A Sporting Chance

A Sporting Chance: An Evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program in the Kimberley Region

Roz Walker and Darlene Oxenham

Curtin Indigenous Research Centre Curtin University of Technology

March 2001

Evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program in the Kimberley

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Indigenous Australia's involvement and achievement in Australian Football is legend. Through this love of the game, Rio Tlnto and the AFL aim to develop, nurture and provide youth in Northern Australia with career and educational opportunities. Ed Biggs, Australian Football Foundation, 1996.

Rio Tinto has a desire to establish ongoing and meaningful relationships with remote and regional communities and to assist them in gaining life skills and positive experiences not necessarily obtained from their current lifestyles/circumstances. Bruce Larson, Rio Tinto, 1996.

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Evaluation ofthe Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program in the Kimberley


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Acknowledgements This evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program was funded by the Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation (RTAF). It was supported by the Curtin Consultancy Service (CCS) and Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (CIRC). We wish to acknowledge the many people who have assisted this project. Bruce Larson and Penny Joyce provided assistance in establishing the parameters of the study and providing documents and reports. We would especially like to thank Alan Bishop and all Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan staff for their generosity and support throughout the project in organising our visits to communities and organisations in the West, Central and East Kimberley. Special mention needs to be made to Marmagee Hand (Chairperson, Garnduwa Committee), Geoff Davies in Fitzroy Crossing, Dianne Appleby in Broome and Graeme Trust in Wyndham who gave generously of their time, understandings and insights of the Kickstart program and the context in which it operates. Their contributions have greatly enriched the data collection and analysis process. We would also like to thank all the many community people and stakeholders who participated in research interviews and group discussions for making the research a rich and rewarding experience for us. Principals and teaching staff at schools also generously gave their time and hospitality. We are especially grateful to participants of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program who were prepared to talk about their experiences, hopes and aspirations, and the benefits and difficulties of being involved in local and state level football. Eric Hayward, a postgraduate participant in the Indigenous Research and Development Postgraduate Program, provided a valuable contribution to discussions regarding the issues and scope of the research project. Finally, we wish to acknowledge Dr John Fielder for his time and expertise in undertaking the literature review. His contribution helped to highlight some of the main issues in sports intervention programs and provide a critical framework for analysis.


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Table of Contents Acknowledgements

vi

Executive Summary

xiii

Recommendations

XV

Abbreviations and Acronyms

xix

1.

1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8

2. 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7

3. 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6

4. 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7

Introduction Background Evaluation Overview Rationale for the Evaluation Curtin Indigenous Research Centre The Project team Scope of Evaluation Program Evaluation Approaches Research Outcomes

The Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program Background Program Objectives 2000-2002 Program Strategies Staffing Funding Program Outcomes Measuring Program Success

5 5 5 6 12 13 13 15

Garnduwa as a delivery agency Overview Organisational Structure Other Garnduwa programs Staffing Strategic Planning and Review Garnduwa's Development Principles

19 19 20 21 22 22 23

Methodology Approaches Data Collection Process Other Data Sources Garnduwa's Role Ethical Issues Limitations of Study Strength and significance of study

25 25 25 26 27 27 27 28


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Table of Contents

Literature Review Kickstart in Context Values and Sport Sport in Mainstream Australian Culture Education and Sport Health and Sport Role Models Myth and Sport Sport and Community Crime prevention through sport Critical Theory

29 29 29 30 30 31 32 33 34 34 34

6. 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10

An Analysis of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program Overview Program objectives and strategies Football is a key to community Football offers young people a future Football gets the message across What happens after football? Role models are good, but they are not enough It all comes together at the Garnduwa Festival Sport and education go hand-in-hand Other Issues and concerns

37 37 37 38 38 39 41 43 44 45 46

7. 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5

How effective is Garnduwa in delivering Kickstart? Overview Garnduwa is great How important are the sponsors- AFL & RioTinto? Enhancing program effectiveness Summary of analysis

55 55 55 55 56 59

8. 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 8.10

Conclusions Overview Program Outcomes Program Implementation Family and Community Involvement Garnduwa's role in the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program Barriers to achieving program goals and objectives Effective program elements Program Future Further research Summary

63 63 63 64 65 65 66 66 67 67 68

5. 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10

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Evaluation of the Rio Tlnto AFL Kickstart Program in the Kimberley

Table of Contents

71

References

Appendices Appendix 1: Research Team Profiles Appendix 2: Kickstart Objectives Appendix 3: Kickstart Strategies Appendix 4: Draft Stakeholder Questions Appendix 5: Questions for Participants Appendix 6: Questions for Community Profiles Appendix 7: Letter of Introduction Appendix 8: Interviewee Names & Details Appendix 9: Community Profiles

75 83 87 91 95 99 103 107 111

Tables Table Table Table Table

1: 2: 3: 4:

List of Communities & Towns Participating in Kickstart Program Coaching Clinics Football Development Squad 1997- 2000 Participation levels 1996- 2000

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7 8

11 15


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Evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program In the Kimberley

Executive Summary Introduction A Sporting Chance is an evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program which is delivered by Garnduwa throughout the Kimberley. The evaluation was undertaken by Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (CIRC) throughout October and December 2000 with Kickstart participants and stakeholders in towns and communities in the Kimberley. The study reports on the effectiveness of the Kickstart program in achieving its objectives, the relationship between football, career opportunities and health and lifestyle and social wellbeing outcomes for Indigenous Australian communities in remote areas. The report findings will be useful to a range of audiences including Indigenous communities in rural and remote areas in the Northwest.

Primarily the report findings will assist Rio Tinto and the AFL to consider sponsorship options for this and other sports programs. The findings will also enable the Health Department of Western Australia (HDWA) to assess the benefits or otherwise of linking health promotions to the Kickstart program. Other organisations that may find the research findings of interest include the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, the Education Department of Western Australia (EDWA), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission {ATSIC) and local shire councils involved in community development initiatives. Both the Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Institute of Criminology in Canberra may also find the report of interest. The research findings suggest that the Kickstart program as delivered through Garnduwa is definitely a model of best practice for improving health and education and social outcomes and generally strengthening Indigenous communities.


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Recommendations Recommendation 1 •

That Garnduwa provide clearer, more purposeful promotion of the Kickstart program and the AFL/Rio Tinto Partnership; and that more time be allocated in their visit schedules to inform communities about the immediate and longer term lifestyle benefits for young players participating in the Kickstart program.

Recommendation 2 •

That AFL and Rio Tinto commit additional funding and/or in-kind contributions (for staffing positions, vehicles and community sporting infrastructure) to ensure that, as much as is practicable, the Kickstart program is conducted in communities rather than regional centres; and that Aboriginal men and women are encouraged, supported (and trained) in the organisation and delivery of the program in order to foster whole-of-community involvement and mentoring of young participants.


That key AFL and Rio Tinto personnel meet with ATSIC, local Shire Councils and relevant state bodies including the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, and Education and Health departments of WA to discuss opportunities for a genuine integrated agency and industry approach to support, foster and make possible sustained 'whole-of-community' involvement in football/sport; and


That in these discussions key stakeholder groups and agencies identify areas of responsibility for funding particular aspects which would strengthen community sustainability including: a commitment to provide CDEP 'top-up' for the appointment of male and female Community Recreation Officers in communities participating in Kickstart or other Garnduwa programs sponsored by RioTinto;


That the AFL, Rio Tinto and other sponsoring bodies endorse the operating principles specified in Garnduwa's Strategic Plan 2000-2002 (and outlined on page 23 of this report) and provide financial and non-financial support necessary to ensure their implementation to enhance the effectiveness of the Kickstart program;

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Evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Klckstart Program in the Kimberley


That Garnduwa have the capacity to have Regional Football Development Officers (RDFO's) and other development staff stay longer in communities (between 3 days and 2 weeks), and that RDFO's have the necessary competence to assist in facilitating the community involvement with RioTinto AFL Kickstart and other Garnduwa programs;


That Garnduwa staff are provided with appropriate levels of training to continue to work developmentally and effectively with communities in establishing sustained 'whole-of-community' involvement in all Garnduwa programs, and especially Kickstart;


That funds are made available to appoint a Football Development Officer for the Central Kimberley, to be located in Fitzroy Crossing, and that the role encompass an Indigenous community development focus;


That ATSIC and other relevant funding agencies acknowledge the importance of onsite training and development for local sports people including Community Recreation Officers (CRO's); and provide the necessary funding, support and endorsement for Garnduwa to become an accredited training provider;


That male and female CRO's be appointed in each community and that Garnduwa with assistance through appropriate sporting associations provides training and support;


That the Department of Minerals and Energy/and Western Australian Mining Association encourage all mining companies who have operations in the Pilbara and Kimberley to provide sponsorships, and work in partnership with Indigenous communities to support specific program areas in a manner similar and complimentary to RioTinto;


That a culturally inclusive and appropriate dissemination and promotion of the Kickstart program be undertaken to ensure the widest coverage of information to Indigenous communities regarding the findings and possible benefits of

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participating in programs such as Kickstart (e.g. in video form, and/or a collection of stories of Kimberley footballers who have and have not been able to participate in League Football);


That the ATSIC Regional Councils for the East and West Kimberley, through its Indigenous Sports Program (ISP) and regional planning processes extend funding to assist communities to improve their existing sports facilities;


That additional funding be made available to enable Garnduwa to appoint a female Development Officer in each region to facilitate the girls development program;


That priority be given to ensure the establishment of Kimberley House in the Perth metropolitan area in accordance with the strategies identified in the Garnduwa Business Plan 2000;


That state, country, regional and national Football Associations demonstrate their commitment to Indigenous futures in enhancing through the provision of coaching and umpiring clinics, sports medicine and improved facilities in isolated communities, and further


That state, country, regional and national Football Associations undertake to commit resources, facilities and infrastructure to establish Colts and Reserves in the West, East and Central regions of the Kimberley to increase participation in junior football;


That Rio Tinto and other industry and government stakeholders (in health and sport) provide funding for further evaluative research into the role of sport intervention programs and their relationship with health, community building and other positive social outcomes.

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

ABS AFF AFL AIEO ASSPA ATSIC CAS CDEP CKFA CIRC

css

DEETYA EDWA EKAMS EKFA FVASA GARNDUWA HDWA HREOC ISP KAMS KAMSC KRFDC RCIADIC RDFO RTAF RUM WACFL WAFDF WAFDT WKFA

Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Football Foundation Australian Football League Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer Aboriginal Student Support and Parents Awareness Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Centre for Aboriginal Studies Community Development Employment Program Central Kimberley Football Association Curtin Indigenous Research Centre Curtin Consultancy Services Department of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs Education Department of Western Australia East Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service East Kimberley Football Association Fitzroy Valley Aboriginal Sports Association Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan Aboriginal Corporation Health Department of Western Australia Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Indigenous Sports Program Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service Corporation Kimberley Regional Football Development Committee Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody Regional Football Development Officer Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation Regional Umpire Management Program Western Australian Country Football League Western Australian Football Development Foundation Western Australian Football Development Trust West Kimberley Football Association

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Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1

Background

It is widely acknowledged that because of Australia's colonial legacy the majority of Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region are still experiencing unacceptable levels of social disadvantage. The reasons for this have been outlined in reports such as the Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody, (RCIADIC, 1991), Bringing Them Home Report (HREOC 1997) and the Task Force on Aboriginal Social Justice Report (1994). Factors such as distance, isolation, harsh climatic conditions, and lack of access to education and health services and social amenities, together with different cultural and lifestyle expectations, have been identified as key factors contributing to the contemporary health, education and employment situation facing young Indigenous Australians in the Kimberley. In turn truancy, vandalism, alcohol and substance abuse, suicide attempts and domestic violence are seen as the negative outcomes due to underlying despair, uncertainty and a sense of hopelessness surrounding this situation. There is now widespread agreement among Indigenous community leaders and local, state and federal government policymakers that innovative strategies are needed to improve the existing health, employment, education and economic status of Indigenous Australians, particularly in rural and remote areas. Increasingly in the last decade government reviews and reports have recommended a range of strategies each targeted to specific groups considered 'at risk' socially, emotionally and economically. What is apparent in a broad sweep of official documents is the need for holistic, community-based approaches and whole-of government or integrated inter-agency strategies that meet Indigenous needs, priorities and aspirations in these areas. A review of relevant research findings suggests that sport may play a positive role in this regard. For this reason the outcomes of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program are of particular interest. Kickstart - an innovative program intended to address many of the health and general social, emotional and economic lifestyle issues of Indigenous youth has been conducted by Rio Tinto and AFL in partnership with Aboriginal communities in towns and rural and remote areas throughout Australia since early 1997. This study evaluates the program's effectiveness in meeting these important and critical objectives within the East, Central and West Kimberley regions over the past four years.

1.2

Evaluation Overview

This evaluation research was conducted at the request of Rio Tinto to assess the effectiveness of the Kickstart program in meeting it's objectives with respect to improving Aboriginal participant's health and lifestyle as well as contributing positively to Aboriginal community life overall.



The research objectives are as follows: •

To evaluate the effectiveness of the Kickstart program since its establishment by Rio Tinto, AFL and Garnduwa and the extent to which the program's sporting objectives impact on broader community outcomes related to health, education and employment; • To gain a greater understanding of the possible links between Kickstart and broader lifestyle outcomes and positive impacts upon individuals, families and communities; • To gain a greater understanding of how different types of innovative interventions contribute to transforming the social, cultural and economic well being of individuals, families and communities; • To employ a range of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms which will assist communities to measure the effectiveness of, and make decisions about Kickstart at a community level in future; • To inform policy and resource allocations in health, education, employment (including CDEP) and sport and recreation areas.

1.3

Rationale for the Evaluation

The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation (RTAF) as a key stakeholder to the program wanted an assessment of the programs effectiveness in determining future funding allocations. Other stakeholders also believed a review of Kickstart was necessary and welcomed an opportunity to be involved in the research. For example the Health Department of WA (HDWA) is interested in ways of working with Garnduwa in the delivery of health promotions in the Kimberley. They are especially interested in the effectiveness of using sport, particularly the Kickstart program, as a vehicle for the delivery of health messages to young Aboriginal people. Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan is an Aboriginal controlled sport and recreation organisation. It is the only organisation that delivers the Kickstart program in the Kimberley. They also provide and assist in the organisation of a range of other programs, activities and events throughout the Kimberley, many of them are interrelated and dependent on each other for their ongoing success. For this reason Garnduwa believed that an evaluation was important to: • assess the Kickstart program's success, • show its interrelationship with health and community wellbeing and other social outcomes, • generate a greater understanding of the difficulties of separating programs into neat funding arrangements, and • identify areas for improvement to enhance the program's effectiveness and long term sustainability.

1.4


This project has been undertaken by Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (CIRC) through Curtin Consultancy Services (CSS). It was agreed that that Curtin Indigenous Research Centre would contribute a proportion of staff time and expertise to the evaluation in its role as a provider of a community service. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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The Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (CIRC) was established in early 1997 with funding from the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA). CIRC's purpose is to increase Indigenous research capacity, knowledge, leadership and access, especially in relation to issues of education, training and professional development. In addition an important part of CIRC's role is to assist Indigenous communities to: •

Gain greater access to the research resources and findings increasingly essential to community planning and representation; and Determine, participate in and own the outcomes of community research projects.

•

CIRC is committed to the principles of empowerment by facilitating Indigenous control, participation and capacity to shape Indigenous futures. CIRC operates to ensure that all research and development activities are responsive to Indigenous community needs and priorities. CIRC also sustains a publications program, with particular emphasis on dissemination strategies appropriate to Indigenous Australian circumstances and needs. It contributes at local, state and national levels to discussion and debate about alternative paradigms and processes as applied to indigenous community needs.

1.5

The Project team

Darlene Oxenham and Roz Walker, both of CIRC were responsible for the research collection and analysis of information and the preparation of report findings. Dr John Fielder, of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies (CAS) participated In the literature review and qualitative research analysis. He is highly skilled in discourse analysis and has particular expertise in the area of football. Profiles of CIRC and CAS staff involved in the project are included at Appendix 1. Curtin Consultancy Services assisted in the final production of copies of the report for Rio Tinto, Garnduwa, the Health Department of WA and the Chairpersons of all participating Aboriginal communities.

1.6

Scope of Evaluation

This evaluation study was conducted with a sample of 5 communities and 3 towns throughout the East, West and Central Kimberley regions in order to: • •

• •

identify/confirm whether elements of Kickstart contributes to strengthening families and communities; describe the actual initiatives being undertaken and the successes and barriers to access program's goals experienced by participants within the participating communities; evaluate the impact of Kickstart initiatives on the health outcomes of individuals, family and community members; assess the extent to which young Aboriginal youth are being offered and taking up opportunities · to participate in the professional coaching and player opportunities, and identify the possible access barriers;


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•

provide a greater understanding of the resources and community strategies necessary to improve the Kickstart program in different community contexts; inform government policy and program initiatives intended to enhance community wellbeing; and examine the extent to which the program utilises an integrated services approach among Indigenous organisations and identify the benefits and constraints for providers/users.

• •

1.7

Program Evaluation Approaches

Very little research has been carried out to evaluate the efficacy of utilising sports programs as a social intervention strategy. In a recent study the effectiveness of sport as a crime prevention strategy. Cameron and McDougall (2000) listed a number of important determinants of success in other sport intervention programs. These include: • • • •

Length of program Level of and nature of organisational support for participants during and after the program Intensity of activities and nature of the challenge and other skills or issues being addressed simultaneously Staffing skills and attributes are also important.

In assessing the effectiveness of sport interventions Cameron and MacDougall (2000, p6) suggest that an evaluation should consider a programs' sustainability - its active ingredients and what parts of the program result in change. Programs should be based on evidence that a problem exists and that the solution works with respect to that problem. Moreover, evaluations should identify the factors that influence positive change in young people.

1.8

Research Outcomes

The outcomes from this present research study are contained in this report which: •

outlines those elements of the Kickstart program which stakeholders and participants believe contribute to enhancing the health and lifestyle of young Aboriginal people, their families and communities; • identifies the extent to which Kickstart enhances opportunities to Indigenous youth in rural and remote areas to engage in competitive and professional opportunities (eg increases Indigenous participation in football at AFL level, including coaching and umpiring); • provides greater understandings of the most effective elements of Kickstart and the barriers to achieving the program's goals and objectives; • provides greater understandings of the resources and community strategies necessary to further improve the Kickstart program in different community contexts; • identifies the extent to which the program utilises an integrated services approach among Indigenous organisations and local, state and federal government agencies and identify the benefits and constraints for providers/users; and • provides recommendations which inform government policy and program initiatives intended to enhance community wellbeing. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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Chapter 2 The Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program 2.1

Background

The Kickstart program was initiated in 1996/7 following a major review by the Australian Football League (AFL) in the wake of race relations issues that arose in 1995. The findings of the review 'Developing Futures, Not Just a Game' (Aboriginal Football Foundation, 1996) highlighted the lack of opportunities for talented Aboriginal footballers to participate in league level games. At the same time Rio Tinto were concerned about the health status of communities in Northern Australia, particularly in remote areas. They were also concerned about low participation rates of Aboriginal youth in high school and the high levels of absenteeism. The AFL and Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation combined forces to establish the Kickstart program to meet each of their distinctive but complimentary agendas. The Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program was established as a joint initiative between the AFL and Rio Tinto to develop football in Northern Australia, focusing on remote Aboriginal communities. The program is designed to target 7 - 18 year olds, with the aim of increasing participation in AFL football at both a junior and senior levels. Since it was established the delivery of Kickstart has differed between and within states in the Top End. The two states Western Australia and Queensland and the Northern Territory have implemented different strategies to achieve the Kickstart program objectives. This study is limited to evaluating the RioTinto AFL Kickstart Program in Western Australia. In Western Australia the Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan Aboriginal Corporation (Garnduwa) was appointed to deliver the Kickstart program in the Kimberley. As an Aboriginal controlled organisation with an established track record and high profile throughout the Kimberley, Garnduwa has proved a highly appropriate choice. The organisation was already well known and highly regarded across the Kimberley due to the Garnduwa Festival which has been held annually in Fitzroy Crossing for isolated communities since 1991. Besides making the Garnduwa Festival a central focus for the Kickstart program Garnduwa has a range of strategies in place to achieve both broad based participation in football in schools and communities and the development of a talented elite. These strategies differ from those of its Kickstart counterparts across the Top End in several ways - a great deal of emphasis is placed on developing coaching and umpiring skills, the elite squads and linking in with schools and government and Aboriginal agencies.

2.2

Program Objectives 2000-2002

Garnduwa has continued to review the effectiveness of its delivery of the Kickstart program on an annual basis. Over time Garnduwa has refined the original objectives which are listed in Appendix 2. The organisation under the direction and with the involvement of its Management Committee has now developed the Kimberley Kickstart Regional Development Plan 2000-2002 which is more streamlined and focused in its mission and objectives and strategies. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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Mission To improve the quantity and quality of participation in football across the Kimberley Region including players, coaches, umpires, administrators and sports trainers.

