents and spectators who assume that a male figure must be in charge.
"Quite often, I'm looked at last, even if I'm in the club polo and got the whiteboard, and I've been there the whole time," Fraser shares.
“With some parents, it's taken the whole season for them to realise and learn to just respect that I'm their kid's coach. Other parents never do.”
This reflects a broader issue in sport where women in leadership roles, like coaching, often don’t get the recognition they deserve. Clubs can address this by actively recruiting and supporting women’s progression, offering mentoring and shadowing opportunities, promoting gender equity through policies, and celebrating female leaders. Creating inclusive environments and equal opportunities will help ensure women are valued as key contributors to the success of the sport.
Meanwhile, Belinda Fisher, President of Centenary Stormers, recalls instances where boys would tell girls they shouldn't be playing soccer, perpetuating that certain sports are only for boys.
To tackle gender bias and foster a sense of unity, Fisher stresses on the important role club members can play in supporting girls to thrive in sport
“What we've done is taken the girls’ team under our wing. The first men's team provided a lot of emotional support for them and got them engaged when they were winning games, so made them feel like they were part of the club and valued.”
The club also commits to calling out behaviour that is not inclusive and encourages parents to advocate for girls' right to play and their progression within the sport.
“I've always been pushing for more girls to be involved in the sport,” Fisher says.
“I definitely think having more visibility of women in playing sport and in other positions will increase the number of women who want to become involved or see that it's possible to do that.”
Make uniforms more inclusive
Clubs and organisations should implement inclusive practices to align with the vision that sport has a place for everyone, regardless of gender, cultural background, or religious beliefs.
Zahra Ahmadi, an AFL and boxing participant, highlights the importance of accommodating the needs of Muslim girls in sports after her experience with uniforms made it difficult for her to play.
“My mum wanted me to stop playing; the main reason was because of the uniform,” Zahra explained.
“Muslim girls are meant to be fully covered, so clubs should provide the same colour as the jersey for a scarf, tights, and long-sleeve shirt.”
One club leader who demonstrates inclusivity is Alice Shepherd-Ashby, President of Kenmore Bears Netball Club. She took steps to change bylaws and offer a range of uniform options to help players feel more comfortable.
"It means that players can now choose what is preferred for them, not just for cultural reasons, but for personal comfort as well," she notes.
Such practices not only make sport more accessible but also send a powerful message that everyone is welcome.
Prioritise diverse representation and leadership
Representation matters. Whether as committee members, coaches, or players, Isabella Fraser says women's voices are crucial in ensuring that girls' needs are not overlooked.
“Having more leaders and coaches who are women and happy to engage with the female community speaks volumes,” Fraser says.
"It's about making sure that they're not forgotten, and there's usually no issue about it. It's just someone raising their needs.”
While the presence of women on committees across sporting organisations is growing, Belinda Fisher stresses the importance of creating flexible environments to support diversity.
"Providing a space where women can participate flexibly is probably the best way of getting women involved," Fisher says.
Make women visible - inspire the next generation
Watching female athletes rise to the top of their sport and represent Australia has had a profound impact on young girls, inspiring them to believe in their potential.
"Success of teams at a national level has definitely given girls the idea that they can achieve, they can do what they can do because there is that recognition," Fisher observes.
This recognition, coupled with the visibility of women in leadership and playing roles, helps foster a sense of belonging and empowerment among young female athletes.
Sam Escobar, President of Logan Metro Football Club, adds: "When they see representation of females that wear hijabs and who coach, it makes it so much easier for them to get involved."
This visibility is crucial in encouraging participation and breaking down the barriers that have long held women back in sports.
For more strategies and resources on women and girls in sport visit The Australian Sports Commission website.
The experience of people from refugee backgrounds
Coming to Australia was a “dream come true” for David Jongkuch Ayuen, a football player from South Sudan who grew up in a refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya.
However, the reality of migrating and settling into the community wasn’t so simple. Jongkuch Ayuen endured five years of constant uncertainty and difficult living conditions before being able to move to Australia with his family.
“I was really excited to come to Australia because in a refugee camp life is hard. You’re getting food rations, the temperatures are high, and the quality of education needs a lot of improvement,” he said.
Upon arriving in Queensland, excitement was overcome with culture shock as he faced the challenges of starting a new life.
"The biggest challenges were connecting with the community, not knowing anyone, being unable to speak English, and being clueless about where to go," he added.
Like many others from cultural, racial, and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, Jongkuch Ayuen found connection to his new home through sport.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is sharing his story and many others as part of its vision that ‘sport has a place for everyone’ and can support people from refugee backgrounds form social connections and adapt to life in a new country.
To assist sports achieve this, the ASC is developing a suite of resources and strategies, as well as CALD storytelling series featuring people like Jongkuch Ayuen and 17 year old Zahra Ahmadi, who shared her difficult journey from Afghanistan to Australia.
"It was tough getting to Australia because we had to go to Pakistan first,” Ahmadi explained.
“Without Afghani passports, entering Pakistan wasn’t easy. During our time there, all of my family had to work and we couldn't go to school. We made carpets at home for six years.”
Since arriving in Australia and with the support from organisations such as Pushing Barriers, she has since found a community in a range of sports, including netball, boxing, badminton, and AFL.
"I never thought a Muslim girl like me could be good at sports and fit in with the other girls while wearing a hijab. Pushing Barriers played a big role in that,” Ahmadi said.
The not-for-profit organisation aims to remove barriers that prevent people from refugee backgrounds from participating in sport by helping them understand how the system works and providing support with club fees, transportation, equipment, and communication.