Objectives Participation

to increase participation in football at all levels and enhance school community links.

Education

to improve the overall standard of coaches, umpires, sports trainers and administrators through appropriate accredited and non accredited courses, workshops and support programs.

Talent Development

to identify potentially talented players and expose them to an appropriate coaching and playing environment that will assist them to reach higher levels at regional, state or national level.

Lifeskill Development

to promote awareness amongst Kimberley youth of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, strengthened lifeskills and educational grounding required in the overall development of them as sports people or in their chosen pathways. (Kimberley Kickstart Regional Development Plan 2000-2002)

2.3

Program Strategies

There are a range of sub-programs and strategies employed by Garnduwa to achieve the Kickstart objectives which are described briefly below. They include: • Community visits; • Town-based support; • Coaching Accreditation; • Umpiring Accreditation; • League/club Administrative Development and Support; • Kullarri Community Truancy Program; • Role Model Programs; • Regional and local championship events; • Isolated Community Carnivals; • Kimberley Football Development Squads; • General/local Participation Program; and • The Garnduwa Festival Community visits The number of communities visited by Garnduwa as part of the Kickstart program is gradually increasing. Some 24 remote communities throughout the Kimberley were visited at least once and some as many as five times in 1999 and 2000 respectively. These visits to remote communities and schools involve working with teaching staff at schools and with the Community Recreation Officers (CRO's) in the communities to deliver skills clinics combined with healthy lifestyle messages to young people. The particular health or lifeskill messages delivered at these visits are determined on Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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the basis of discussions with community stakeholders (usually schools) to address community concerns. The issues covered range from truancy, substance abuse, safe sex and suicide. Other activities at these visits include the provision of professional development of CRO's with the delivery of Level 0 Coaching courses to 12 year olds and under, senior team support and role model support. Town based support The Kickstart program is delivered in 8 towns in the Kimberley. Support is also provided to schools, youth agencies, Auskick Centres and junior and senior clubs in Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Wyndham and Kununurra. Table I below lists the frequency of visits to the towns and communities participating in the Kickstart program. Table 1 List of Communities & Towns Participating in Kickstart Program Communities & Frequency of visits Comments Towns per annum Broome 8 visits Visited at least twice a term Fitzroy Crossing 8 visits Halls Creek 8 visits Extended visits during wet season Kununurra 8 visits Extended visits during wet season Wyndham 8 visits Extended visits during wet season Bidyadanga 8 visits One Arm Point 8 visits Lombardina 8 visits Beagle Bay 8 visits Warmun 8 visits Extended visits during wet season Derby 4 to 7 visits Visited once or twice a term Leoma 4 to 7 visits 4 to 7 visits Nookenbah Yakanarra 4 to 7 visits Bayulu 4 to 7 visits Wangkatjungka 4 to 7 visits Muludja 4 to 7 visits Yiyili 4 to 7 visits Oombulgurri 4 to 7 visits Extended visits during wet season Kalumburu 4 to 7 visits Extended visits during wet season Balgo Less than 4 visits Due to remoteness, weather conditions Billiluna Less than 4 visits and or small numbers Mulan Less than 4 visits Yagga Yagga Less than 4 visits Ringer Soak Less than 4 visits Mt Barnett Less than 4 visits Gibb River Less than 4 visits Pandanus park Less than 4 visits Mowanjun Less than 4 visits Doon Doon Less than 4 visits Extended visits durin_g_ wet season

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Curtin Indigenous Research Centre 7 Evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program in the Kimberley

Coaching Accreditation

The provision of coaching skills clinics and accreditation courses is a critical element to the success of Kickstart program. The Level 0 Football Course is delivered between March and June across the Kimberley in Halls Creek, Wyndham and Kununurra, and also communities including Balgo, Bililluna, Warmun and Oombulgarri. In 1999 a total of 62 people from, Wyndham, Halls Creek, Broome, Derby, Nookenbah, Yakanarra, Bayulu, Junjuwa and Bidyadanga participated in, and received Certificates of Completion. In addition 17 people continued on to complete the Level 1 Course delivered in Broome by Steve Hargrave of the Western Australian Football Development Trust (WAFDT). Table 2:Coaching Clinics Communities/Towns

Level 0 (12 and under)

Level 1 Youth/Senior

1997

46

12

1998

54

5

1999

62

17

2000

unavailable

unavailable

Total Participants

162

34

Umpiring Accreditation

The Regional Umpire Management (RUM) program undertakes umpire accreditation in each of three regions in the Kimberley. Geoff Davies, Garnduwa's Regional Coordinator in Fitzroy Crossing is the Kimberley Regional Umpire Manager, he liaises with three league umpire coaches to provide in-service and umpire accreditation. In 1999 some 17 people commenced the umpire accreditation with 5 completing. Introductory umpire courses are also conducted in the remote communities. As at the end of 1999 some 25 Aboriginal people had participated in the theoretical or practical aspects of the umpire accreditation program. League/club Administrative Development and Support

Garnduwa staff provide specific administrative support to the Central Kimberley Football League, the East Kimberley under 18's and the Senior Desert League. The Central Kimberley has been the largest growing league in Western Australia since 1995, increasing from four league teams to ten. Seven of these teams consist mainly of players for 15 different remote communities in the Kimberleys. Alan Bishop and Geoff Davies have been largely responsible for providing support to these teams. Again this support involves visiting communities and undertaking Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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workshops on effective administration and committee/club members.

roles

and

responsibilities

of

In addition, Alan Bishop, Eric Wade and Gilbert McAdam have held 'one on one' workshops with several individual junior and senior clubs, particularly community clubs to enhance their awareness of player protocols on and off the field. The focus of these workshops is to improve communications, player management, address issues related to alcohol and modified rules of the game for 8 -14 year aids. (1999 Report) Kullarri Community Truancy Program High levels of school truancy has been identified as influencing academic outcomes and also contributing to drug and alcohol use (and associated issues such as vandalism) amongst 10 to 15 year aids in the Kullari region. The RioTinto AFL Kickstart program has provided the focus to deliver other health and lifestyle programs and meals in two communities where these issues were identified. Garnduwa Development Officers have delivered programs on regular basis on Fridays for Semester One in 1999 and 2000. The timing of these programs ensured student attendance at school on these days as a prerequisite for participation in program activities. Both communities have reported very high attendance rates since the delivery of these programs (Garnduwa Report), an assertion which was supported by a number of other stakeholders during the research. Role Model Programs Garnduwa utilises both local and visiting role models within most Kickstart sub programs as well as across all of its other programs. The use of well known footballers, and other sports people as visiting role models are considered important for the successful delivery of all Kickstart programs (Interim report 1999). These visits provide opportunities to promote healthy lifestyle messages; to support and give further credibility to local role models; and to teach and model specific skills and attributes at camps and clinics. Garnduwa has increasingly encouraged the use of local people in the region as role models. The importance and value of local role models has been further affirmed with the appointment of Eric Wade and Gilbert McAdam as Regional Football Development Officers (RFDO) in the Kickstart Program. Regional and local championship events Several regional and sub regional championships are held throughout the Kimberley. In addition to enhancing the participation levels within the Kickstart program these events help to: • improve the quality of competition; • assist the talent identification process; • assist the formation of sub-regional development squads for the Kimberley Development Squad; and • give more accessible and achievable goals and pathways to all footballers. (Interim Report 1999)


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Isolated Community Carnivals The Isolated Community Carnivals provides an important 'opportunity for the majority of Kimberley Indigenous communities to participate in some form of structured competition during the year' (Garnduwa Report 1999). Garnduwa provides a crucial role in supporting this strategy by providing equipment and administrative and umpiring assistance to the host communities to run the carnivals. Ten communities play in the senior Kimberley league competition and a further 12 to 18 participate in various carnivals around the Kimberley. They include: • • • • • • • •

Rio Tinto North West Championships Seniors (Broome 5/6 June) East Kimberley 'Smarter than Smoking' under 15 championship* West Kimberley 'Smarter than Smoking' under 15 championship West and Central 18's Championship (Grand Final Curtain Raiser)* Kullari Region Isolated Communities 12's and 15's Lightening Carnival * Fitzroy Valley Region 12's and 15's Championship * Regional under 19's Carnival for Kickstart Cup -Fitzroy Crossing Isolated Communities Carnival *

Several of these carnivals (those indicated with an asterisk) were new initiatives held for the first time in 1999. Most were established as a result of the previous year's annual review and were in response to community feedback on the need for more competitive events for all ages. Kimberley Football Development Squad The Kimberley Under 18 Development Squad has been running since 1997. It involves the identification of players between the ages of 14-17 who are believed to have elite player potential. It is another important aspect of the Kickstart program that extends the focus from participation to talent development across the Kimberley region. The Kimberley Regional Football Development Committee has established a talent identification program aimed at giving identified players an opportunity to participate in a coaching and training environment which will enhance their potential to pursue a career pathway in football at regional, state and national levels. Three Development Squads have been developed with secondary school players in each of the regions (East, West and Central). The are several objectives designed to achieve the broad aims of Development Squad. Since 1999 greater priority has been given to providing support at the local level for the Squads. This involves monitoring the development of players at a local level through regular RDFO visits to young players under 18 selected for the Kimberley Development Squad. They also attend a five day development camp in Broome. Garnduwa staff facilitate the camp with support from WAFL coaches and representatives from the WA Institute of Sport and other role models. The camp covers skills development, health and social development and lectures on transition to city life. Fitness testing of all squad members is a 'high priority' throughout the camp. Individual interviews are held with players regarding their personal aspirations and immediate and long-term goals in football (Interim report 1999).


10


In 1999 the initiative was extended to enable the Squad to participate in the Northern Australian Under 18's Championships in Darwin. The Squad comprised 16 players from the West Kimberley (WFKA), four from the East Kimberley Football Association (EKFA) and six from Central Kimberley Football Association (CKFA). Participation in the Darwin Championships was continued in 2000 together with an additional camp in April. The greater number of players in the Squad from the West Kimberley in contrast to the number of players from the Central and East Kimberley has been cited as an good example of the disadvantage experienced by the more isolated communities because of distance, transport costs, community commitments and climate. These factors can prevent the Squad from have more than one training session with a full member team and can severely limit opportunities for communities in the Central and East regions to participate in the Squad. The development program is considered an important and effective component of Kickstart. The statistics highlight both the growing success of the program as well as reveal some of the more complex issues which need to be taken into account when using the number of players in League football as the key performance measure in assessing the program's effectiveness. Table 3: Football Development Squad 1997 - 2000 No. leaving Kimberleys for further development* 3

No. remaining

1997

No.of Players Identified 23 players

7

No. who left the program 13

1998

18 players

4

9

5

1999

25 players

5

10

10

2000

28 players

11

8

9

Year

*AFL, Westar, Northern Temtory Football League, Temtory Thunder Squad, Clontarf Football Academy

General/Local Participation Programs These programs are aimed at increasing the general level of participation in football throughout the Kimberley for 6 to 18 year olds through the Auskick and Aussiefooty Centres, junior sub-regional competitions and carnivals and school support programs, clinics and inter-school competition. (Kickstart Interim Report: 1999) The RFDO's role in the Auskick program involves inservicing coaches, delivering clinics and provide support to administrative volunteers. The Garnduwa Festival In addition to the above strategies Garnduwa also makes the most of Garnduwa Festival which has held annually in Fitzroy Crossing for isolated Aboriginal communities for six years. The Garnduwa Festival has been described as the 'regions premier sport and recreational event' (Interim Report 1999). It continues to attract large numbers people with estimates ranging from 3000 to 4000 people from some 23 communities in recent years. The football competition is played over three days with thirty games being played by the twelve teams. (Garnduwa Report 1999). Past reports attest to having some 450 players representing over 20 communities participating in the Festival. In addition, on average 10 women's basketball teams and over 100 participants in track and field Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

11


events participate in the Festival. Music and dance also plays an important role at the Festival with 22 community, youth and school bands, 150 musicians and 6 traditional dance groups. While the festivities include athletics, basketball, dancing and music most people agree that football is definitely the major draw-card at the Garnduwa Festival. The Festival provides an ideal forum to 'show-case' the talented young players and promote the successes of the Kickstart program. Awards for best players and the 'umpire of the carnival' and team trophies are highly prized. The Festival provides a good example of how Garnduwa links health messages with sport under the banner of "Drink Play, No Way'. This and other local messages can be seen on posters, and at displays and demonstrations. The Kimberley Public Health department and Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service (KAMS) Heatworks program combine with Garnduwa to provide interactive activities at these events. These strategies appear to be very effective with young people creating their own health messages on hessian banners surrounding the sporting grounds.

2.4

Staffing

Staff directly involved with the Kickstart Program are as follows: Alan Bishop Eric Wade Matt Hill Gilbert McAdam

Kickstart Kimberley Regional Football Development Manager Football Development Officer, West Kimberley Regional Mentor Program Coordinator, West Kimberley Football Development Officer, East Kimberley

The Kickstart program first began as 'a one-man show' with Alan Bishop responsible for promoting football, running coaching clinics and liaising with regional and state Football associations. By mid 2000 the program staffing had quadrupled with the appointment of two Regional Football Development Officers (RDFO) Eric Wade and Gilbert McAdam and a Coordinator for the Mentor Program, Matt Hill. Both Eric Wade and Gilbert McAdam are high profile local football identities, and Matt Hill is also an experienced league player. The Regional Football Development Officers (RFDO) role is to work closely with identified remote communities in the Kimberley to: • deliver skills clinics • assist teams in getting established. The majority of their time is devoted to visiting towns and communities to work 'hands on' with young people. In addition they play a key role in the management of the Regional Development Squads. The appointment of an additional Regional Football Development Officer, Gilbert McAdam, in 2000 has greatly extended Garnduwa's capacity to deliver the Kickstart Program in the Desert and Eastern Kimberley (Kimberley Kickstart Report January to June 2000). Matt Hill's solid football background places him in a strong position to provide a mentorship role to young players. He works closely with both Eric Wade and Gilbert McAdam to provide advice, support, and encouragement to young players identified through the Kickstart program. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre 12


One of Matt's key roles is to establish a regional and Perth mentor network to link with other relevant agencies in supporting young identified players. This is an area which appears to be crucial to provide the follow-through support for players selected to play in Perth. The employment of additional staff has seen an overall improvement in the delivery of football in across the East and West Kimberley regions.

2.5

Funding

In addition to funding from the AFL and Rio Tinto, Garnduwa receives and seeks funds from a range of other stakeholders to support a range of programs including Kickstart. These agencies and sponsoring organisations include: WA Aboriginal Health Department, ATSIC, Indigenous Sport Program (ISP), the Fitzroy Valley Aboriginal Sports Association (FVASA), and Argyle Diamonds. While some funding allocations are given to specifically support particular Kickstart program objectives (such as health awareness) Garnduwa 's goals and objectives, philosophy and practices call for a holistic/integrated approach which encompasses the Kickstart program, making it difficult and even unproductive to require Garnduwa to strictly differentiate between its programs. Garnduwa's operational practice is to pool funds to maximise cost effectiveness and value for money for all sponsors and funding contributors. For example Gilbert McAdam's appointment is supported with financial assistance from AFL, Argyle Diamonds and ATSIC. Eric Wade and Matt Hill's appointments are supported by CDEP top-up (Kimberley Kickstart Report January to June 2000).

2.6

Program Outcomes

A number of program outcomes can be identified from annual and interim reports prepared for funding bodies each year since the Kickstart program commenced. The main outcomes can be summarised as increased youth participation in local and professional league football and increased community involvement in football. Other more intrinsic outcomes include increased self-esteem, increased sense of community and cohesion and increased awareness of health and lifestyle issues. A range of skills such as goal setting, planning an organising and communicating are incorporated into the Football Development Camps. Community leadership and development Several stakeholders stated that they believe that many of the skills and attributes learned and further developed through football are being transferred to the community context. Recent research by Tatz suggests that there is evidence that skills have transferability from one context to another - for example from sport to classroom (Tatz 1999). The Kickstart interim report for 2000 notes that: with the program now in its fourth year we are also starting to evidence the emergence of young men (18-20 years old) who have been involved as participants in the program, developing leadership


13


roles within their community either through employment or in a voluntary capacity. The report continues: Whereas four years ago programs were delivered or coordinated by Garnduwa staff alone, numerous prior participants are now managing, coordinating or officiating those programs with far Jess Garnduwa involvement thereby enabling the programs to be extended upon, often into new communities. Increased Heath Awareness According to the Garnduwa 1999 Annual Report, the success of the health promotion activities alongside the sporting events 'can be evidenced in the standard of activities participated in and that there was no alcohol seen over the entire weekend.' Police officers interviewed in Fitzroy confirmed Garnduwa's assessment, adding that there was also a dramatic reduction in reported domestic violence and other forms of anti-social behaviour during this period and for some days after. Inter-agency links and networks There has been a growing recognition among various health agencies of the unique role played by Garnduwa. This was confirmed in discussions with a range of stakeholders and also borne out by the linked programs operating between Garnduwa and various health agencies and the formal and informal relationships that have been developed. Graeme Trust is the Garnduwa representative on the East Kimberley and Desert regional health forum that operates on a monthly basis. This forum formally links health and youth development with sport and recreational activities (Kickstart Report Jan -June 2000). Several state government organisations and local businesses in the regions provide support to Garnduwa's regional activities and festival events: • • • • • • • • • •

Indigenous Sport Program Ministry of Sport and Recreation ATSIC Kimberley Aboriginal Law & Culture Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service - Health promotion Unit Rio Tinto Healthway Bunaba People SportsPower FVASA


14


Increased participation at all levels of football Since the Kickstart program commenced there has been a steady increase in the numbers of Aboriginal youth between 8-19 participating in the program as well as a steady increase in the number of talented players who have progressed to state and national football levels. There has also been an increase in the numbers of teams playing at league level. In 1997 there was only one Auskick centre in the Kimberley with some 60 participants, by 1999 there were 5 centres with 535 participants. The combination of strategies and the focus on school aged youth has been highly successful through Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Wyndham and Kununurra as indicated in Table 1 below. In addition Table 1 shows that the participation rates have increased from 21 teams to 80 teams (or 280 per cent) over a five-year period since 1996. Table 4: Participation levels 1996 - 2000 Location

Competition

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Broome

Community under 8 & 10 Community under 12 Community under 15 Community under 17 Schoolunder12 Schoolunder15 Community under 10 Community under 12 Community under 15 Schoolunder12 Schoolunder15 Community under 10 Community under 12 Community under 15 Schoolunder15 Community under 10 Community under 12 School/Community under 15 Community_ under 17 Community under 8 & 10 Community under 12 School/Community under 15 Community under 17 TOTAL TEAMS

4 4

4 4 4

6 6

6

6

6 6

6 6

2 9 2

2 9

Derby

Fitzroy Crossing

Halls Creek

Wyndham/ Kununurra

2 0

4

3

3

6

6

6

2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

2 0 2 2 2 1 0

2 0 2 2 2 1 2

2 2 2 2 1

2 2 2 2

2 1

4 6 4

4

1 3

1 3

4

4

5 0 0

5 0 0

4

4

4

4

1 1 2

1 1

2 2

2 2

4 4

6 6 2

6

2 80

2 80*

4 1 3

1

2

54

61

6

4

6

2

* Figures were unavailable for 2000 at the time of compiling this report however it stated that the number of teams had remained the same.

2.7

Measuring Program Success

Although performance indicators and measures do not appear to have been established when the program was first established. Indicators and targets have since been determined for the Kickstart Development Plan 2000-2002. These outcome measures have been established on the basis of past performance and also with a view to consolidate the quality of the program delivery over the next two years. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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It is relatively straightforward to measure the effectiveness of program based on the original aims of the AFL and Rio Tinto Kickstart program which was to increase football participation and professional and career opportunities at state and national levels. Garnduwa have collected the necessary baseline data in order to measure the effectiveness of the Kickstart program in increasing participation levels in all aspects of the Kickstart program. Statistics on the number of coaching and umpiring courses and accreditation completions, Auskick centres and teams and competitive events been reported on an annual basis. It is not difficult to demonstrate increases in all of these areas. It is however, difficult to determine the level of increase in participation needed as a measurable indicator of success for the elite program and the timeframes in which it should be achieved. This requires greater understanding of why some young players selected for league have chosen to return home for example. This requires the collection of qualitative data, stories on a case by case basis to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the program in determining how successful or effective the program has been in achieving an elite quota and whether the target is realistic in the first place. The aim to achieve enhanced lifeskills to enable people to have opportunities available in the mainstream are more complex areas and more difficult to measure. It involves obtaining stakeholder and participant perceptions of shifts in self esteem, self worth, and self respect and greater awareness of health issues and the tools and skills to enact them. Some of these aspects, such as greater awareness of health issues can be assessed to some extent by education activities in class which gauge student levels of recognition, as well as reflected in their actions. These observed changes in behaviours need to be linked to the specific program being run. For example indicators of the truancy program need to reflect changes in levels of school attendance. It was more difficult to obtain baseline data to inform indicators of performance for the effectiveness of utilising the Kickstart program as a vehicle for health promotion. Discussions with Health promotion agencies suggest that there are three levels of strategies which need to be considered when evaluating whether utilising sport as a vehicle for health promotions is really effective. The first involves ascertaining the degree of awareness gained as a result of a promotional strategies (ie slogans on t-shirts) - Does the message you want to get across come to the 'top of the mind'? The second includes educational strategies such as utilising coaches or trainers to pass on instructional tips. The third involves structural change such as creating a smoke free or grog free environment. It also requires being prepared to measure change over an extended period of time. Research carried out through the Health Promotions Branch of the HDWA which looks at the effectiveness of using sport and arts as a vehicle for health promotions shows that overall there is approximately 76 per cent of awareness of all ranges of messages. Further, when this awareness is translated from 'an intention to act' into 'an action' there is about an 8 per cent change of behaviour within the population, which is considered a very positive outcome (personal communication). In general terms sport is an effective vehicle for health promotion providing it is supplemented with other strategies which incorporate both educational and environmental aspects. It is important to use a comprehensive range of strategies not just one strategy.


16


Health promotions are more likely to be effective if supported by a skills program and backed by people in the community who are prepared to enact structural change. The same is true of the role model program. The message they deliver needs to be supplemented by other strategies if it is to be sustained over time. However, in terms of evaluating the effectiveness of these comprehensive integrated strategies it is difficult to differentiate between the various components. It is also difficult to determine whether actual changes in behaviour can be attributed to the Kickstart alone. However as Cameron and McDougall (2000) and Tatz (1999) show there are a number of program strategies and ingredients which appear to be successful when combined together. Identifying precisely which elements are necessary is equally important to guide future policy decisions and program evaluations and determine resource allocations. For the purpose of this evaluation, evidence to measure the effectiveness of programs is based on stakeholder perceptions of changes in school attendance, general wellbeing, and any statistics we could obtain from relevant service agencies. Obviously there are some difficulties with this, one of the problems is being able to determine whether these changes are related to the implementation of Kickstart strategies. Developing and interpreting indicators to measure increased participation in sports activities is more straightforward than establishing indicators to attempt to measure that influence of interrelated factors. Measuring messages Health promotion personnel suggest that an evaluation of health promotions program needs to provide evidence that lifestyle issues are being addressed at promotional, educational and structural levels. Moreover if the strategies used fall outside of 'traditional' policy and programs boundaries they need to be justified on cultural, social environmental or other grounds. It is apparent that government bodies are also grappling with the difficulty of trying to exercise sound decision making in a complex social policy environment. As one stakeholder explained:

Garnduwa are interesting- they are a mixed bag - they don't follow the guidelines in a sense of identifying one message or using the sponsor's message. They use their own health message 'Drink Play No Way' - its unique to them, or they go with messages asked for by community or local agencies. So it becomes quite difficult to measure whether sport is an effective vehicle or not in the usual sense. They don't dot the i's and cross the t's but at the end of the day the Garnduwa Festival is grog free. This is a significant outcome. You can tell from the feedback and their annual reports that its effective. Several stakeholders agreed that the use of colloquialisms and/or idiomatic language (that is language particular to the region) endorsed by local and/or national Aboriginal sporting heroes for health promotion posters is highly effective in getting the messages recognised, owned and ultimately acted upon by young people. 'Drink Play, No Way', and 'Look Good, Feel Deadly' are good examples.


17


Written testimonials

Written testimonials from isolated community schools, youth agencies and other stakeholders tend to confirm 'client satisfaction' with Garnduwa's processes and ways of working. Some of these letters are also testimony of the value attached to various Kickstart strategies, for example a letter for one community school reads: Many great programs such as the Football talent squad and the Football Lightening Carnival have been very valuable to our students. Visits by international level gymnastic coaches and well known Aboriginal footbal/ers and cricketers has helped lift the self-esteem of our students. We hope that the great work being done by Garnduwa will continue next year. Another letter states that: the success of the Certificate 1 of Community Recreation programme is greatly due to the assistance of Gamduwa. Media representations

A glance over headlines in the Broome Advertiser and other community papers gives an indication of how positively both the Kickstart program and Garnduwa are represented in the Kimberley. 'Wade kicks goals for Kickstart program' 'Keeping an eye out for star material' 'Young team in northern football titles' 'Kids offer fresh sporting chance for communities' 'Life skills for teens'

Curtin Indigenous Research Centre 18


Chapter 3 Garnduwa as a delivery agent 3.1

Overview

A brief overview of Garnduwa's organisational structure, staffing and management arrangements shows the scope and inter-relationship of the Kickstart program with other Garnduwa programs. Garnduwa's main objective is to: 'increase participation by Kimberley people in meaningful sports and recreational pursuits with an emphasis on youth and Aboriginal people.' Garnduwa offers a range of programs to meet its goals and objectives. They are : •

Garnduwa Isolated Communities Festival

•

Junior Athletics Development Program

•

AFLIRioTinto Kickstart Football Development Program

•

Basketball Development Program

•

Community Initiatives Support Program

•

Music Development Program

•

Active Girls Camp

•

Kimberley House Program

These various programs provide a means to meet Garnduwa goals and objectives. Many of these programs have common aims and many have become quite inter related in their implementation and delivery. Several of the sponsors provide funding which covers more than one program, adding to the complexity of clearly determining the cost-effectiveness of one program in isolation from the remainder of the organisation's core and one-off operations. Although many of these programs delivered by Garnduwa do not fall inside the Kickstart program, several are supported by Rio Tinto funding and most promote the Kickstart banner at all events and activities that are delivered in the Kimberley. This includes events and camps run for the girls.


19


3.2

Organisational Structure

Garnduwa's Operational Structure is based on the chart in the Business Plan 2000 However this chart does not properly represent either the communication flows or the crossover of roles and responsibilities in relation to Garnduwa's programs and activities.

Gamduwa Executive Management Committee (Volunteer Community Representatives)

Administrator IF ootball Development Manager

Kickstart Program West & Central Kimberley Development Officer (Football)

East Kimberley Development Officer (Football)

East Kimberley Program Co-ordinator

West Kimberley Program Co-ordinator

Trainee Development Officers


20

Central Kimberley Program Co-ordinator


3.3

Other Garnduwa programs

Lifeskills development programs Supplementary lifeskill programs are often integrated as part of the Kickstart promotion to increase awareness of health issues and enhance lifeskills. Some examples of this include: • • •

Tony Mundine and Lionel Rose travelled with Eric Wade to discuss 'drug use' in communities. Kickstart is involved in the delivery of PASH (Adolescent and Sexual Health) The Kimberley Medical Service (KAMS) works in with Kickstart in the West and Central Kimberley.

Community Initiatives Support Programs Garnduwa's community support programs also benefit the Kickstart program in achieving its objectives. For example Garnduwa's role in providing support to remote communities includes such things as: • Delivery of accredited and non-accredited courses to communities and community based groups; • Professional development programs and workshops (including accredited training course development) for Community Recreation Officers; and the • Provision of Funding for sporting equipment and minor facilities. Programs for girls While girls are encouraged to participate in the RioTinto AFL Kickstart program, and many of the younger girls do, most move away from football as they get older. Most people felt that this was to be expected. The limited numbers of girls playing as they got older was seen as inevitable. As one person said: the game gets too rough when they get older and 'then there is the culture side'. We don't mind too much. Most community members and other stakeholders felt that it was more important to provide sports activities the girls wanted rather than 'tacking them onto the Kickstart program'. Some communities have hardly any programs for girls which is why so many people felt it would be good to appoint men and women CRO's. There are far more opportunities available for girls in towns than in communities. However, there are several other programs (some sponsored by Rio Tinto), which are designed specifically for girls 5-18. They include basketball and netball, golf, and the Young Women's Leadership and Lifestyle camp. Other programs which encourage the participation of girls include regional athletics program; role model program; drug abuse program, tennis, cricket and softball development programs, the Active Girl's Camp in Broome, youth suicide initiative programs and Perth hostel program.



3.4

Staffing

Staffing is another area which embraces cross-program roles and responsibilities. For instance, in addition to the staff who work primarily with the Kickstart program, Garnduwa employs three regional program coordinators who also provide support in various ways to the Kickstart program delivery in their respective regions. They are: • Dianne Appleby, West Kimberley Program Coordinator • Geoff Davies, Central Kimberley Program Coordinator • Graham Trust, East Kimberley Program Coordinator

3.5

Strategic Planning and Review

Garnduwa is committed to meeting the diverse needs of Indigenous people in isolated communities and towns in the Kimberley. In order to achieve this Garnduwa adopts a range of strategies to address the specific needs, priorities and aspirations of Indigenous isolated communities throughout the Kimberley. They work developmentally to introduce football and other sporting and recreational programs into these communities. According to Garnduwa stakeholders this entails a comprehensive strategic approach in the planning and review to ensure that the integration and delivery of Kickstart and other programs is genuinely consistent and relevant to community priorities. The different types of issues identified by communities are listed in the respective profiles of each of the communities included in the sample (see Appendix 9). Broadly the main issues identified include: • • • • • •

substance abuse youth suicide domestic violence low school attendance lack of employment opportunities lack of community cohesion.

In addition Garnduwa works collaboratively with other Aboriginal agencies and government departments in the delivery of other programs intended to address health, education and employment issues within Indigenous communities, especially remote communities, in the Kimberley. Both the Health Department and the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, for example, provide health promotions programs. The EKAMS delivers Heatstart and HDWA funds various groups to deliver particular health messages which have been identified as priority. Some of these service providers are stakeholders connected with Garnduwa and the Kickstart program. Many offer other programs which are also related directly to sport. Most of these agencies provide funding support to Garnduwa which directly and indirectly assists them with the Kickstart program. Garnduwa undertakes an annual review of the Kickstart program as part of its reporting responsibility to AFL and Rio Tinto and its commitment to continually improve the participation levels and quality of football in the Kimberley. While this allows Garnduwa to be responsive to community, currently there are few mechanisms in place to monitor the effectiveness of Kickstart or other programs in the attainment of broader social outcomes. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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3.6

Garnduwa's Development Principles

The Garnduwa network has made junior sport development and talent identification a priority focus in determining its programs (with football, basketball and athletics the main discipline areas). Garnduwa believe there are five basic requirements or development principles that need to be present before these programs can be effective. These are listed in Garnduwa Business Plan 2000 as follows: •

A local structured competition that athletes can participate in. It is at this level that the better athletes can be identified and selected to lead into a regional competition. It also promotes the sport at a local level and generates increased participation.

•

A high quality structured regional competition that allows elite athletes to participate in and be identified. There needs to be competent officiators and coaches, high standard game and personal presentation levels, good sportsmanship and uniform rules and regulations.

•

Coaching, umpiring and administration, accreditation and training within the region. It is these support areas that enable good competition to happen at the level described above.

•

There also needs to be support and understanding for the local program by the State Associations of these sports. This will ensure the identified athletes who wish to go the next step and participate in higher level of training and competition are sanctioned and assisted by the state and possibly the national body of that sport.

•

Support funding and resources available to assist the identified athletes to access, competition and training outside the local region (ie scholarships or sponsorship to allow talented athlete:s access to qualify for state competitions and /or training opportunities).

The report also recognises that in promoting these principles Garnduwa has a number of roles and responsibilities: •

Firstly, to recognise all existing programs, ideas and stakeholders already playing a role in these sports both inside and outside the region;

•

Secondly, to put forward a structure and program in each sport that the stakeholders can see will benefit their athletes and their sport without presenting them with too many insurmountable problems;

•

Thirdly, to assist these stakeholder to access funds to do their basic development work in increasing the quality of competitions and athletes being produced through the provision of course and training in administration, coaching, officiating, sports medicine.


23



Evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFL Kicks tart Program in the Kimberley

Chapter 4 Methodology 4.1

Approaches

The research team primarily employed a qualitative approach to achieve the project aims and outcomes. The experiences and perceptions of key stakeholders and participants were obtained to assess the effectiveness of existing program objectives, processes and practices in assisting individuals, families and communities. The process involved individual interviews and small group discussions with key stakeholders and participants in selected communities.

4.2

Data Collection Process

A qualitative approach was adopted for this evaluation. Guiding questions for participants (Appendix 5) were determined on the following basis: • • •

consideration of preliminary information gathered; Kickstart goals, objectives and strategies (Appendix 2); the concerns and issues of various key stakeholders (Appendix 3); and, with regard to the ages, gender and other relevant characteristics of the different groups being interviewed (ie whether English is a second language).

These questions and a copy of the Kickstart objectives and strategies were used to guide the questions with individuals and groups. In addition specific questions were asked of Garnduwa staff to obtain demographic data to determine the sample population (see Appendix 4). Community Sample

A total of eight town-based, rural and remote communities were chosen as broadly representative, demographically and geographically, of the 24 communities throughout the East, West and Central regions which are currently involved in the Kickstart program. Demographic data of participants from 4-18 years old age range involved in Kickstart in each of the communities was obtained to determine relevant sample and develop a background understanding of the issues confronting them. The communities selected encompass both the range and diversity of issues experienced by Indigenous communities in the Kimberley. The team visited each of these communities over a 10 day period accompanied by a Garnduwa officer and Kyle Vander Kuyp, Aboriginal Athlete who competed in Olympics. Kyle has a contractual agreement with Rio Tinto to visit isolated Aboriginal communities in his capacity as a role model. He participated informally in the data gathering process. Discussions were held with Kyle regarding his perception about the level of health and fitness awareness amongst young Aboriginal people involved in school programs, which link Kickstart with other healthy lifestyle promotions.


25


Participant Groups

In each community visited, Kickstart participants were identified to ascertain the age and gender of young people involved in the program. Initially, depending on the number of participants involved in the program, it was intended to undertake individual interviews, small group discussion or classroom discussion with school aged children. However, this aspect of the process was changed to classroom observation when we were informed that Kyle Vander Kuyp would be included in these visits, in his capacity of role model. Community Stakeholders

Community and agency stakeholders such as the school principals, teacher(s), community nurses, health workers, health promotions officers and police aides, involved with Kickstart at some level, were also interviewed. Their perceptions were sought as to whether the Kickstart program had influenced changes in their respective areas, for example: school truancy, health issues. In addition, they were asked to provide statistical information or other evidence pertaining to these changes. Other Stakeholders

In addition, perceptions of key stakeholders who have an investment in Kickstart including AFL, Rio Tinto, Garnduwa, and HDWA and relevant Aboriginal agencies in towns (eg Wyndham Action Group and Heatstart Broome) was obtained to gauge their perceptions of the program, the elements they would like to see improved, any concerns or frustrations, future hopes for the program and other emergent issues.

4.3

Other Data Sources

Quantitative data was sought from community health clinics, police stations (where relevant) and schools, regarding any changes in indicators such as 'truancy', admissions and visits to clinics. Where possible relevant statistics were obtained to support qualitative data drawn from community and participant perceptions. Policy and Community Context

The Project Research Team compiled a list of existing programs and relevant policy information within the communities. It also considered where, if at all, statistical data can be collected to form a baseline from which conclusions can be drawn. A review of relevant reports, ATSIC and ABS census data, Rio Tinto reports and AFL review, assisted in situating the Kickstart program within a broader social and historical context. Literature Search

Literature pertaining to the role of sport in promoting healthy communities was undertaken to identify the main issues and findings of relevance to the Kickstart program and to provide a critical framework as a basis for analysis of community and stakeholder findings. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

26


4.4

Garnduwa's Role

Garnduwa played an important organisational and liaison role throughout the research. This involved establishing contact with community stakeholders and participants. All participants in the research were cooperative and emphasised the importance of obtaining community perspectives. Garnduwa took responsibility for the initial organisation of the research at the community level: •

•

•

• •

4.5

Assisting in establishing appropriate entry to the communities involved, by undertaking initial consultation with the community Chairperson and other relevant community stakeholders. Providing/obtaining a list of relevant community stakeholders for each community and contact numbers for letters to be sent informing them about the evaluation, the project team's forthcoming visits and requesting their involvement. Arranging meetings with each of the individuals and groups within the scheduled time, identifying alternative means of obtaining information, if the persons were unavailable. Providing CIRC with relevant information regarding Kickstart to provide a broader picture of the extent of the program, and its evolution since 1997. (Appendix 4) Staff also provided their perceptions of it's overall success, difficulties and specific issues experienced by communities and any ways in which the program could be improved.

Ethical Issues

The research was undertaken in accordance with the CAS research policy guidelines developed through Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (1999) and endorsed by Curtin University of Technology as adjunct to the Universities' ethical principles and guidelines for research in Indigenous contexts. All participants were fully informed of the research and consent was obtained to include names of respondents in the report. Tapes were only used where individuals felt comfortable otherwise field notes were taken and checked back with respondents. Researcher understandings where to minimise any misinterpretation of their perceptions. Confidentiality, and as much as practical, anonymity, was guaranteed to enable people to participate freely in the research. In addition the research adheres to principles outlined in Decolonising Methodologies (Linda Tuhiwai Smith 2000). Firstly, to ensure Indigenous direction and control over the research and secondly, to ensure that research outcomes are relevant to all stakeholder groups but particularly the Indigenous community involved and that the research is designed to contribute to positive change at the community level.

4.6

Limitations of Study

This research was limited by the time available to conduct interviews in the field. The lack of time available in each community to establish relationships and follow-up with Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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individuals referred to the team was often frustrating participants alike.

for the research team and

In many instances because of the lack of baseline data held at community level, it has not been possible to verify claims made by individuals. However generally a number of stakeholders from different agencies, with varying agendas, have made similar claims which has served to crosscheck and validate the findings.

4.7

Strength and significance of study

This project uses an evaluation approach which fits with the principles underpinning the Centre for Aboriginal Studies and Curtin Indigenous Research Centre practices. This approach also models similar evaluation research conducted by John Scougall and Ricky Osborne, "Dogs, Kids and Homeswest: the Story of the Tkalka Boorda Aboriginal Community" (1998) and more recent work by John Scougall, Jill Abdullah, and Rosalie Dwyer. The strength of such an approach comes from including the voices of Indigenous people as a basis for the findings. It was evident that individuals involved in the research believed the study to be important and welcomed the opportunity to be involved and to put forward their views on what could or needs to happen to make the program work more effectively. In several communities participants expressed their appreciation of being given an opportunity to give their perspective on the Kickstart program, Garnduwa's role as a sport and recreation organisation. Community and stakeholder responses and support is a strength in this study given that a fundamental principle of research in Indigenous contexts should honour Indigenous priorities and aspirations. Moreover, the importance accorded the research by respondents should allow key stakeholders, sponsors and funding bodies to draw confidence in the recommendations and any policy determinations arising from the report findings.


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Chapter 5 Literature Review The Role of Sport in Promoting Healthy Communities 5.1

Kickstart in Context

This brief literature review examines the broader community and cultural context within which the Kickstart program exists. What is provided here is a critical overview of the research into the role of sport and recreation in education and more specifically, sports programs as a strategy to improve educational outcomes and health standards for Aboriginal children and youth. Sport is generally upheld as a significant activity that fosters whole-of-life, extra curricula learning, which encompasses lifestyle and health issues. Further, there is clear evidence that middle-class people, with higher formal education levels, have better health and have higher participation levels in sport. However, for Aboriginal people in particular, there are other 'extra-curricular' cultural activities that function in a comparable 'character-building' way as well as sport (collecting bushtucker and hunting, ceremonial practices, etc.). It is important also that 'educational outcomes' be defined in the broadest sense of the term, for learning in life occurs outside as well as inside formal schooling. So, what are the educational and health outcomes that the community expects of young people? Presumably, one of the responses to this question in the context of remote Aboriginal communities has been to link sport to formal schooling outcomes participation, completion, and success rates. The assumption is that sport is, naturally, good for young people's health and wellbeing. There is no doubt that all children and youth benefit from physical activity, recreation, outdoor activities and sport, but special concern does need to be given to the kinds of physical activity and the range of recreational opportunities available.

5.2

Values and Sport

A critical approach to sport problematises both the widely held belief that sport is inherently good and wholesome and the tendency to support this claim on the basis of questionable evidence or limited research practices. Recent research, however, calls for a close consideration of such issues in children's and youth sport as levels of inclusion/exclusion, constructive/destructive moral influences and positive/negative role modelling. For example, quite often the preoccupation with winning and competition produces values, attitudes and behaviours antithetical to the high moral aspirations and attributes of an idealised sporting ethic ('having a go', 'doing one's best', playing for the team, encouraging struggling team-mates, and so on). The recent focus on the Sydney Olympics point to the fact that there are two sides to sport- achievement, success and self-development, but also disappointment, failure, and self-abuse (drugs, harmful dietary practices, etc.) in the quest to attain the former. Miracle and Rees (1994, p. 222) suggest that'... it is because people believe so passionately in the intrinsic value of athletics as a character builder that the negative reaction to commercialism and drug scandals in modern sport is so intense'.