Their work supports the sport sector to be more inclusive by helping sporting clubs understand the unique environments and experiences many refugee community members come from and how to engage them into their clubs so they feel welcomed and safe.
Tracey Tucker, CEO of Pushing Barriers, said: “We’ve seen youths from refugee backgrounds be embraced by their team and coaches, grow in confidence, improve their English, build friendships, and just feel part of a community.”
Jongkuch Ayuen, who now works as a sport volunteer, has found this sense of community invaluable while settling into a new country.
“We meet a lot of people from diverse backgrounds, so when you're having a hard time, there’s often somebody who's experienced a similar journey that you can talk to, and they can help you cope and adapt to Australia,” he said.
For more resources and strategies on how to understand, recognise and celebrate inclusion and diversity within sports and clubs visit the CALD communities webpage.
Strategies
- Get to know your local communities. Consult local community leaders or supporting existing participants to act as ‘diversity champions’ and develop targeted and appropriate practices.
- Engage with local CALD community groups for support and direction and co-design policies and processes that focus on creating safe and welcoming spaces and experiences.
- Ask parents and family members to contribute as coaches and volunteers which will help influence participation, build trust, meet expectations and create culturally appropriate environments.
- Ensure you have tried and tested policies and processes to prevent and respond to racism and discrimination. Promote these through coaches, committee and volunteer to the whole club at the start of the season, mid-season and then again when new people join the club.
- Ensure policies outline consequences for discrimination, ensuring that casual racist slurs or insults (for example in-jokes) are included as forms of discrimination and will have the same consequences.
- Have a formal complaints process in place.
- Ensure you have a committee member or a club nominated officer with professional or lived experience in place for confidential discussions.
- Regardless of whether racism or discrimination has occurred in your club ensure you regularly facilitate conversations that allow for reflection and learning about dealing with incidents if and when they occur.
- Make a calendar of significant cultural and religious events or periods and consider these dates when planning key club activities and events.
- Ensure club events either don’t clash with significant cultural or religious dates or where possible are incorporated and celebrated at the club event in a meaningful way.
- Play an influencing role with your association to consider significant cultural and religious dates when planning league wide events such as presentation nights and season launches. Consider holding themed events that celebrate the cultural diversity of your club and community.
- Ensure all club events consider the cultural needs of those attending eg catering options and dress code.
- Consider hosting alcohol free events throughout the year.
- Participate in cultural awareness workshops to learn about the needs of CALD communities.
- Be flexible with uniform requirements to accommodate the cultural and religious needs of certain communities
- Have visible and inclusive signage such as anti-racism posters and club information in multiple languages.
- In consultation with community members, provide a safe designated space where people can pray.
- Consider creative ways to assist any family at your club that has transport or financial challenges that are preventing participation.
- Provide flexible opportunities to involve CALD communities such as ‘come and try’ or ‘family’ days. This helps them to better understand club structures and become more familiar with sports clubs and roles (e.g. volunteering).
- Remember the sporting system in Australia is very different to a lot of other parts of the world. Take the time to explain your structures and services, particularly to anyone new to Australia.
- Ensure your social events, newsletters, and social media posts are culturally sensitive and appropriate. Use language that is easy to understand and visuals that represent the cultural diversity of the community.
Tip: Diversity within your leadership structures, including coaching, management and committee roles, will be a big step in your commitment to diversity and inclusion. Support existing participants to transition into leadership or role model positions and support them to mentor others.
Resources
Case studies
- Sunshine Heights Cricket Club
- St Marys Netball Club
- Collingwood Basketball Club
- Keon Park Tennis Club
- Geelong Baycats Baseball Charter
- The All Stars – Centre for Multicultural Youth
- Inclusion in Action – Mosaic Metros Futsal Club – YouTube
Stories on refugees in sport
- “Sport means everything to me.” – UNHCR
- Soccer providing vital link between refugees and their new regional community - ABC News
- National Refugee Week: Thomas Deng's journey from South Sudan refugee to Socceroos – Football Australia
Fact sheets and toolkits
- Engaging volunteers from multicultural communities
- AFL Multicultural Toolkit
- Football Australia CALD Factsheet
- Game Plan Resource Kit – Centre for Multicultural Youth
Other resources
- Engaging volunteers from multicultural communities
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Audiences – Marketing segmentation for sport participation – Clearinghouse for Sport
- Managing Volunteers from a CALD Background – Volunteering Resource Hub
- Building cultural inclusion in active recreation and sport – Sport New Zealand – Ihi Aotearoa
- Inclusive Organisations Good Practice Guide – Centre for Multicultural Youth
- Leadership – Multicultural NSW
- Culturally Competent Youth Work – Centre for Multicultural Youth
- Managing Volunteers from a CALD Background – Volunteering Resource Hub
- Inclusion of people from different cultural backgrounds into sport – Play by the Rules
- The religious playing field – Play by the Rules
- Creating Inclusive Multi-Faith Workplaces Infographic
- Working with interpreters – Centre for Multicultural Youth
- Culturally and linguistically diverse – eSafety Commissioner
- Cultural and Religious dates – 2022
- Muslim Women in Sport – Women In Sport
- Multicultural Female Uniform Guidelines
- Pathways to culturally diverse volunteering towards COVID-19 recovery - Volunteering Victoria
- It's not all about gender or ethnicity: a blind spot in diversity programs is holding equality back - The Conversation
- How you communicate affects if you’re viewed as inclusive - Sport Information Resource Centre Blog
- Enabling Muslim Girls to play sport - Change Our Game