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Nevertheless, for many children, the attraction of sport is obvious: escape from the classroom environment, a break from the monotony and boredom of studies, a physical and group-oriented balance to the intellectual and individualistic focus of traditional classroom education, and the chance to perform well in a different arena (Miracle & Rees 1994). Clearly, the body and the mind need to be developed in young people.

5.3

Sport in Mainstream Australian Culture

Finally, there is no doubt that sport plays a significant role in mainstream Australian culture. According to Tatz, it takes on even more significance for Indigenous Australians, functioning as a key means of asserting their equality with a culture that has constructed them as racially inferior (Tatz 1996). Tatz (1996) has outlined the way racism has impacted on Aboriginal involvement in sport, and the pattern is well documented in the sociology of sport literature in North America, Europe and Australia (Jarvie 1991; Kew 1997; Rowe & Lawrence 1998; Vogler & Schwartz 1993). Booth and Tatz refer to the Nicky Winmar event in 1993 as a key event in graphic expressions of Aboriginal identity and assertive response to both on-field and off-field racism (2000, p. 13). The elite status of high-profile, media-saturated, professional sport is one thing; the modest nature of 'ridgy didge' sport in remote Aboriginal communities is another: In most Aboriginal communities it is impossible to distinguish anything that can be called a 'sportsground'. Lombadina and Djarindjin, in north-western Western Australia, play Australian football on a saltpan marked only by goalposts made from twisted saplings. (Booth & Tatz 2000, p. 203) In such situations, participation and passion count more than pretensions and prestige (Pascoe 1995).

5.4

Education and Sport

Research in Indigenous education highlights the importance of establishing and evaluating innovative strategies in education for Indigenous people in Indigenous communities throughout Australia. A major concern in both urban and rural areas is the high level of non-attendance and truancy: Actual numbers are difficult to determine because of lack of systems-wide data collection. In the mid-1990s, it was estimated that 30 per cent of all truants in government schools are Aboriginal (Report of the Task Force on Aboriginal Social Justice, Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority, p. 379). However, a selected study conducted by the Department of Education placed the figure at 37 percent (personal communication). (Beresford 1999, p. 5) All the educational indicators suggest: ... there is an on-going crisis in Aboriginal education. The notion of crisis takes on added meaning when the demographics of the Aboriginal population are taken into account. By comparison with the non-Aboriginal community, the Aboriginal population is young with a high proportion of children in the Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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primary school age years and younger. Thus, current problems can only be expected to worsen unless systematic action is taken. (Beresford 1999, pp. 5-6)

Beresford argues that government education policy and practices over the last few decades needs to be questioned: 'During these years, governments have relied mainly on school-based policies to address the educational disadvantage of Aboriginal students' (1999, p. 6). Beresford (1999), also points out that the effects of racist policies of the past continue to reverberate in terms of generational social patterns: 'Specifically for Aboriginal youth, the marginalisation of parents has meant that they have lacked skills and cultural capital to pass onto their children' (p. 9). He emphasises the 'family dysfunction arising out of the past policies of forced removal and segregation' (p. 11). More broadly, the attraction of the modern, consumption-oriented lifestyle has undermined many traditional cultural values and practices, and government policies have been based on the assumption that all peoples must be part of modernity's conception of 'progress'. Given this context of social and cultural upheaval, the retention and completion rates for Aboriginal students are a major concern: Each year a large proportion of Indigenous students disappears from school before attaining the compulsory age. Graphs of retention differ from one state to another, but generally by year 11 only a small percentage of the numbers enrolled in Year 8 is still at school. In Western Australia, for example, 900 Year 8 Aboriginal students were enrolled, and in the following year, only 148, or 16.4% of the original Year 8 cohort, remained. Of these, only 6% of boys and 10% of girls would graduate (Education Department of Western Australia, 1998). (Partington 1999, p. 32)

A key dilemma faced by schools is the 'problem of motivating and attempting to teach a captive audience that might prefer to be elsewhere, but has no choice' (1994, p. 65). One of the places students would rather be is on a sports field. In many instances this preference has been utilised to encourage students to attend school in order to be able to participate in sport. Increasingly sport has become a major strategy to address truancy in Indigenous communities.

5.5

Health and Sport

There is irrefutable evidence that children need to be involved in regular exercise to develop strong and healthy bodies. Beyond this, because of the role sport plays in Australian culture, children derive considerable social and cultural capital from being involved in sport, and sporting clubs function as important community organisations in urban and, especially, in rural communities. A report from Rumbalara Community provides an example of the way sport and wellbeing are linked for an Aboriginal community in Victoria. The Rumbalara Football and Netball Club is much more than a sporting club. It's the spiritual and cultural home of the Goulburn Valley's Koori community. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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Their people, the Yorta Yorta, first played football at Barmah, near Echuca, more than a century ago, when they were forced to live at the Cummeragunja Mission. (Rumbalara 1999, p. 2) Although the Club was only formally established in 1997, the origins of the club go back to the 1890s, with Cummeragunja Mission winning its first football premiership in 1898. Rumbalara is regarded as 'a vehicle to nurture reconciliation and improve physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, for the Goulburn Valley's Koori community. It's the heart of the community' (1999, p. 4). There are a range of programs sponsored by VicHealth that enable the Goulburn Valley Koori community to manage its own community health and education and sports programs. It is worth mentioning that this example of a community managed program is supported with funding by Rio Tinto - further confirmation of the Company's commitment to empowerment and self-determination.

5.6

Role Models

Role modelling is often cited as a key factor in the production of positive outcomes for education, health and general personal development. The issue then, is what kinds of modelling and mentoring actually occur. The literature suggests that, in many instances, undesirable behaviours are modelled as much as desirable ones. A second issue then is that of defining what attributes are considered as desirable or positive. Partington (1999, p. 37) makes this comment in relation to role models for Indigenous students: It is frequently commented that a reason Indigenous students don't succeed at school is the absence of appropriate role models in the school or community (Capp, 1988; East Kimberley Aboriginal Education Conference, 1996; National review of Education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 1994). Often, however, the models considered appropriate are those that exemplify success on terms of the dominant culture. Role models who exemplify enduring values of Indigenous society are likely to be ignored by schools which seek to mould students into a dominant cultural image. Similarly, Groome (1995, p. 60) questions the specific kinds of roles that are to be modelled, and who is appropriate to model them: In terms of career pathways and competencies, there is a real danger in quantifying "success" as academic achievement and Year 12 retention. The desire of students to be home-makers, shop assistants, factory workers and tradespeople is often denigrated by educators who have been acculturated to judge achievement solely in terms of academic scores. There is a need to legitimise and acclaim other areas of success. This is not to deny the importance of sports role models. Many Aboriginal footballers, sports-people and community members attest to the importance of role models in building motivation and goals. This point is reinforced on several occasions in AFL's Black Stars (1998, pp. 106, 107, 115). At the same time, however, many of these role models stress the fact that sport in itself is not enough. In many cases role models Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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help to forge the link between education and sport. Maurice Rioli asserts that community leadership requires more than simply being good on the football field: I want kids to go through the education system and play their sport, but sport doesn't last forever, and they must be educated to become leaders in the community. (AFL's Black Stars 1998, p. 53)

5.7

Myth and Sport

In their preface to Lessons of the Locker Room, Miracle and Rees ask these questions: Does sport in our schools promote education by keeping students in school longer? Does sport help keep youth off drugs and out of trouble? In short, does sport build character? Or, ... does sport just build characters? (1994, p. 7) While their book focuses on 'the beliefs that commonly surround the question of sport in American schools', much of their research is applicable to the development of programs such as Kickstart in Australia. Miracle and Rees refer to the way sport functions as a powerful cultural myth - a naturalised, common-sensical or unquestionable belief or way of thinking. The term 'myth' is used in this context not to signify fallacious or erroneous beliefs, but 'truths' that appear as self-evident and uncontestable. Sport functions as a very powerful myth in Australian culture, and also in terms of American beliefs about school sport, as explained by Miracle and Rees below: According to the myth, school sport is supposed to pay off in a number of ways. First and foremost, it has socialization value ... adolescents are supposed to learn the pro-social values necessary to be successful in business and in life. They learn the importance of success and the need to dedicate themselves to attain success. They Jearn respect for authority, self sacrifice, sportsmanship, and fair play. They learn to get their kicks on the playing fields and in the gymnasium rather than through deviant experiments with drugs and alcohol. In short, they learn to be winners. It is expected that this lesson should be applied to whatever they do after they have finished school. (1994, p. 17)

There are some tensions or contradictions within this myth, however, for embedded in the belief in the inherent goodness of sport 'is the philosophy that action speaks louder than words, that sport action shows character, and that on the football field or in life, success demonstrates morality. Winners are morally better than losers, and this can be demonstrated in sport' (Miracle & Rees 1994, p. 49). As Gary Wickham (1991, pp. 223-224) asserts, It is probably also a truism that sport teaches other quite contradictory behaviours - cheat if you can get away with it, always try to put your opponents off, however you can, commit yourself to individual goals ahead of team goals as the glory and reward for individuals is always greater than that available for teams. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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The truism that sport builds 'character' functions mythically, then, to idealise good and proper character whilst masking the reproduction of 'bad' and anti-social character in many forms of sport.

5.8

Sport and Community

If one of the aims of sport in schools is to contribute to stronger family and community networks, a preoccupation with winning and being 'number one', rather than on social and ethical development across the curriculum, is destined to be counter productive. Community development and empowerment of all people particularly within an Aboriginal context - needs to be valued above the achievements of the elite and beating others (Miracle & Rees 1994, p. 7). Focusing narrowly on the production of sports superstars can create unrealistic goals that may result in young people perceiving themselves as social 'failures' if high standards are not achieved. Whilst there is ample evidence to suggest that sport is positive for some, participation in sport can equally encourage 'delinquent behaviour, particularly if delinquency is defined as activities like fighting, drinking, and drug use, especially illegal steroids' (Miracle & Rees 1994, p. 103). These practices are as much part of the sporting culture as athletic 'puritanism'. Similarly, problems can arise with 'overconformity to the athletic norms of physical strength, machismo, competitiveness, and winning' (Miracle & Rees 1994, p. 103).

5.9

Crime prevention through sport

Little work has been done by way of evaluating the effectiveness of sporting programs and activities in Australia in positive social impact such as preventing crime and suicide, reducing truancy or improving education outcomes and health awareness. The limited amount of research done on international programs shows some encouraging results (Sherman 1997). Although the virtues attached to sport in the 19th century in building moral character have since been challenged there is still widespread acceptance that sports and physical activities play a significant and positive role in contemporary society - they improve the quality of life, provide personal and group rewards. A number of positive social aspects are still associated with sport. According to Cameron and McDougall sport and physical activities can give people a sense of belonging (2000, p2). Their recent research shows that sport contributes to crime prevention and community building.

5.10

Critical Theory

This brief and selective literature review provides a critical framework to challenge unreflective assumptions about sport's unequivocally wholesome and positive attributes. Such a critical framework for this study provides a basis to go beyond simplistic affirmations of sport's positive qualities. This is not to detract from the efforts of Rio Tinto and the AFL in making such a strong contribution to community empowerment via health, education and sports programs.


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Much of the literature highlights the significant social power and indeed poetic function of sports in most contemporary cultures. It essential to acknowledge that, whilst sport uplifts, motivates, inspires, disciplines and delights, it does not transcend the political and cultural forces that function at all levels of social activity. Sport in itself, then, is not to be idealised as an essentially redemptive activity: the key issue is how it is mobilised strategically amidst a range of other social activities that enable choice, participation, co-operation and collectivity amidst other monopolistic, exclusionist, competitive and individualistic social forces.


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Eric Wade, Football Development Officer with Aboriginal Community Footballers.


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Chapter 6 An Analysis of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program 6.1

Overview

This section of the report includes a comprehensive analysis of data derived from individual and group interviews, observations and existing reports and reviews. The data has been grouped according to the main themes that emerged throughout the discussions with individuals and groups. The discussions covered their perspectives pertaining to the Kickstart program objectives, the effectiveness of existing strategies and Granduwa's role in the delivery of the program. Although perspectives of all stakeholders have been included in this report, particular attention has been given to those individuals and members of communities intended to benefit from the RioTinto AFL Kickstart program. As far as possible a distinction has been drawn between participants, community members and other stakeholders including Garnduwa staff and committee members, without divulging individual identities of participants. In the few instances where people may be able to be easily identified, permission has been granted to represent their voices in the report.

6.2

Program objectives and strategies

A major aim of the evaluation was to assess whether the Rio Tinto Kickstart program objectives and the strategies to achieve them are relevant, appropriate and realistic to meet a range of different stakeholder and community needs and expectations. Discussions with community people, agency staff and other key stakeholders were focused around the Kickstart program objectives and strategies. The main findings related to these discussions are grouped below. The questions have been posed below for the purpose of ordering the analysis of findings. Generally people were not asked broad questions such as:

Is Kickstart an effective vehicle to increase health and lifestyle awareness amongst young Aboriginal people and provide them with positive and healthy lifestyle options? The themes below relate directly to the questions surrounding Kickstart objectives and strategies, the role of Garnduwa in their implementation and suggestions to enhance the effectiveness of the program. Football is a key to community Considers the worth of football in achieving positive outcomes within the Aboriginal community. Football offers young people a future Considers whether Kickstart enhances opportunities for Indigenous youth in remote areas to engage in competitive and professional opportunities in football at AFL level, including coaching and umpiring.


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Football gets the message across Considers whether Kickstart is an effective vehicle to increase health and lifestyle awareness amongst young Aboriginal people and provide them with positive and healthy lifestyle options. What happens after football? Considers the sustainability of positive outcomes attributed to Kickstart from both participant and stakeholder perspectives. Sport and education go hand-in-hand Considers whether Kickstart improves the education and life-skills experience amongst Aboriginal youth in remote locations based on education stakeholder perspectives. Role models are good, but they are not enough Considers the need to incorporate a range of strategies to address a broad range issues. It all comes together at the Garnduwa Festival Highlights the importance of having a focal point to bring communities together.

6.3

Football is a key to community

Several people stated that football plays a valuable role in achieving positive outcomes within the Aboriginal community If you've got an organised football team - then you've got the beginnings for a strong community. (stakeholder)

It helps build community spirit - in communities you get different opinions - often get factions- but once footy starts we're all there all the issues go out the window. (community member/stakeholder) Lots kids face difficulties at home they need the support of their communities - the boys are mainly at risk in communities - football gives them leadership skills and acceptance of responsibility. (community stakeholder) The girls love It- they go to watch- some of them give up basketball to go to football instead. Which is not so good perhaps, but they like getting together with everyone. (community stakeholder)

6.4

Football offers young people a future

Most people agreed Kickstart enhances opportunities for Indigenous youth in remote areas. Football has given me a dream to hang on to - It changed my life. (Kickstart participant)


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We had 12 kids here running amok for four weeks - they are crying out for attention - when we developed the football program the troubles ceased. (community stakeholder) There are not too many employment outlets - art, music, sport are the main ways to make money rather than trades or working in shops and offices- people don't want to go down and work in the cities- this is their life- they don't like going away. Football gives them something. (community stakeholder) There's not a lot happening by way of employment opportunities in some of these remote communities up here - Kickstarl gives some hope to young people without forcing them to go down exactly the same track as 'whitefellas'. (Stakeholder) Going away gives them some experience - if you stay here your ideas can be very limited, the only ideas you encounter - when you come back you see things differently - you can imagine a different future here - but I think this highlights the need to have more coaches in the community to keep things alive. (community stakeholder)

Young kids working with Garnduwa Development Officers at a community visit.

6.5

Football gets the message across

There was overwhelming agreement amongst stakeholders, especially those involved in health, that the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program is an effective vehicle to increase health and lifestyle awareness amongst young Aboriginal people and provide them with positive and healthy lifestyle options. Most people were very optimistic about the role of health promotion and the effectiveness of the existing initiatives to promote awareness of drugs, alcohol, smoking and safe sex. One person involved in community health was very affirming that the health messages are getting across and that young people are becoming more aware:


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You can hear the young ones talking in language to their parents about the effects of alcohol and smoking. You can hear them talking if their family are drunk - things have settled down a lot - people go fishing and camping out now [since the football and other sports programs started regular]. Another person agreed that the link between healthy lifestyle messages and football is most effective in the lead up to and during the footy season: The 15-25's really focus on football and getting fit - when the football's not on they reinforce the messages amongst themselves no-one is allowed to get drunk - that goes for the whole of [community]. From April to September mothers, grandmothers, everyone takes it seriously - sport really does help people get healthy and role models talking about health also builds knowledge and goals. (community stakeholder) Several people referred to the banners that the young people had made at the Garnduwa festival in Fitzroy earlier in the year, as evidence that kids are aware of a range of health issues, especially the health and social problems related to alcohol, smoking and other drugs. Discussions also revealed that many people are aware that a range of health promotions activities and messages for Indigenous people occur throughout the Kimberley that are not connected with the Kickstart program. While some of these programs 'Yabbie Don't Smoke' campaign have been very successful in receiving wide coverage and recognition, some people claimed that these messages were more meaningful and effective for young people playing sport. In other words, sport provides the impetus and learning motivation to stay healthy and it also provides a way to 'Look good, Feel deadly'. Almost everyone immediately recognised and strongly approved of the Garnduwa 'Drink Play, No Way' slogan, and its association with football. Some agency staff emphasised the importance of delivering health strategies through Garnduwa, particularly through sports that receive broad community involvement as participants and spectators. At the same time there were some divergent views about the nature of health promotions being hitched to the sports vehicle. A few people expressed reservations towards 'a wholesale adoption of health promotion messages' within the program. They were concerned about the kids 'getting put off and also the potential to lose track of key Kickstart objectives. I think if you hang inappropriate messages onto sport you will just lose the kids. A number of people emphasised the importance of not going too far down the track of linking health messages with sport because 'you just turn people off . Other people favoured general healthy lifestyle messages about eating good food, drinking lots of water, staying active which were relevant to sport, but were critical of linking 'safe sex' messages with playing sport. A few people felt these posters were 'very inappropriate' or 'giving the 'okay' or suggesting a link between sex and sport. One person critical of the posters said:


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They seem to be saying if you play basketball or football you will score in more ways than one. I think we have to question if that is the message Garnduwa really wants to put across.(stakeholder) Other people felt that the 'safe sex posters' were just addressing a reality that was already there:

Hopefully we will see less young girls pregnant, and less young boys with families before they are ready - but it will take more than posters - it's a cultural thing here - young kids attach a lot of status to having a baby. (stakeholder) With respect to whether these messages are effective, the importance of interactive strategies was also emphasised:

I think they are certainly aware, but whether it changes behaviour is a different story and that's why as part of the health promotion things with Garnduwa, we try to do interactive health promotion things. So as well as having all the messages around, for example, at the athletics they had their Kathy Freeman display, so that when the kids took their break during the middle of the day, so they're not out in the heat of the day, they had that to look at and as part of that we had some interactive health promotions things to do - there is a quiz and things to take away and display - and they do the same sorts of things at the football development camp. They do a thing on sports nutrition, so that in that way you g' et into healthy eating, you get that message across and alcohol comes into that as well. I think that sort of thing is much more effective than just putting your banners up - I think that increases your awareness, but then that's my personal opinion. (stakeholder) The difficulties of measuring how effective the health messages are was also raised:

But it's a very difficult issue to be able to measure, cause you don't know what's going on in peoples homes. But I think alcohol and all other health issues overlap so much, that's its not only the alcohol but then all the money is being spent on alcohol, so the kids don't get food and they go home and throw a tantrum and there's domestic violence and things. So its such an overlapping issue, its very hard to measure. (stakeholder)

6.6

What happens after football?

Does Kickstart help to lower substances abuse amongst 'at-risk' Aboriginal youth in remote communities? In evaluating whether programs such as Kickstart are successful, social interventions sponsors, program managers and community 'consumers' are interested in the sustainability of positive outcomes. Both Kickstart participants and stakeholders have attributed a range of positive social outcomes to the Kickstart program (ie lower substances abuse amongst 'at-risk' Aboriginal youth in remote communities). At the


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same time, some Kickstart participants expressed fear about 'getting lost' when the focus of the football season has faded. There was substantial anecdotal evidence to suggest that young people participating in the Kickstart program were less likely to engage·in substance abuse than those who did not. I stopped altogether- (when football started) In one community a young footballer talked of how he used to 'get into drugs real bad' until he got involved in Kickstart, he stopped altogether when he started to play football. He stated that he had felt 'really good in himself and felt he gained respect in the community. However, he expressed concerns and self doubt that he could stay 'drug free' until the next football season because of the lack of things happening in the community 'to keep his mind off it'. He felt it was important to have other sports happening in the off season and to get football training happening earlier, so that the young people could stay active and focused all year. Similar stories were told in other communities and towns. Several young footballers seemed worried that sooner or later, after the football season finished, they would succumb to peer pressure to get involved in drugs or alcohol. Some Garnduwa staff and teachers had similar concerns and fears, that unless there are other activities provided on an ongoing basis, it was difficult for young people to sustain their commitment to moderate their intake of substances because of factors such as boredom, addiction and peer pressure. I need to keep away from the others - I put it onto myself to do this - I keep up my own fitness and running- We don't talk enough about the problems - they should have someone to look out for us. (Kickstart participant). It's hard to stay away. Yeah, I find myself drinking if I'm with my friends. (Kickstart participant). What worries me is what happens after football. (community stakeholder) In his research on sport, Tatz found that sports programs, especially Australian football, work for the duration of the program but that anti-social behaviours resumed afterwards (1994). Nevertheless, he concluded that the reduced anti-social behaviours were better than none. While this is true, it is also evident that many of the younger footballers between 18 and 25 find it more difficult to resist the peer pressure to drink when they are not playing football or in training. A couple of younger men talked about the importance of having community elders as mentors and coaches to help them to 'stay on track' and 'keep off the grog.'


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6.7

Role models are good, but they are not enough

Most stakeholders believed there is the need for both local and external role models.

Using local role models like Eric Wade is really great- he's easy to talk to - he works with you- the kids really relate to him. (community member) Had AFL Aboriginal footballers up here - they are important - they are the living proof - Aboriginal role models give a 100 fold benefit because of the limited number of people up here who have achieved national football or basketball up here. It is good for the community if someone gets selected for the Squad or by scouts. It lifted their spirits around here - and they still look up at you with respect when you come back from being away. One of the problems in presenting icons, is that not everyone is going make it to the top. It should be about lifting their morale. You don't want impossible targets -just inspirational stuff. Local role models are better- more local the better- they don't have to be that famous just people who have got in there and done it. (community stakeholder) Some stakeholders stressed the importance of seeing role models as just one strategy. Several people in the community stressed the need for more extended visits from specific sports people as trainers, rather than as role models. Others emphasised the need to encourage some of the older community men to get involved in the training and coaching, to take up these roles of role model/mentor on the 'community side'. There was some divergence in opinion about the value of bringing high profile AFL players and other Aboriginal role models into Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley. Although there was shared agreement that visiting athletes and sports people are important role models, there was also consensus that local role models were more beneficial over time. The observation was made repeatedly that although well known sports icons create excitement and interest and 'everybody talks about them for a couple weeks after they have left', often young people do not see them as someone they could be like.

The young ones find it harder to identify with visiting sports stars and to see themselves being able to step into their shoes. Whereas most people interviewed felt that young people could identify more with local stars (Eric Wade and Gilbert McAdam were the frequently used examples). Overall people believed that these external visits should happen in addition to the appointment of local 'heroes' identified within the community. Discussions suggest that the significant role of sport in people's lives, reinforces the importance of role models. It is common practice for young people in communities to take on the name of their football hero. This suggests that the mimicry of football heroes is an important component of identity formation and style for young Aboriginal people in some remote communities, which ideally should be combined with 'on the ground' modelling at the community level. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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6.8

It all comes together at the Garnduwa Festival

The importance of competition sporting events being held on a regular basis was reiterated by many stakeholders throughout the Kimberley. Research undertaken by Cameron and McDougall (2000, p4) shows that Festivals provide opportunities for social and traditional cohesion. They provide a space and means for 'recharging the batteries', reporting on tradition rituals and cultural practices. They can also provide a community justice medium. Importantly, their research shows that the common factor in the success of festivals is the fact that they are operating in the Aboriginal domain - this is also true of Garnduwa's success, as the range of comments from community and other stakeholders show: It was great. Teachers took face paint, painted cars, all the schools did decorations, banners, there was a big celebration party - a carnival spirit - it was a real community building experience. (community stakeholder) The Garnduwa Festival is the jewel in Garnduwa's crown - the feedback we get is wonderful - Aboriginal people own it - The 670 paid up members unanimously agreed to breath-testing - they were the ones who originated the rules and regulations- that's why it works -although of course it still puts a few people off side. (stakeholder) Everything runs really good- there's no humbug. (Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) Festivals such as this are important because it brings people together. (Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) The cultural sides important because that's where our strength comes from. Its really magnificent to have the cultural part intact with sport. (Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) It just gets better and better. But it's the people themselves that are making it better ... Garnduwa can only do so much. but it's the people themselves ...On the police side (Red-Shirt - Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) I think that the results are evident today with the organisation of some of these teams getting into Fitzroy and the participation level has made our support warranted. (Argyle Diamonds - Rio Tinto Community Development - Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) It's a chance to gain self-esteem - but the cultural aspect is just as important. (ISP Manager Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) Many felt that there was room to organise focused on the young players, so that they people suggested encouraging communities they could make sufficient numbers - having game before the senior league teams.


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further lightening carnivals, especially would stay motivated to play. Several to combine together, if necessary, so the young players have a competition


Community participants enjoying themselves at the Garnduwa Festival.

What happens when the carnival is over? Although most people emphasised the importance of festival and lightning carnival competitions, a few expressed their concerns about the more negative side of these events. The main concerns related to the problems (such as overcrowding), associated with people staying on in town after the Festival event is over. Which put strain on the town's resources, and results in binge drinking and anti-social behaviours. A few people in Fitzroy did not see this as a big issue. One person stated that: Communities are getting that side worked out well. Communities don't want to be singled out as causing trouble, or getting penalised from playing football in the future - so its getting worked out. A few people pointed to the irony that sometimes lightning carnivals and sports competitions contribute to school absenteeism, if parents stay on after the carnival is over. Others shrugged this off, believing that these things will change over time. Some people believe getting together with family in town or going fishing at the river for a couple of days is just as important everyday learning about 'building up culture'. Which is just as relevant as schooling in the Kimberley.

6.9

Sport and education go hand-in-hand

Does Kickstart improve the education and lifeskills experience amongst Aboriginal youth in remote locations? There was broad agreement among education stakeholders in remote areas that Garnduwa programs generally and the Kickstart program in particular, had a positive influence on the academic outcomes of young Aboriginal people.


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They haven't got the opportunity to play sport if they're not coming to school and so they came to school so they could play sport and their behaviour automatically improved. And actually, reflecting on it now, I think yes, academically they have shown improvement simply by having that regular attendance.(stakeholder) At the same time some teachers and principles expressed frustration that there were not more resources available to consolidate the links between schools and communities to ensure more effective results. They felt that programs such as Kickstart went some way towards encouraging kids to participate at school. However, a few people argued that such programs should not be expected to be the 'be all and end all' in terms of addressing educational issues such as truancy. Further, their effectiveness needed to be assessed with regard to the historical, economic and social factors impacting on the situation and future opportunities available to students. We're being unrealistic if we think football or any sport alone can right the effects of 200 years of history overnight. (stakeholder) Does Kickstart enhance opportunities for Indigenous youth in remote areas to engage in competitive and professional opportunities? A number of teachers pointed out that many kids could not see a future beyond the existing limits of their community. Within these boundaries, many of the life skills taught and opportunities identified at the school seem irrelevant. The opportunities provided through the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart change this. Many of these findings confirm the importance of developing whole-of-community, futures-oriented, strategic approaches to any programs, like Kickstart, implemented in the schools. Several teaching staff expressed the need for schools and agencies such as Garnduwa to have greater liaison with community members, the need to integrate programs within existing structures, such as Aboriginal Student Support and Parental Awareness (ASSPA) committees.

6.10 Other Issues and concerns Since the establishment of the Rio Tinto AFUKickstart a range of strategies and program activities have been developed to meet the program's objectives. This section discusses the findings related to some of the strategies employed by Garnduwa staff to achieve the Kickstart objectives. Strategy: Development and coordination of policies and programs to increase opportunities for young Aboriginal people to participate in Australian football and to play at a competitive and/or professional AFL level. Finding: Need to establish Junior Teams/Colts Discussions with various stakeholders confirm that participation in Kickstart, the Skills Camp and other activities increases participation levels of young people up to a certain point According to participants in all three Kimberley regions, there is a substantial gap in the program for young people aged between 14 and 18 years. The Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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young 'fellas' who are good are placed straight into the seniors as young as 14 years old. Some people felt that this practice contradicts the aims of Kickstart by making it too competitive and rough for the younger players: Some of the younger ones do alright, but some get 'put off by it', so they lose interest and go off. (community stakeholder) The point was made by a few people that unless there is something for these young people to do, they are likely to 'go off the rails' and get into 'drinking and smoking gunja'. Several people felt that 14-17 years is the most critical time for people and that something needed to be done urgently to address the current hiatus. People were not critical of the AFL, Rio Tinto or Garnduwa for this situation, although several people thought that senior personnel of these organisations were in the best position to lobby the AFL, WACFL and Regional Football Associations for changes in the future. In each of the three regions people emphasised the need to establish teams at Colts level. Although not everyone felt that way. One respondent, based on his own experience, felt that 'it toughened them up' and made them ready for league competition. Most of the people who thought it was important to establish Colts also felt that the success of Colts would be dependent upon the provision of more umpiring and coaching clinics for senior players and parents. Some also suggested the establishment of competition games between communities at a sub-regional level in order to maintain levels of interest and motivation towards the game as well as gain 'skills enhancement'. Finding: More interagency support Importantly, it was recognised that bringing about such structural change depends on more inter-agency support. A number of people recommended that key personnel in AFL/Rio Tinto and Garnduwa, (and the Chairperson of Garnduwa's Management Committee) should use these report findings to lobby ATSIC regional councils, local shires, relevant government departments, the WA Football league and youth associations to provide support and resources to address their concerns. Some suggested that in towns such as Wyndham, Broome, Fitzroy Crossing and Kununurra the situation affects both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and should be addressed as a regional priority. Strategy: Conduct of Auskick and coach and umpire accreditation and skills clinics; including the provision of coaching (ie, accreditation courses in accordance with the Australian Coaching Council); and basic instructions for new umpires and accreditation courses; Finding: Umpiring and Coaching Despite the numbers of participants in the coaching courses people in most communities and towns stated that there was lack of people able to provide the coaching and umpiring for the communities to participate in competition level football. In some communities there was no one with the necessary skills or confidence to maintain motivation levels among footballers in the community. There was widespread agreement that these clinics were highly beneficial and needed to be targeted to meet the needs of some of the more remote communities. There was also support for the specialised coaching camps held each year. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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Stakeholders within the Football league identified umpiring and coaching as priority areas. While members of all communities participating in Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart were positive about the program, they attached differing levels of importance to objectives and strategies depending on their specific circumstances and priorities. It was also apparent that their local situational factors influenced how 'successful' they felt they had been in achieving the Kickstart objectives. At the same time community members and other stakeholders share a number of issues and concerns in common which have resulted in suggestions to improve the way the Kickstart program is delivered and to enhance its effectiveness and sustainability within participating communities. These are listed below: Finding: Longer, more focused community visits

Several people emphasised the need for Garnduwa to stay longer in communities (between 3 days- 2 weeks), to get more involved with each of the communities and have role in facilitating broader community involvement with Kickstart and other Garnduwa programs. In some of the more isolated communities the most common issue raised was the need to have extended visits by the Regional Football Development Officers. Most people felt that flying visits in and out of the community did not enable any really sustained change to occur in the level of community motivation and the level of skills acquired by participants. We could do with someone coming out and working with us for a few days at a time until we really get the hang of it. Sooner later more people would start to get interested see. (participant) We need people to stay in the community longer. (community stakeholder) Although people were critical of the 'fly in fly out' nature of community visits most made it clear that they were not criticising the RFDO's or other Garnduwa staff. On the contrary everyone valued the work done with schools at these visits but wanted to have more time with community members and at training with the older kids. They acknowledged that Garnduwa staff were already over stretched. The trouble is they have got a big area to cover that's why we gotta get things happening at the local level, and that won't happen unless we have more time. (community stakeholder)

Finding: Greater promotion of Kickstart goals

Very few people were aware of the Kickstart program as such, and although most were aware of the Development Squad, the coaching and umpiring skills accreditation and the role model visits, they were unaware that these aspects were a part of Kickstart. Most people in communities and towns tended to connect football


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with the Garnduwa Festival in Fitzroy Crossing, or the camp in Broome, which they knew, was run by Garnduwa. Further, while most people are aware of Rio Tinto and its association with Garnduwa, very few community members, including footballers, were aware that the Kickstart program is a joint AFL/Rio Tinto Partnership initiative. On the other hand, when asked about the AFL's involvement with football in the Kimberley, most people referred to the ATSIC Chairman's Cup and some indicated that Garnduwa was responsible for bringing AFL footballers to remote communities as role models. There was some confusion regarding the Health Department's role model program and Garnduwa's, which straddles other programs besides Kickstart. For many, the fact that football is sponsored by both AFL and Rio Tinto was a new revelation. This may affect the program at a couple of levels. Firstly from the point of view of both sponsors the lack of recognition of their role as sponsors may not enhance their prospects of improving relationships and/or developing partnerships with Indigenous communities. Although most people seemed well aware of Rio Tinto, and the AFL only a few people knew they worked in partnership. Secondly, several community members and school staff were not aware that playing in local competitions could enhance career pathways and opportunities for Indigenous youth at state and national AFL level. Most thought the opportunities to play were dependent on being spotted and were unaware of the RDFO's role in this regard. Thirdly, because many community members and teachers are unaware of the aims of Kickstart to provide career opportunities in football at state or national levels they may not be maximising the link between education, lifeskills and sport with young people. One Garnduwa staff member stated: On reflection I think we could do better in promoting Kickstart. (stakeholder) Finding: Increase Community Participation/Involvement

The importance of community participation and involvement in local programs remains very much a priority area for many people: The problem is communities are into survival - not futures - they are just trying to survive - they need bigger structural programs community based activities - if anything is going to happen. Football is something that helps get people involved and interested - helps get them past their problems - you need community based activities happening before you can create an elite. (stakeholder) The community need to have control, there is interest sitting there in the community, but they in turn need support. (stakeholder) What needs to happen with Garnduwa parallels what needs to happen with schools - we're trying to get an independent school council as an open forum for the community - we need to be developing decision-making - Garnduwa needs to link in with that. (stakeholder) Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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The community rely too much on the school- they [teachers] work on a voluntary basis out of school - be ideal to have the community getting involved in football instead of the elite kids mainly going away. (stakeholder) Outside support needs to be about developing skills inside the community to get community based decisions. (stakeholder) We're keen to develop/use football as the model with communities team manager, team coach, president, some semblance of committee, trainers, community health workers to man the mobile clinics. Its our experience that if the community can organise transports, organise a chuck in, it is possible to transfer these management skills to the rest of the community. (Garnduwa stakeholder)

Finding: Provide local and community based support Alongside the need to increase the level of local and community participation is the need to provide more local support They [Garnduwa] need to come out and go to community and talk about many things - help with work experience in town - and give fellas support while they in town. (Kickstart participant) The biggest problem we got is that Eric Wade is based in Broome not appropriate for us- he doesn't get over too often- we have to have someone employed locally to get out into the communities. (community member) Our kids don't want to leave- we need to bring the AFL up here. (community member) There's a lot of raw talent up here. These kids are good ...football is relatively new up here. Many of these kids have been influenced by TV. They model themselves off AFL football. That why it's important to get the Eric Wades in there to help them to understand the rules. (stakeholder) Lots of young players could definitely play out of the community but they choose not to leave (stakeholder) Finding: Sport and Community Recreation Officer training Many aspects of Kickstart are reliant on community volunteers and Community Recreation Officers to ensure program sustainability and enhanced effectiveness. A recurrent theme emerging in discussions with different stakeholders was the need to improve this link with Kickstart in a number of ways. This includes greater recognition and resourcing of Community Recreation Officers, and more recognition of the importance of role played by volunteers and some incentives for them to be involved. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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Sport and Recreation Officer training - important to have officers in the community and training those officers in order to assist people to come into the Festival. Some of these communities there is no organisation, no one to organise to come into events like these. ((ISP Manager Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) They need more training for sports and communities. (community member)

recreation officers in

From our perspective the training of recreation officers in the community is crucial. They need umpiring and coaching skills - That is the one area of the program that's a bit weak. (Stakeholder)

Finding: Sponsorship and pastoral support in Perth Most people felt there is a need for more support for players when they go down to Perth or get drafted to play away from their home/community. Issues of loneliness, alienation, financial difficulties and unemployment were raised by a number of people. Several people indicated the importance of encouraging young people to attend Perth colleges. However most stressed the need for some form of scholarship, pastoral care and a support base. Related to this was strong support for the establishment of Kimberley House in Perth. Some participants or members of their families emphasised the difficulty experienced by young Indigenous people when they moved down to Perth or over to Melbourne to play football. It was too hard down there by myself. It would have been better if I was living with my own mob. (participant) They [the football team] need to try to understand a little bit more how hard it is settling in down there in the city. Its very lonely, I got lost when I caught a bus by myself. I had to ring up. (participant) He didn't last too long. Before that he was on the phone every night. (community stakeholder)

Finding: Support from local shires Some of the issues raised relate to a specific location. In Broome, for example, a major difficulty was seen to be lack of lighting of oval, club membership fees, the expense involved in participating in 'away-from-home' games. Several people suggested the need for a commitment from shire to provide the oval and lighting free of charge as a goodwill gesture. Some people pointed to the irony that the Shire keeps the lights on the basketball courts all night to prevent vandalism but are not prepared to provide facilities to groups trying to do something positive.


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One person also made the comment that shires often fund public facilities which cater for mainstream priorities, which may not necessarily be the same as Indigenous priorities and aspirations. Finding: We need more of everything

Many stakeholders identified the need for more equipment, funding, resources and infrastucture: People wanted to play football and basketball here, but its stopped because we didn't have proper facilities. (Community East Kimberley) We need it all - footballs to train with, boots, hats and water bottles. (community) Realistically what Garnduwa needs is a full-time health officer, in addition to football development officers, to help promote health messages. We could do with a full-time medical officer. (community stakeholder) Lots of communities in the Kimberleys don't have an oval. Most people in the Kimberley want a grass oval for training - we should be looking at that - If we really value them [young players] we should be looking at grass - they get torn muscles injury wise, and health wise its not good. What they are doing is really good but we need more support- even to translate English to Creole and things like that - people from the community need to know what's involved. (Kickstart participant) Finding: Community participation, elite players or both?

While most people strongly support the idea of developing elite players, most felt that it was equally, if not more, important to encourage broader participation. A recurring theme through the interviews was that the emphasis with young Aboriginal kids should be on participation. However, some felt that young people at high school should be encouraged to participate in community sport and associated activities, as well as be shown the different pathways that can lead into the competition games and/or professional AFL for young talented Aboriginal footballers. Several people supported the idea of young players between 16 - 18 years of age being selected to go to the Darwin Northern Territory Institute of Sport to receive specialised coaching, support services and access to advanced sports technology and education. However, there were differing views as to whether these young player should be relocated to Darwin or Perth to some other educational institutions. A few people in the East Kimberley suggested that Wyndham High School could host a specialist football or sports program linked with the academic program for kids in the North West.


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Kyle Vander Kyup in the classroom with young kids at Yakinarra Community School.

Kids doing face painting during the kickstart program visit.


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Evaluation of the Rio Tinto AFl Kickstart Program in the Kimberley

Chapter 7 How effective is Garnduwa in delivering Kickstart? 7.1

Overview

This section looks at stakeholder and staff perceptions of Garnduwa as the organisation responsible for the delivery of Kickstart in Western Australia. Community perceptions were sought regarding the role and effectiveness of Garnduwa in delivering the Kickstart program. People were asked whether they consider that Garnduwa is an effective and appropriate vehicle to deliver the Kickstart program.

7.2

Garnduwa is great

There was overwhelming support for the organisation, the processes and outcomes seen to date.

We get a 110 percent from Gamduwa. (community stakeholder) Gamduwa have been very supportive of us getting together a team we are a little tin-pot community but we're got one of the best teams built up over three years. (community stakeholder) Garnduwa is unique - there's not another Garnduwa anywhere in Australia, that's why this carnival is so special ...It's the way to work. (ISP Manager Garnduwa Festival Video 1998) Stakeholders comments showed a high regard for all Garnduwa staff:

When you get someone like Graeme, you get a network - you get someone with high credibility. Gilbo and the others too. (community stakeholder) In addition the majority of community members, participants and other stakeholders believe that all of the sport and healthy lifestyle programs delivered by Garnduwa are beneficial for the community and are an extremely complimentary adjunct to the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program.

7.3

How important are the sponsors- AFL & Rio Tinto?

Stakeholders were asked how important they regarded the sponsors. The comments raised some interesting issues:

Football has made a real difference ... I wouldn't like to think about what would happen if RioTinto and AFL pulled out. (Stakeholder) To be honest I hadn't thought much about that side of things before, but thinking about I would have to say that I think they [AFL and Rio Tinto] have got it right in terms of intention - Its not till you are Curtin indigenous Research Centre

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talking about it and showing us these objectives that you think about - I don't think we realised how much we have a shared aim. (Garnduwa Stakeholder) Kickstart is a very integral part of Garnduwa. Its VITAL. We have three very capable field officers who play a foundational role with young people in the community. (Garnduwa Stakeholder)

While many community people, agency staff and other key stakeholders were not immediately aware of Kickstart as a program, most agreed that football was one of the most important and popular sports for young people, offering a range of opportunities now and in the future. Tensions between goals, strategies and resources

On the other hand a few people said that they saw Rio Tinto's involvement as more concerned with the glory, more so than acknowledging what worked best for the isolated communities. Rio Tinto are a bit hypocritical really, with all the grandstanding stuff [ie trips to Perth]. But if you look at the work being done by Gilbert McAdam in communities like Balgo, you can see that there is a good spin-off for everybody. Some people took the view that Rio Tinto's strategies and emphasis on developing elite footballers has also created some tensions for Garnduwa: The initial concept for Kickstart was very good - but there was no development- just exhibitionism - over the years we have done some major reviews - we've refocused to get it to the younger ones. (Garnduwa stakeholder) One person made the observation that there is tension between the Rio Tinto's expectations and the resources provided. The lack of employment security as sports professionals, within the AFL Kickstart program itself, was given as an example of this tension between program goals and the funding and resources to achieve them: We need wage structure, incentives rather than just operating with CDEP top-up - realistically we don't get any long term benefit or security for ourselves. (Garnduwa stakeholder)

7.4

Enhancing program effectiveness

One of the questions asked of people was whether they felt that there was anything that could be done to enhance the effectiveness of the Kickstart program delivery. There was high level of support for both Garnduwa and Kickstart, and the way the program is implemented and managed. Even so many stakeholders believed that there are some changes which would make the program more effective in the future. Garnduwa staff and committee members have some comments regarding some of the factors that affected program implementation: Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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The problem with schools is you have to try and fit in with them, as well as with communities and the weather. I think there needs to be a more coordinated approach between Aboriginal agencies - there are some Aboriginal organisations that are quite happy to work in with Garnduwa. We're small numbers trying to do

a big job.

One of the key elements of working with isolated communities, is that it has shifted the focus from communities to schools because so many communities are dysfunctional. It difficult trying to meet community expectations without an off-road vehicle. We know we can't make everyone happy- but we try to sort out the feedback - distinguish between the gripes and jealousies to get to the genuine concerns, so we can get it right. As much as possible, we want the community to give us direction.

Interestingly, many of the suggestions put forward by stakeholders have already been identified by Garnduwa in their own review process. While this confirms that Garnduwa is in tune with community issues and priorities, it also reinforces the need for Garnduwa to still address these concerns. Although the range of suggestions by stakeholders may reflect differences in perspectives related to their positions or geographic location, there is also considerable consensus among people across the three regions. For example, the need to establish Colts and Reserves teams was identified in towns and communities across the Kimberley. Participants, their families and communities emphasised the need for more support both at the community level and when moving to Perth. The main suggestions for change are listed below, in some cases the number of stakeholders who raised the issue and their regional location are identified in brackets:

Management and staffing • The staffing structure of Garnduwa needs to be extended to ensure that there is a Football Development Officer for each region, and that there is a male and female staff member for each region. The appointment of additional local people to Kickstart would enable a change of emphasis to more extended visits involving greater community participation. (several/across all regions) • Garnduwa needs to make it a priority to liaise firstly with appropriate Community members, and Community Recreation Officers and even ASSPA committees rather than working with the schools first. The community don't always feel ownership initiatives generated through the school - 'gardia business'. (several/all regions) • There should be a greater link between the CRO at community level and Garnduwa. (several/all regions) • An on-going commitment to collaboration and communication with schools and health and youth agencies. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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•

Aboriginal people in the Kimberley should be the ones to determine the priorities and outcomes for Kickstart, before Rio Tinto decide if it is effective or otherwise. (few West/East)

Roles and Responsibilities of Garnduwa staff • The roles and responsibilities of all Garnduwa staff need to be clarified and documented with respect to expected level of involvement in Kickstart. (some) Support for local Community Recreation Officers • Need to take role of CRO seriously, appoint at least one male and female in each community who have skills and potential. (many /all regions) • CRO need greater professional development opportunities. • Garnduwa should liaise with TAFE and/or universities to link CRO's in vocational training and education in community sport recreation and administration, community development and management. (few) • A Community Recreation Officer appointed through the Education Department of WA, in a similar way as AlEC's are appointed, would help to share responsibility for achieving the Program outcomes in providing lifeskills. (few/West) Support for flexible, integrated strategies • Need to obtain recognition and support from funding bodies and sponsors of the need for greater program flexibility and integrated /overlapping strategies when working with communities. (A role model with the Kickstart program may be as effectively for programs for health, lifeskills and goal setting and vice-versa). • More emphasis on promoting local role models alongside and in addition to visiting role models. Competing demands of different sponsors • Important to recognise that the goals, objectives and strategies of one program (for example health promotion) can sometimes cut across or compete with those of the Kickstart program. This needs to be taken into account more in planning and decision-making. (few/all regions) Collaboration and Partnership • Kickstart was founded on the basis of collaboration and partnership between industry, Aboriginal organisations and the Aboriginal community. It is dependent on additional funding from government agencies to obtain sufficient funds to work effectively, culturally appropriately and developmentally with remote communities in the delivery of Kickstart. It also addresses a range of interrelated issues such as education, employment and health and mental health that are properly the responsibility of government service providers. Additional funding needs to be provided to enable Garnduwa to more realistically carryout this role to Kickstart. • more say over which Kickstart strategies or initiatives should be given funding priority. Foster whole-of-community involvement • To, as much as is practicable, run the program in communities rather than regional centres and include older Aboriginal men and women in the organisation and delivery of the program in order to foster whole-of-community involvement and mentoring of young participants. (Many - N.B. was initially Kickstart objective)


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Program promotion and information dissemination • It is important that there is more information about the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program - its sponsors, goals and objectives, and its outcomes and successes which can be shared by everyone involved. (several, East and Central) • Intensive lobbying of Kimberley Football Associations, and Shires to promote junior football opportunities. Program Resources • More resources need to be directed towards meeting the special needs of young Indigenous people in remote communities. (East and Central) • More networking and liaison with ASSPA committees, AIEO's, CRO's, Police aides, community nurses who have potential/capacity to make a valuable contribution to the Kickstart and other Garnduwa programs in roles with schools, students and communities. (several) • Increased funding to cover the purchase and operating costs of additional off road vehicles. Infrastructure support • Lobbying to have Wyndham Senior High School (or other high school) nominated to offer a specialist sports program in athletics and football. (few /East) • The establishment of Kimberley House in Perth as a support base for participants selected to go to Perth for Kickstart and other Garnduwa programs. (many/all regions) • Need to establish Colt teams and more competitive school and community events. (many/West, Central, East) • A process of negotiation to determine the level and nature of future sponsor contributions. • Sponsorship for individuals selected to go the Perth. Cross-cultural awareness training for AFL • There needs to be cross-cultural awareness training at football clubs in Perth. (few/East and Central)

7.5

Summary of analysis

An analysis of the available data indicates that the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program has achieved a number of positive outcomes which are consistent with its goals and objectives. In addition to the significant increase in the numbers of Indigenous people between the ages of 8-18 participating in football, there have been a number of related and desired outcomes as a consequence of engaging in healthy lifestyle activities. There is widespread agreement that the Kickstart program has been effective in reducing truancy among young people up to year 10. There are also reports of a reduction in alcohol consumption among participants and their families, and a subsequent reduction in family violence. This evidence shows enthusiastic whole-of-community involvement in specific football activities, such as grand finals. At an individual level several young talented individuals have commenced professional level football careers over the fast four years, with varying outcomes. At least five boys selected for the Elite Squad declined the opportunity. This has been attributed to a reluctance to leave their community, family and lifestyle. In fact, this is an aspect which some key stakeholders felt should be paid much more attention by Garnduwa, the AFL and Rio Tinto. Perhaps the greatest criticism of Kickstart was Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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that too much emphasis is placed on strategies designed to take young talent out of the community, (sometimes to the detriment of these individuals and their communities) and not enough attention is given to initiatives to promote these same football opportunities in the Kimberley. It is widely agreed that the integration of healthy lifestyle messages and lifeskills within the delivery of the Kickstart program has increased the awareness of health issues among Indigenous participants. It has also resulted in changes in behaviours individually and collectively in Indigenous people, which have been reported in Broome and in the communities. The program also raised student awareness and expectations about post-school educational, training and employment opportunities related to sport. It has also generated other important social benefits, such as improved communication skills and increased levels of self-confidence and self esteem. Without exception, all Kickstart participants, community members and stakeholders interviewed would like the Kickstart program to continue. Most would like to see it expanded and supported further. People spoke highly of Garnduwa, and their role in working with remote communities across the East, West and Central Kimberley. The majority of people highly praised Rio Tinto for their contribution. A few felt that Rio Tinto's sponsorship was 'really only a token offering', given what they gain from their involvement in the region. Those people who were aware of the role of the AFL, spoke highly of their role in opening opportunities for football careers for Indigenous people. This view was also supported by people once they became aware of the role of the AFL. Many stakeholders were more critical towards regional football associations and the shire councils, believing that they should be far more supportive towards establishing Colts for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Although this will not be expanded upon here, we must mention that several people expressed disappointment that the Minister of Sport and Recreation had stopped the North West Sport Academy from proceeding, despite the high levels of support for it. People felt that the Academy was essential to ensure that the sport and recreation needs in the Kimberley and Pilbara were adequately resourced and represented.


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Evaluation ofthe Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program in the Kimberley

Basketball court in Yakamarra.

Wyndham town oval.


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Chapter 8 Conclusions 8.1

Overview

The findings suggest that the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program has achieved a range of outcomes, both intended (such as those specified by program objectives) and unintended outcomes (such as community building and crime prevention). Further, it is widely agreed that the existing strategies and processes employed by Garnduwa, contribute to the effectiveness and sustainability of the outcomes achieved through the Kickstart program.

8.2

Program Outcomes

The positive inter-relationship between football, health and community is evident in program outcomes throughout the Kimberley, echoing the 'Good Health-Good Football-Good Community' Kickstart motto used in the Northern Territory. The Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program has been effective in increasing: • individual self esteem and confidence, • individuals develop a belief in themselves and the value and skills for setting goals for the future, • community cohesion and sense of purpose, • individual wellbeing and awareness of healthy lifestyle issues, • academic achievement, • school attendance, • an awareness of the importance of and opportunities to participate in post school education, training and employment generally, and more specifically, • an awareness of football career pathways at state and national level, • the number of young people between 8-21 participating in football in remote communities by approximately 300 per cent, • the number of Indigenous people who have received coaching and umpiring accreditation since 1997 from a handful to well over 60, • the number of senior league teams from 4 to 10 in one region, • the number of competitive events for isolated communities/schools. The program is also widely perceived as having a definite influence on decreasing: • community level vandalism, • alcohol and substances abuse, • smoking, • anti-social behaviour and crime at festival events and locations.

Outcomes requiring review • The need for AFL and Garnduwa staff to increase the pastoral, practical and financial support given to participants moving to Perth, Melbourne or Darwin. As well as providing more information about the expectations and implications of leaving their community, in order to make the transition to the city less difficult, so that the participants may be more likely to stay;


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•

•

8.3

Aspects of organisational responsibility that are critical to the success of the program but are quite unrealistic under existing resources and staffing of Garnduwa. Support for 'raw talent'. Existing levels of participation in the Kickstart Program demonstrates that there is a large pool of 'raw talent' which is still largely untapped. Considerably more needs to be done to support these highly skilled Indigenous people between the ages of 13-17, who have the ability to succeed at sport and school including: • A commitment by sponsors and AFL & WACL stakeholders to provide the necessary resources, administrative infrastructure and facilities to establish junior teams.

Program Implementation

•

Strategies employed in the Kickstart program have been carefully planned and effectively implemented to meet both the broad and diverse range of needs of isolated communities and program sponsors. • Program staff, including the Football Development Officers and Program Coordinators are highly regarded by participants, stakeholders, Aboriginal communities and organisation and personnel from sponsoring agencies. • Program staff are highly competent, possessing knowledge, skills and understanding in the following important areas: • local regional knowledge, • background knowledge about specific communities, families and participants, • cultural protocols and ways of working, • cross-cultural communication, • working with youth , • linking sport and healthy lifestyles, • linking sport with education, employment and training and career opportunities. • The ongoing involvement of schools in supporting the delivery of Kickstart is essential and is mutually beneficial for Schools and participants (enhancing the academic outcomes) and Garnduwa (achieving Kickstart goals and objectives). Program areas requiring improvement • The need for additional training and professional development for Garnduwa staff (and/or the appointment of staff with specific skills) to enable them to increase their knowledge and skills and understandings to assist remote communities was identified in the following areas: • the facilitation of sustainable community development, • the employment of community development approaches to tailor programs as well as utilise and refine common strategies, • modelling, mentoring and teaching approaches, • the prevention and treatment of sports injuries (sports medicine). • There is a need for Garnduwa staff working with Kickstart to establish closer links with Community Recreation Officers (CRO's) and to enlisUfacilitate their ongoing involvement (and closer working relationship with Schools) with Kickstart and other programs identified within the community. In addition, Garnduwa may need to work with communities and relevant agencies to further define and support the roles and responsibilities of CRO's. • The need for the involvement of both Indigenous females and males in the delivery of Kickstart and other programs in all three regions of the Kimberley to


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assist in supporting parental/community involvement as well as the participation of young girls in Kickstart.

8.4

Family and Community Involvement

•

Community members and parents of participants value Kickstart because of the positive influences on health and academic performance and motivation of individuals and the resulting sense of pride due to involvement in competition sport for the community as whole. • ParenUcommunity participation and support is necessary to encourage young people of all ages to participate in the program regularly and to sustain Kickstart and achieve positive outcomes. • Parent/community member support is crucial to help organise games and football trips, and to act as coaches and trainers and committee members. • Indigenous communities are more likely to become involved in the Kickstart program if they have a sense of ownership of specific initiatives together with the necessary support to obtain the skills and infrastructure to implement them. • Parents/community participation in the Kickstart program is often limited by: • family and community and/or work commitments, • lack of coaching and umpiring skills. • Community members and parents of participants valued the opportunity to be involved in this review of the Kickstart program.

8.5

Garnduwa's role in the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program

•

Garnduwa is seen as a culturally appropriate organisational vehicle to deliver the AFL/RioTinto Kickstart program by all stakeholders, and especially Indigenous communities and agencies. • There is a very high level of Aboriginal participation in the implementation of the program which ensures a strong sense of Indigenous ownership and control of the program. • It is important (with respect to Kickstart) for Garnduwa to continue to maintain and build upon existing relationships with relevant stakeholders; particularly school teachers, Aboriginal communities and organisations (including ASSPA committees) CRO's in communities, ATSIC, shire councils and football associations. • The roles and responsibilities and workloads of staff involved in the delivery of Kickstart need to be reviewed and clarified . • There is a lack of awareness about Kickstart and some confusion about the sponsors involved which needs to be addressed. • Garnduwa staff and committee members are to be commended for their commitment to maximise cost-effectiveness and cultural inclusiveness in the delivery of all programs including Kickstart. This is evident in a number of ways: • Garnduwa Committee meetings and associated travel costs are minimised by linking with other activities, • Garnduwa undertake regular planning and review and operate on a continuous improvement basis, • Role model visits are coincided with planned community visits, • Garnduwa staff have sound local and background knowledge and understanding and are flexible, sensitive and responsive to local community


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issues and weather conditions, maximising cross-program delivery along with Kickstart. However, some stakeholders were critical of expenditure to take the Elite Squad to Perth suggesting that funding could be better spent. There is a need for: • parents, community members and other relevant stakeholders to be more informed about the goals and objectives of the Kickstart Program and the criteria for selection in the Elite Squad and the implications of participating in state or national level sport. • Garnduwa to provide schools with more detailed scheduled of visits by role models with more lead time and which fit with the Schools academic calendar.

8.6

Barriers to achieving program goals and objectives

There are number of factors which impact upon the full potential of the Kickstart program. Not least of these are the climatic extremes of the North West which can seriously impede access to sports such as football. During the wet season communities are often cut off from towns for extended periods because of flooding or the damaging effects cyclones. High temperatures during other months of the years limit the time available for training. Other pastimes such as fishing and hunting can also compete for time with football. A number of people, including Garnduwa staff and committee members, expressed concern about the lack of certainty regarding the future of Kickstart and the corresponding lack of employment security for highly skilled and committed staff. In turn this lack of certainty can prevent the organisation and the program adopting strategic futures oriented approach in planning and implementation and stifle long term vision and initiatives. These and other inter-related factors act as barriers to achieving the Kickstart programs maximum potential. Overall these can be summarised as follows: • limited resources at organisational level (eg off-road transport), • geographic isolation of many communities, • existing social-economic disadvantage • cultural and historical factors, • lack of facilities at the community level including ovals, lighting etc. • lack of sporting equipment such as footballs, • lack of community transport to participate in community events, • climatic conditions, • small and dispersed populations separated by great distances and rough roads.

8.7

Effective program elements

A range of program strategies have contributed to positive outcomes including: • the delivery of Kickstart by an Aboriginal organisation which is strongly supported by Indigenous communities in the Kimberley, • the commitment and competence of all Garnduwa staff to the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart and their capacity to work across several programs simultaneously has served to maximise the outcomes of each, • an adherence by Garnduwa staff to the broad principles of Garnduwa's Business Plan 2000 (page 23), • a recognition of the elements necessary to work in accordance with these principles, Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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• • •

• •

8.8

working/liaising with stakeholders including teaching staff, police officers and aides, and health personnel associated with the Program, the Garnduwa festival serves as a pivotal focal point for the effective delivery of Kickstart creating a high level of community 'ownership' over the program, Encouraging community involvement in making rules for football - generates community and family support and sense of community self-determination through initiatives such as the 'Red Shirts', community people who have taken on the role of maintaining order and enforcing 'grog free' rule at Festival events, effective use of Indigenous role models (both local and external sports-people), the provision of key competitive events such lightening carnivals, the Broome Skills Camp.

Program Future

•

The last four years of Kickstart program provides a solid base upon which to build a sustainable and effective future for the program • There is a strong foundation of teamwork and collaboration evident amongst Garnduwa staff and committee members • There is concern amongst key stakeholders and particularly Garnduwa about the continuity of the Kickstart program and the difficulties of being able to plan for the future, to provide security for staff, and the need to 'piggyback' multiple and sometimes competing demands on staff to ensure their futures • Greater communication and liaison with schools and communities and more local 'on the ground' support for Kickstart is essential for its future success • Kickstart is an effective and highly innovative and responsive program, however attempts to adequately resource and extend the reach of the program at times places unrealistic demands on existing staff and the success of the program • There needs to be greater promotion of the AFL/RioTinto Kickstart goals and objectives within the communities and towns and with relevant stakeholders • The strategies employed, and the successes and difficulties experienced by staff and individual participants, teams and communities involved with Kickstart need to be documented and profiled to provide greater understanding about the program within the broader community • The level and nature of sponsor contributions needs to be examined and re negotiated to ensure the program's continuance • Key sponsoring bodies recognising the vital role of Garnduwa in enhancing lifeskills through sport are prepared to allow them work more flexibly within the guidelines • The AFL and WACFL need to commit more resources in kind for coaching, umpiring clinics to enhance program outcomes • There is a need for a long term funding commitment by sponsors to ensure the continuance of such a worthwhile program.

8.9

Further research

Recent contemporary research conducted by Cameron and McDougall (2000) suggests that sport generally can act as a catalyst for social and traditional cohesion. In fact, they cite the Kickstart program operating in North Queensland as one such example of sport being linked with positive outcomes. Similarly this study, suggests that the Kickstart program in the Kimberley acts as a catalyst for positive change for individuals and communities.


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In assessing the effectiveness of sport interventions, Cameron and McDougall (2000) make the point that claims about the value of sport in attaining positive social outcomes suggest great possibilities which require further research to demonstrate their success and replicability. This research goes some way to providing such evidence - however the notion of replicability in Indigenous contexts should be treated with due caution. Perhaps more important in research are principles and processes which recognise local diversity. As one respondent observed although research in this area it is complex: you can look at the different programs operating in different communities and say well it works well there because ... and it does not work well here because ... the important thing is to be clear about what those different reasons are, and to recognise that they are going to be different in different communities. (stakeholder)

The findings here suggest that it is important to look more holistically at the social and political context when considering what programmatic factors can contribute to change at a community level. Where the problems experienced by young people are known to have broad causal links to broader community issues then narrow interventions are more likely to hit the mark or offer only a temporary solution to the issues being addressed. It is worthwhile for sponsors to support research in this area. They need to assist Garnduwa to document and review the effectiveness of the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program in achieving goals to enhance sport outcomes together with those which encompass broad objectives of a range of interrelated programs areas such education employment and health, crime prevention, community sustainability so on.

8.10

Summary

The Kickstart Program is designed to address a range of complex issues and concerns ranging from health to social issues. It is evident that the Kickstart program and other programs run by Garnduwa are having a positive impact on young people in the Kimberley. Participation in sport and physical activities gives individuals a sense of belonging, and brings people together. Several stakeholders stated that both individual players, teams and communities get to experience a sense of accomplishment, trust, co operation through their involvement with the Kickstart program which has led to greater community cohesion. It also provides a vehicle to learn about lifeskills and health education. This is how Garnduwa utilises Kickstart to its greatest effect. There is overwhelming agreement by teachers, community nurses, health and youth workers, police and other stakeholders that youth participating in co-junctional programs run through Garnduwa with interagency support are becoming more aware of health issues in the process of learning about and participating in sports. This awareness is being translated to positive changes in behaviours and the environment. These attributes have been identified by sponsors and other researchers as important ingredients for, and outcomes of, an effective program for positive social change. (Holyfield & Fine 1997) The overwhelming majority of stakeholders interviewed believe that the Kickstart Program is a valuable program that contributes to the increased self-esteem, confidence and skills of young Aboriginal people as well as strengthening the Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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cohesion and sense of purpose of communities. There is also evidence that the program has the potential to enhance employment opportunities for young people. Indeed to reiterate Ed Biggs of the AFF, the AFL/Rio Tinto Kickstart program is 'developing futures not just a game'. However, some of the barriers identified impede the achievement of greater success outcomes in the short term. Several stakeholders believe that the Kickstart program has been unable to achieve it's full potential for success as yet. In part this is because the program does not have sufficient staff and resources to deal with the many complex inter-related causal factors which contribute to the social issues it is expected to overcome. It is also because many of the factors contributing to contemporary Indigenous health and education have historical roots spanning generations. This requires working with community priorities and aspirations at the communities' pace. Both these aspects are outside of the program's capacity to change in such a short time period. The attainment of sustainable futures for Indigenous Australians requires the achievement of equitable and appropriate education, employment and training outcomes. In addition requires enhanced health and social outcomes for individuals and communities. To this end Kickstart provides a pathway to career opportunities for individual players, and employment and training opportunities for people involved in sport. It also increases the involvement, awareness and experience of healthy lifestyles of the wider community. As such the Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart is an exciting and important initiative and Garnduwa's role in its delivery is widely regarded as a model of best practice. Kickstart offers our kids a chance for the future Unequivocally, everyone involved with Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program sees it as a highly valuable and worthwhile program. Several people expressed concern about the lack of funding certainty for the program. Some stakeholders including principals, teachers and police perceive the football as providing a lifeline to the future. Reflecting back on the literature review we are mindful of not over romanticising the role of Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart. The discussion throughout this report has shown that the program is not a solution on its own and clearly there are a number of internal and external barriers to its effective delivery. At the same time it is almost impossible to overstate the potential of the Rio Tinto AFL program in enhancing both individual and community opportunities for Indigenous people in the Kimberleys.


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References Abdullah, J. & Stringer, E. 1997, Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Learning, Indigenous Research. Curtin Indigenous Research Centre Discussion Paper, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia. Aboriginal Legal Service 1996, After the removal: A submission by the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (Inc) to the national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. Perth: ALS, WA. Australian Football Foundation 1996, Developing futures, not just a game. Report and Recommendations for the expansion of development programs and the establishment of a talented player pathway in Northern Australia. Australian Sports Commission undated, Indigenous Community Sport Better Practice Models. Beresford, Q. 1999, 'The kids just get lost': confronting the underlying causes of educational disadvantage among urban Aboriginal children in Western Australia. In Indigenous issues and the new millennium. {pp. 5-16). Perth: Social Education Association of Australia. Bishop, Alan 1999, Kimberley Kickstart Midyear Report, Garnduwa Booth, D., & Tatz, C. 2000, One-eyed: A view of Australian sport. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. Burke, B. 2000, 'AFL Gives Cape a Kickstart' The Australian, 26 June 2000, p.2. Cameron, M. & McDougall, C. 2000, Crime Prevention Through Sport and Physical Activity, Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No.165. Australian Institute of Criminology, http://www.aic.gov.au Daube, M. (Chair) 1994, Task Force on Aboriginal Social Justice, Report of the Task Force Vol.1 & 2. April 1994, Government of Western Australia. Dubecki, I. 2000, 'Football Clinic Kicks a Goal for Education', The Age, 5 July 2000, p. A4. Dudgeon, P. 2000, 'Violence turned inwards', In Dudgeon, Garvey & Pickett (Eds.) Working with Indigenous Australians: A handbook for psychologists. Gunada Press. Perth (in Press) Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan 1999, Garnduwa Programs Report (June). Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan 1999, Garnduwa Programs Report 1999 (December) Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan 2000, Garnduwa Business Report 2000. Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan 2000, Kimberley Kickstart Report, January-June, 2000.


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Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan Development Plan.

2000, Kimberley Kickstart

Program

2000-2002,

Gearin, M. 'Help a Mate-Raiders Style' Sport for Life, issue 6, March-June, pp. 16-17. Godwell, D. 2000, 'Playing the game: is sport as for race relations as we'd like to think? Australian Aboriginal Studies 2000/1 pp12-19. Groome, H. 1995, Working purposefully with Aboriginal students. Wentworth Falls: Social Science Press. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1997, Bringing them home: Report of the national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. Sydney: Sterling Press. Holyfield, L., & Fine, G.A., 1997, Adventure as Character Work: The Collective Taming of Fear, Symbolic Interaction, Vol. 20 Humphries, R. 1993, Sport as a vehicle for means to racial equality. Unpublished paper. Perth: Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University of Technology. Jarvie, G. (Ed.) 1991, Sport, racism and ethnicity. London: Falmer Press. Johnstone, M-J. (N.D.) 'Improving Ethics and Cultural Suitability of Aboriginal Health Research' in Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, pp10-13. Kew, F. 1997, Sport: Social problems and issues. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. McKay, J. 199?, No Pain, No Gain?: Sport and Australian Culture. Sydney: Prentice Hall. Miracle, A W. Jnr., & Rees, R. 1994, Lessons of the locker room: The myth of school sports. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. Partington, G., et al., 1999, Promoting success in schooling for Indigenous students: long-term alternative programs. In Indigenous Issues and the New Millennium. (pp. 32-40). Perth: Social Education Association of Australia, Perth. Pascoe, B. 1995, The Winter Game: The Complete History of Australian Football. Melbourne: The Text Publishing Company. Paton, M. 1990, Qualitative evaluation Newbury Park.

and research

methods. Sage Publications:

Pawson, R. & Tilley, N. 1997, Realistic Evaluation, Sage Publications, London. Rio Tinto AFL 2000, Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart Program, 2000. Rio Tinto (WA) 1996, Response to the AFL Discussion Paper: 'Developing Futures, Not Just a Game'.


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Rio Tinto 1997, Rio Tinto Sponsorship of the AFL Northern Australian Football Youth Development Program - A program to be known as Rio Tinto Kickstart (Draft Agreement- internal document) Rowe, D. & Lawrence, G. (Eds.) 1998, Tourism, leisure, sport: critical perspectives. Rydalmere, N.S.W.: Hodder Education. Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody 1995 Annual Report (19941995). In: Implementation of the Commonwealth Government Responses to the Recommendations of the RCIADIC Annual Report. Fyshwick: National Capital Printing. 'Rumba

on the rise': Cummeragunja 1898 - Rumbalara 1998 - the tradition continued. 1999, Shepparton: Rumbalara Football and Netball Club.

Scougall, J. (1997) Giving Voice: The Conduct of Evaluation Research in Aboriginal Contexts. In: Vol. 9 (1,2) Evaluation Journal of Australasia. pp 53-60. Tatz, C., et. al. 1998, AFL' s black stars: Aboriginal players as role models in their communities. Port Melbourne: Lothian Books. Tatz, C. 1994, Aborigines: Sport, Violence and Survival, A Report to the Criminology Research Council. Tatz, C. 1996, Obstacle race: Aborigines in Sport. Kensington.:. N.S.W.: UNSW Press. Tatz, C. 1999, Aboriginal Suicide is Different, A Report to the Criminology Research Council. Tuhiwai Smith, L, 1999, Decolonizing Methodologies. Research and Indigenous Peoples, London: Zed Books Ltd. Vogler, C. & Schwartz, S. 1993, The sociology of sport: an introduction. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Wadsworth, Y. 1993, Everyday Evaluation on the Run. Action Research Issues Association Inc: Melbourne. Wickham, G. 1992, 'Sport, manners, persons, government: sport, Elias, Mauss, Foucault', in Cultural Studies, val. 6, no. 2, pp. 219-231.


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Evaluation of the Rio Tlnto AFL Kickstart Program In the Kimberley

Appendix 1 Research Team Profiles


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Ms Darlene Oxenham, Director CIRC BA, majors in Anthropology and Sociology, Curtin University of Technology, Conferred 1988. Currently enrolled in MA (hons) at the University of New South Wales, Research Project: Theorising Aboriginal terms of reference.

Darlene Oxenham was recently appointed Director of CIRC. She is a Yamatji woman who joined the Curtin Indigenous Research Centre as a Research Fellow in November 1997. She has worked for the Centre for Aboriginal Studies for eight years, six of which were in the role of Coordinator of the Aboriginal Community Management and Development Program. In the position of Coordinator, Darlene was a member of the Senior Indigenous Management Committee for the Centre for Aboriginal Studies. Darlene's area of academic specification is anthropology. The academic discipline gives her a strong comparative interest, both in the varied dimensions of Indigenous Australia, and in other socio-cultural traditions of other Indigenous peoples. Darlene's goal is to further explore the conceptual framework of Aboriginal terms of reference, which has been developed at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies. She believes that because the concept is so important, it needs to be vigorously examined and developed. Darlene is currently working on two major projects. A Masters/PhD research project Theorising Aboriginal terms of reference. Within this major project, Darlene is investigating the historical developments of Aboriginal terms of reference within two of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies programs. Darlene is also working on a series of discussion papers exploring the different facets of the concept of Aboriginal terms of reference as developed by the Centre for Aboriginal Studies. Secondly, Darlene is undertaking a pilot study on Aboriginal values. This project was funded through the Indigenous Researcher Development Scheme, ARC. Darlene provides supervision and support to Indigenous postgraduate students and has lectured on Aboriginal Terms of Reference in the postgraduate course, offered at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies. Darlene also provides support and assistance to staff of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in the production of publications, in her role as a Co-editor of CIRC publications. Publications and Presentations for the past five years include: Oxenham, D. (2000) An introduction to 'Aboriginal terms of reference' in Working with Indigenous Australians: A Handbook for Psychologists, (Eds.) Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D., and Pickett, H, (In press). Gunada Press: Perth, WA. Dudgeon, P., Mallard., J. & Oxenham, D. (2000) 'Contemporary Aboriginal Community' in Working with Indigenous Australians: A Handbook for Psychologists, (Eds.) Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D., and Pickett, H, (In press) Gunada Press: Perth, WA. Milech, 8., & Oxenham, D. (1999). 'Mixing it: Indigenous stories', in Australian Women's Book Review, Vol. 11, Hecate: Brisbane. Oxenham, D., Cameron, J., Collard, K., Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D., Kickett, M., Kickett, T., Roberts, J. & Whiteway, J. (1999) A Dialogue On Indigenous Identity: Warts 'n' All, Gunada Press: Perth, WA.


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Oxenham, D. (1999). 'Aboriginal terms of reference': The concept at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies, CIRC discussion paper series, 27/1999. Gunada Press: Perth, WA. Oxenham, D., Roberts, J. & Walker, R. (1999) Interrogating Positions; Creating Spaces; Future Possibilities. Presented at the Umulliko forum, Indigenous Research: Critique and Reflection. Subsequently included in the forum website. Dudgeon, P, Grogan, G & Oxenham, D; in Luke, C (ed). (1996). 'Learning Identities and Differences' Feminisms and Pedagogies of Everyday Life, Ch 1. State University of New York Press: Albany, New York.


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Roz Walker BaArts Degree (Honours in Politics and Philosophy), UWA PhD - Research Project, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury. Currently completing a PhD on transformative strategies in Indigenous higher education researching philosophical and pedagogical issues in Indigenous education. Roz was appointed as a Research Fellow at Curtin Indigenous Research Centre (CIRC) in February 1997. She has been involved in Indigenous higher education since 1985 in a range of roles including teaching, curriculum development, student support and academic co-ordination, and research. Roz worked for 18 months with the Community Health Research and Training Unit within the faculty of Medicine at UWA, facilitating the development of a postgraduate distance education program in the Principles of General Practice. Applied research activities have involved working with the Centre for Aboriginal Studies, to identify issues in student attrition; to develop strategies to improve student retention and success rates within the Centre and University; to assess the appropriateness of current and projected targets and performance measures and work with others to develop evaluation tools and processes. Roz has many years experience in establishing program monitoring and evaluation systems to meet the unique needs of the CAS program structure and curriculum and the requirements of Curtin student record system. She has assisted in the development of processes and measures for internal and external evaluation and review, which integrate the Centre's specific needs and those of the University and external bodies. Roz has considerable experience in negotiating effectively with Indigenous community groups in a diverse range of cross-cultural contexts. She developed a substantial network system among Aboriginal organisations and community groups and other stakeholders. She is active on the Aboriginal Education Planning and Implementation Committee at Curtin and the Centre's Academic Planning committee. She has participated on advisory groups in higher education and research and presented papers at state government forums including IETCs and AETC. Roz has prepared several submissions and policy impact reports on behalf of CIRC for state and national government departments. These include submissions to The Higher Education Financing and Policy Review; and DEETYA on the Impact of ABSTUDY Changes on Block Release Programs and ATSIC on the Education and Economic Benefits of ABSTUDY. Roz is co-editor of the CIRC Discussion Paper series. She has co-authored several papers related to Indigenous higher education, employment, health and empowerment outcomes. Roz Walker and Ross Humphries reviewed 10 Quality Projects at Curtin and edited and compiled a Monograph Increasing Indigenous Student Participation in Mainstream Courses, which was published in 1998. She also co-edited conference proceedings Indigenous Education and the Social Capital: Influences on the Performance of Indigenous Tertiary Students Adelaide 1998. Walker, R., Elliot, D. Seymour, K. & Worby, G. 1999. In December 1999 Roz Walker completed a comprehensive research project funded by the Evaluation and Investigations Program (DEETYA). She produced a report: Indigenous Performance in Western Australian Universities: Reframing Retention


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and Success. She is a mentor for a colleague for a ARC research project defining Indigenous values. Other recent publications:

Social Capital and Increasing Aboriginal Participation in Mainstream Courses. - Weaving the threads of the social fabric or spinning another yarn? Keynote Address to the Adelaide

Dudgeon, Abdullah, Humphries and Walker, 1999

Conference Social Capital and Increasing Aboriginal Participation in Higher Education, June 1998. CIRC Discussion Paper No 11. Curtin University of Technology, Perth. Grogan G, and Walker R, 1995. Standards and Indigenous Cultures- Issues of equity and cultural integrity in higher education and the workplace. Global

Competencies - National Training Board Conference Proceedings Cordell D, Walker R, Dickinson J, Underwood, P. 1996, Research Abstract, General Practice Research & Evaluation Conference Proceedings. Sydney. Walker, R., & Roberts, J. 1997. 'Indigenous issues in education and the lnternationalisation agenda', in CIRC Discussion Paper No 11. Curtin University of Technology, Perth. Walker, R. 1997, 'Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy: A case for Indigenous Higher Education and Research', in CIRC Discussion Paper No 12. Curtin University of Technology, Perth. Walker, R. 1997, 'Education and Economic Benefits of ABSTUDY in Indigenous Higher Education', in CIRC Discussion Paper No 13. Curtin University of Technology, Perth. Walker R, & Humphries R, 1999, Indigenous Student Participation in Mainstream Courses, Quality Projects Monograph, Curtin University of Technology, Perth. Western Australia. Collard, K., Walker R, & P. Dudgeon, 1998, Presenting and (Re)presenting a Voice, Vision and History at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin. Paper presented to Voice Vision and History Conference, Auckland, N. Z. Collard, K., Walker R, & P. Dudgeon, 1999, 'Aboriginalising the Curriculum Project: A disciplined approach?' CIRC Discussion Paper No 16. Curtin University of Technology, Perth. Walker, R., Elliot, D. Seymour, K. & Worby, G. 1999, Indigenous Education and the Social Capital: Influences on the Performance of Indigenous Tertiary Students, Black Swan Press, Perth. Oxenham, D., Roberts, J. & Walker, R. (1999) Interrogating Positions; Creating Spaces; Future Possibilities. Presented at the Umulliko forum, Indigenous Research: Critique and Reflection. Subsequently included in the forum website. Walker, R, McPhee, R., & R. Osborne, 2000, 'Critical reflections for professional development: enhancing competence through reflective practice'. In

Working with Indigenous Australians: A Handbook for Psychologists, Gunada Press, Perth. (in press)


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Dr John Fielder

Dr John Fielder's background is in Communication and Cultural Studies, and he has research interests in postcolonial theory, Indigenous Australian writers, and sport, race and identity. John has worked at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies since 1995, four years as a lecturer in the Aboriginal Bridging Course and an associate supervisor in the postgraduate program Indigenous Research and Development. Recently he was appointed as the Academic Planning Officer in the Indigenous Australian Cultural Studies Program. John is also a member of the Centre for Indigenous Research Centre editorial committee for publications through its own publishing house, Gunada Press. Part of John's doctoral thesis (completed in 1996) involved examining reportage on Chris Lewis, an Aboriginal player in the AFL. The chapter on Lewis dealt with representations of Aboriginal footballers in the popular media, suggesting that racial stereotypes about Aboriginal people informed assessments of Aboriginal playing styles, attributes and character. John collaborated with a Noongar researcher at the Centre, Ross Humphries, to present several papers at Cultural Studies conferences that have explored the way Aboriginal players are interpreted as particular kinds of players. Humphries and Fielder have identified the need for other sporting career opportunities for Aboriginal footballers in administration, management and coaching as an important progression beyond their on-field achievements. His publications include: Fielder, J. 1998, 'Stereotyping Aboriginal Footballers: Postcolonial Reading Strategies,' in Interpretations 1998, 31.1 (June 1998): 30-34; Fielder, J. 1999, 'Action Research: Where the Action Is,' CIRC Discussion Paper 26. Perth: Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University of Technology. Doolan, T., Dudgeon, P. & Fielder, J. 2000 'Racism' in Working with Indigenous Australians: A Handbook for Psychologists, (Eds.) Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D., and Pickett, H. Perth, WA: Gunada Press. Fielder, J., Roberts, J. & Abdullah, J. 2000 'Research with Indigenous Communities' in Working with Indigenous Australians: A Handbook for Psychologists, (Eds.) Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D., and Pickett, H. Perth, WA: Gunada Press. Humphries, R. & Fielder, J. 2000, 'Hey You, Get Off of Mcleod': Stacking and Centrality in Australian Rules Football. CIRC Discussion Paper 28. Perth: Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University of Technology.


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Appendix 2 Kickstart Objectives




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Appendix 2 Kickstart Objectives Rio Tinto has identified a range of strategies and program activities to meet the Kickstart objectives as follows: •

Development and coordination of policies and programs for young Aboriginal people aimed at increasing their participation in Australian football and opportunities for to play Australian football at a competitive and/or professional level, such as at AFL level;

•

Conduct of Auskick and coach and umpire accreditation and skills clinics; including the provision of coaching (ie, accreditation courses in accordance with the Australian Coaching Council); and basic instructions for new umpires and accreditation courses;

•

Provision of any necessary equipment;

•

Conduct of specialised coaching camps each year at various location to be agreed upon between parties;

•

Arrangements of visits to at least 3 different Aboriginal communities in Northern Australia as specified by Rio Tinto where possible by high profile AFL players and other Aboriginal role models;

•

Establishment of an intensive training centre at the Northern Territory Institute of Sport in Darwin for a squad of at least 25 players of between 16 - 18 years of age to receive specialised coaching, support services and access to advanced sports technology and education;

•

Provision for relocation to Darwin of up to 5 Aboriginal youth to participation in intensive training centre through Kormilda College, Darwin or other educational institutions as identified by the parties;

•

Conduct of intensive education and training camps for squads of up to 30 players of between 16 to 18 years of age from various Aboriginal communities in Northern Australia;

•

Conduct of the schools programs.


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Evaluation of the Rio Tlnto AFL Klckstart Program in the Kimberley

Appendix 3 Kickstart Strategies


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Appendix 3 Existing Strategies of Rio Tinto AFL Kickstart program Questions were designed to ascertain whether existing strategies employed by Kickstart are relevant and effective in meeting the program goals and objectives, particularly those objectives regarding improving Indigenous community health and well being. The objectives of the program as outlined in the Rio Tinto Business with Communities Partnering Agreement with the AFL, are as follows: •

To provide young Aborigines with positive and healthy lifestyle options through active involvement in sport;

•

To increase health and lifestyle awareness amongst Aboriginal youth in remote communities;

•

To improve health and lower substances abuse amongst at-risk Aboriginal youth in remote communities;

•

To improve education and life-skills experience amongst Aboriginal youth in remote locations;

•

To employ current and former Aboriginal AFL players to educate and inspire young Aborigines about lifestyle and sport opportunities.

•

To increase grass roots participation in Australian football by Aboriginal people across Northern Australia;

•

To increase the participation of Aboriginal girls in the program;

•

To establish an intensive training centre in Darwin in conjunction with the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and Kormilda College;

•

To build a resource base and pathway into the AFL for young talented Aboriginal footballers;

•

To develop a program model which is transferable to their communities;

•

To increase community awareness of the Partnership, the Program and the partners;

•

To, as much as is practicable, run the program in communities rather than regional centres and include older Aboriginal men and women in the organisation and delivery of the program, in order to foster whole-of-community involvement and mentoring of young participants.


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Appendix 4 Draft Stakeholder Questions


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Appendix 4 Draft evaluation questions suggested by HDWA & Rio Tinto A list of draft questions have been identified for Kickstart participants and Community members and relevant stakeholders. These questions or broad focus areas were formulated by HDWA and Rio Tinto on the basis of their preliminary discussions in July, 2000. These questions will be considered by research team in framing the questions for data collection and defining the exact scope of the evaluation. Questions (based on HDWA suggestions) might include: • Did the young people enjoy the program activities? • What did they learn? • Were there follow up visits? • Were these frequent? • Were there enough resources supplied for activities, for example was there equipment for sporting activities? • Were the youth happy with the activities? If not how do you think they could be changed? • Are there any other activities that they think could be done (other activities)? Community members: • Are you aware of the program? • Has the program had a positive effect on the youth? How? • Were community members involved in the development of the activities? • Were any community members trained to be mentors? • Was adequate support provided? If not how do you think this can be changed? • Do you feel confident enough to be involved in organising activities for young people in the community? HDWA & Rio Tinto want the evaluation to consider the following questions: The evaluation will attempt to address a range of the following questions: What difference does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program make to the physical condition of its participants?; What difference does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program make to the well being of its participants?; What difference does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program make to the make to the self esteem of its participants?; What difference does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program make to the standard of living of its participants within their community?; What difference does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program make to the energy levels of its participants?; Does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program have a direct effect in reducing the amount of alcohol consumed by participants?; Does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program have a direct effect in reducing the amount of cigarettes smoked by participants?; Curtin Indigenous Research Centre

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Does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program have a direct effect in reducing the consumption of drugs by participants?; Does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program have a direct effect in reducing the number of petrol sniffers within participants Aboriginal community?; Does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program have an impact on any Aboriginal cultural issues association with the community?; Does the Rio Tinto Kickstart Program have a positive effect on the Aboriginal community way of life?


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Evaluation of the Rio Tlnto AFL Kickstart Program In the Kimberley

Appendix 5 Questions for Participants


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Appendix 5 Overview Questions to Build Picture of Kickstart Program Please list all communities which Garnduwa provides AFL/Kickstart programs to in the East and West Kimberley and the length of time they have been running and (numbers and ages of participants).

List the number of staff who deliver Kickstart and briefly their role in Kickstart.

Can you please describe links with health department their expectation on Garnduwa in relation to the delivery health promotion and Kickstart?

Do you currently having a regular reporting process to AFL/RioTinto. Do you provide an annual report of activities?

Please provide us with any documentation that you think may help provide a picture (confidentiality will be maintained).

Please provide overview chart of Garnduwa (as shown on whiteboard in Perth)


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Appendix 6 Questions for Community Profiles


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Appendix 6 Questions for Community Profile for towns and communities being visited. Please provide the following information for each of the communities being visited.

1. Name of Community /Town

2.Community demographics If possible, please list total number of adults and number of young people under 18, and by gender. Male

Female

Total

0-4 5-9 10-14 15-18 19 and over

2. a) Are the following facilities available in community/town?. Community Store School Community Nurse Community Policing/Patrol Sporting and recreational facilities

yes yes yes yes yes

no no no no no

If yes briefly describe

2. b) Are there alcohol restrictions in place? 3. a) Distance from nearest regional town. b) Is it easily accessible throughout the whole year?

4. Briefly list types of programs (and the agencies involved) that are conducted by Garnduwa in addition to Kickstart program.

5. Are these programs run in conjunction with, or separate to, AFL Kickstart?

6. How frequently does Garnduwa visit community?

7. Do young people from this community attend any additional programs offered by Kickstart outside of the community? Please list.


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8. Based on you involvement, observations and discussions with community people, what do you see as the most important issues facing the community?

9. Please supply the names and phone numbers and other contact details for the following:

Name Chairperson

Phone Number

Organisation

Role

Community Nurse Principal Teacher(s) if relevant

10. Please include any other people you think we should meet with, particularly community members involved with young people.

Name

Phone Number


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Organisation

Role


Appendix 7 Letter of Introduction




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Appendix 7 Letter of Introduction

Dear Kyle Vander Kuyp As part of our KickStart program, and with the support of Rio Tinto, Garnduwa has been fortunate to secure the services of Kyle Vander Kuyp for one week commencing on Tuesday October 24th. We would very much like Kyle to visit your community and school to not only enable your young people to share in his Olympic experiences but also develop a better understanding of the issues that relate to the lifeskill development of one of Australia's champion Olympic athletes. We are also fortunate to have Darlene Oxenham and Roz Walker accompanying him on this visit to carry out an evaluation of the KickStart program and the importance that this, and similar sport related programs, has on the health and lifeskill development of our youth at a community level. Darlene and Roz are both with the Curtin Indigenous Research Centre and the aim of their visit is to give both Garnduwa and our funding agencies an insight into the effectiveness of our program and how we can improve on its qualities in years to come. Both Darlene and Roz are certainly well qualified to conduct the review and they are certainly looking forward to their visit and catching up with you and other people from your community. Garnduwa's Program Coordinator in your region will contact you soon to confirm dates that Kyle, Darlene and Roz are scheduled to visit your community and to prepare a schedule of activities whilst they are there. Our previous involvement with Kyle during his visits to the Kimberley in past years has shown him to be a role model of the highest quality and we are certain his presence will have a positive effect on the sporting development of young athletes in your community as well as an overall impact on the awareness of various lifeskill issues with all your young people. Kindest regards

Marmingee Hand Chairperson 9 October 2000


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Evaluation of the Rio Tlnto AFL Klckstart Program in the Kimberley

Appendix 8 Interviewee Names & Details




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Interviewee Names & Details

Name

Position

Organisation

Location

Bruce Larson

General Manager, External Affairs Senior Community Relations Officer Manager, Kickstart Program Manager Director, Health Promotions Manager, Sport Programs

Rio Tinto Exploration

Perth

Rio Tinto Exploration

Perth

Garnduwa

Perth

WACFL Healthway

Perth Perth

Healthway

Perth

Health Department WA Mumaballanjin St Mary’s College St Mary’s College Kimberley Public Health Promotions KAMS Aboriginal Health Promotions ATSIC – Kullari Region Bidyadanga School Bidyadanga School Bidyadanga Community Health Bidyadanga Community Police

Perth Broome Broome Broome Broome

Penny Joyce Alan Bishop Terry Waldron Shirley Fessell Bill Onley Selina Holtz Aaron Dick Kath Heagney Ted Kovisici Shandi Martin

Rosetta Sahanna-Pitt Ron Pearson Alan Thornton Barbara White

CDEP project coordinator Principal Head, Secondary Regional Health promotional Officer Coordinator – ‘Heatworks’ Chairperson Principal Teacher Community Health Nurse

Ryan Sgro

Police Aide

Danny Fiffer

Dave Dique Paul Bridge

Executive West Kimberley Football Association Phys Ed Teacher School Principal

Laurel Sutcliffe

School Principal

Lee Mulligan

Participant Kickstart Community Member Police & FVASA Chprsn Kimberley Law & Culture Hospital Health Worker Program Coordinator Chairperson

Marie Cox

Trevor Menmuir James Brown Mary Aiken Geoff Davis Marmagee hand


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Broome Broome Bidyadanga Bidyadanga Bidyadanga Bidyadanga Ex Bidyadanga

Fitzroy School Bayulu Community School Yakinarra Community School Community Member Fitzroy Crossing

Garnduwa Garnduwa

Fitzroy Crossing --Yakinarra (Fitzroy) Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy Crossing Fitzroy Crossing


Interviewee Names & Details

Name

Position

Organisation

Location

Eric Wade

Kickstart Football Development Officer Coordinator, Mentor Program Chairperson School Principal Teacher Community Recreation Officer Chairperson Principal School Teacher School Principal Police Aide Principal

Garnduwa

Broome

Garnduwa

Broome

Warmun Community Inc St Mary’s School St Mary’s School Warmun Community Inc

Warmun Broome Broome Warmun

Warmun Community Inc St Mary’s St Mary’s Doon Doon

Warmun Warmun Warmun Via Wyndham Oombulgarri Oombulgarri

Matt hill Dallas Purdy Sr Margaret Kean John Rocca Max Thomas Dallas Purdy

Tim Saggers Maurice Morgan Lincoln Day Teddy Birch Amy Trust Deanne Elliot Graeme Trust Gilbert McAdam

Jim Lewis School Principal

Community Nurse School Teacher Football Development Officer Coordinator


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Wyndham High School Garnduwa Garnduwa

Wyndham Wyndham Wyndham Wyndham

Wyndham Action Group* Primary & High School

Wyndham Wyndham


Appendix 9 Community Profiles




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Centre Demographics

Facilities

Alcohol Regional Centre Other Programs

Visits

Participation in Programs outside the Community

Important Issues

Key People

Warmun • Approximately 500 people live in Warman • Approx 200 are over 19 years with the remaining 300 evenly distributed throughout the 0-18 ages. • There is an even distribution of male and females across all ages. There is a community store and a school. There is a community nurse and a community policing service ran from Argyle Mine. Recreation facilities include an oval, basketball courts and games room. There are alcohol restrictions in place and monitored by the community. Wyndham is 200km away by road (2 hours) and is accessible all year around. Other Garnduwa programs delivered in association with the school and community include the Active Girls Program, Athletics, Basketball and the Role Model/mentor program particularly in conjunction with East Kimberley Health agencies. They are also run in conjunction with (through Gilbert) and separate to Kickstart. Graeme Trust and Gilbert McAdam also assists the Community Council with their recreational planning. Graeme Trust and Gilbert McAdam visit the community around twice a month with about 50 % of those visits Kickstart specific. Programs specific to Kickstart which involve young people participating outside the community include: • Under 16 East Kimberley Cup in Halls Creek • Under 18 Kimberley Cup in Fitzroy Crossing • Under 18 Just Jeans Cup in Darwin • 17's Football Development Camp in Broome Other Garnduwa programs that involve participation in programs outside the community include: • Regional Athletics in Halls Creek • Athletics development camp in Broome • State all schools in Perth (if qualify) • Women's Leadership Camp in Argyle • Basketball programs in Wyndham and Kununurra • Improved community recreational facilities • Youth employment opportunities • Alcohol and substance abuse • Cost of living • Community management • Native title Dallas Purdy - Chairperson Sr Margaret Kean - School Principal John Rocca- Teacher Fred Murray -Argyle Community Relations Robyn Sermon - Argyle Community Relations Max Thomas - Community Recreation Officer


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Centre Demographics

Facilities Alcohol Regional Centre Other Programs

Visits

Participation in Programs outside the Community Important Issues

Key People

Doon Doon • Approximately 100 people live in Doon Doon • Approx 50 people are over 19 years with the remaining 50 evenly distributed throughout the 0-18 ages. • There is an even distribution of male and females across all ages. A school but no other facilities Unknown Wyndham is 1OOkm away by road (1 hour) and is accessible all year around. Other Garnduwa programs delivered in association with the school and community are mainly recreational visits and assistance with school carnivals and Phys Education programs. These programs are run in conjunction with Kickstart. Gilbert McAdam the Kickstart Development Officer visit the community about 3 or 4 times a year. All visits relate to Kickstart. Programs specific to Kickstart which involve young people participating outside the community include: • Under 16 East Kimberley Cup in Halls Creek • Improved community recreational facilities • Youth employment opportunities • Alcohol and substance abuse Tim Saggers


114


Centre Demographics

Facilities

Alcohol Regional Centre

Other Programs

Visits

External Programs

Important Issues

Key People

Oombulgarri • Approximately 350 people live in Oombulgarri • Approx 150 are over 19 years with the remaining 200 evenly distributed throughout the 0-18 ages. • There is an even distribution of male and females across all ages. Facilities include: a community store and a school; a community nurse and a community policing station. Recreation facilities are minimal and restricted to a lawn at the school. There are alcohol limits in place and monitored by the community. Wyndham is 250km away by road (10 hours in good weather) though virtually inaccessible by vehicle all year around - particularly November to April. Primary access is by plane (15 mins and $540 return) or boat 1 hour ($300 return). Other Garnduwa programs delivered in association with the school include the Active Girls Program, Athletics, Basketball and the Role Model/Mentor program particularly in conjunction with East Kimberley Health agencies. They are also run in conjunction with (through Gilbert) and separate to Kickstart. Graeme Trust also assists the Community Council with their recreational planning. Gilbert McAdam the Kickstart Development Officer visits the community 4 to 6 times per year. Graeme Trust also visit another 4 times per year (once a term) with other programs. Programs specific to Kickstart which involve young people participating outside the community include: • Under 16 East Kimberley Cup in Halls Creek • Under 18 Kimberley Cup in Fitzroy Crossing • Under 18 Just Jeans Cup in Darwin • 17's Football Development Camp in Broome Other Garnduwa programs that involve participation in programs outside the community include: • Regional Athletics in Halls Creek • Athletics development camp in Broome • State all Schools in Perth (if qualify) • Womens Leadership Camp in Argyle • Basketball programs in Wyndham and Kununurra • Improved community recreational facilities • Youth employment/post school opportunities • General health education and substance abuse • Cost of living • Isolation and accessibility Floyd Grant Lincoln Day Kirsten Robinson Daryl Morgan Willie Grant Maurice Morgan


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Centre Demographics

Facilities


Visits

External Programs

Important Issues

Key People

Wyndham • Approximately 1000 people live in Wyndham • Approx 650 are over 19 years with the remaining 350 evenly distributed throughout the 0-18 ages. • There is an even distribution of male and females across all ages. Wyndham has both catholic and state schools through to high school and TAFE. There are community stores, hospital, police station hotels and other town based facilities. Recreation facilities include an oval, pool, basket courts tennis courts and a new indoor recreation centre is under construction. There are no alcohol restrictions in place. Kununurra is 1OOkm away by road (1 hour) and is accessible all year around. Other Garnduwa programs delivered in association with the school and Youth service include the Active Girls Program, Athletics, Basketball and the Role Model/mentor program, health links program and music program. In some instances these programs are run in conjunction with (through Gilbert) with Kickstart. Garnduwa has an office in Wyndham and therefore has a continual presence and involvement in all community programs through Graeme Trust and Gilbert McAdam the Kickstart Development Officer. Programs specific to Kickstart which involve young people participating outside the community include: • Under 16 East Kimberley Cup in Halls Creek • Under 18 Kimberley Cup in Fitzroy Crossing • Under 18 Just Jeans Cup in Darwin • 17's Football Development Camp in Broome Other Garnduwa programs that involve participation in programs outside the community include: • Regional Athletics in Halls Creek • Athletics development camp in Broome • State all schools in Perth (if qualify) • Women's Leadership Camp in Argyle • Basketball tournaments in Wyndham and Kununurra • General health awareness • Youth employment opportunities • Alcohol and substance abuse • Domestic violence Amy Trust Deanne Elliot Graeme Trust Gilbert McAdam Jim Lewis


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Centre Demographics

Facilities


Visits

External Programs

Important Issues

Key People

Bidyadanga (La Grange) Approximately 700 people live in Bidyadanga. About 400 of those are aged over 19 years with the remaining 300 evenly distributed throughout the 0 - 18 age range. In both instances there is an even distribution between males and females. Bidyadanga has a school, community store, health clinic and police station. Recreation facilities include an oval and basketball courts. There are alcohol restrictions in place. Broome is 180km away by road (2 hours) which is accessible all year round. Other Garnduwa programs delivered in association with the school includes: • Athletics program; • Basketball program; • Active Girls program; • Role Model/Mentor and Self esteem program; • School Truancy and Nutrition program. These programs are run in conjunction with Kickstart. Garnduwa visits the community approximately 15 to 18 times a year with 10 of those visits being the full staff of 4, including the Kickstart Officer, and the balance of visits are by individual staff. Garnduwa concentrates its focus on this community in terms 1 and 2 when Dampier Peninsular road is often closed. Programs specific to Kickstart and involve participation of young people from this community include: • Under 18 Kimberley Championships in Fitzroy; • Under 18 Just Jeans Cup in Darwin; • Football Development Camp in Broome; • 12 and under Kullarri Football Carnival; • 15 and under Kullarri Football Carnival. Other Garnduwa programs that participants travel to include: • Regional Athletics in Halls Creek; • Garnduwa Festival in Fitzroy Crossing; • Active Girls Camp in Broome; • Basketball tournaments in Halls Creek; • Broome Development Camps. • Healthy Lifestyle (Diet and Hygiene). • Youth employment opportunities. • Alcohol and substance abuse. • Youth suicide. John Hopica- outgoing Chairperson. Joe Munroe- New Chairperson. Jules Custodio - Community Nurse. Barbara White- Community Health Worker. Ron Pearson - School Principal. Alan Thornton- School Teacher. John Birch - Police Officer. Ryan Sgro- Police Aide.



Centre Demographics

Facilities


Other Programs

Visits

External Programs

Important Issues

Key People

Yakanarra Approximately 160 people live in Yakanarra, of which 60 are under the age of 18. There is an even distribution between males and females. Yakanarra has a community store and a school. There is no permanent community nurse and they are serviced by occasional visits from Fitzroy. Yakanarra has an oval, basketball courts with lights, a band/music room and various equipment. There is no alcohol allowed on the community. Fitzroy Crossing is 80km away (1.5 hours by car). Yakanarra is not accessible during the wet season for approximately 3 - 4 months. Garnduwa, in association with the Fitzroy Valley Aboriginal Sporting Association (FVASA) and the community school, run a variety of other programs in this community including music, basketball, athletics, women's programs and role model visits. Eric Wade, Kickstart Development Officer, visits approximately 4 - 6 times a year. Occasionally other Garnduwa staff may visit for specific purposes eg Alan Bishop delivering accredited and non-accredited coaching courses. Programs specific to Kickstart and involve participation of young people from this community include: • Isolated communities football carnival; • 17's Development Squad Camp in Broome; • Darwin Just Jeans Cup. Other programs that involve participation outside of the community, in association with FVASA, include: • Sporting Carnivals in Fitzroy; • Regional athletics in Halls Creek; • Athletics development camp in Broome; • State All Schools in Perth (if qualify); • Women's leadership camp in Broome; • Basketball programs in Fitzroy. • Alcohol and substance abuse; • Youth training programs (post school); • General health education; • Development of recreation pursuits. Peter Berringil - Chairperson; Laurel Sutcliffe- School principal; Jimmy Daisybell - Community Councillor; Hanson Boxer- Community Councillor; Lee Mulligan- Community member (Youth); Malcolm Moora - Footballer/youth. Nerrida Thomas- Musician and Youth leader.


118


Centre Demographics

Facilities


Other Programs

Visits

External Programs

Fitzroy Crossing Approximately 1000 people in town. 65% are Aboriginal and approximately 60% of these people are under the age of 18 years. There is a population of approximately 1500 in nearby outlying communities, of which 98% are Aboriginal and again approximately 60% are under the age of 18. In both instances there is an even distribution between males and females. Fitzroy is made up of 3 independent Aboriginal communities spread around a town base. There are a number of service shops and government agencies. There is a hospital, police station, school, shire oval, indoor recreation centre and basketball courts. There are two hotels that have minimal restrictions on what and when they sell alcohol. Derby is the nearest regional centre 260km west. Fitzroy is generally accessible throughout the year, though in· the wet season sometimes only by air. Between January and April road access may be cut for periods of up to 2/3 weeks at a time. Garnduwa, in association with the Fitzroy Valley Aboriginal Sporting Association, run a variety of other programs in this and surrounding centres. These include music, basketball, athletics, holiday and after school activities, women's programs and role model visits. These programs, in some instances, also are run in conjunction with, or through the various schools in the region. Though these programs are not directly under the 'Kickstart' banner they do run in conjunction with Kickstart as part of an overall bigger sport and recreation, health lifestyle picture that Garnduwa promotes and delivers across all its activities. All the programs tie in together with similar rules and expectations of participants and across the broad delivery of healthy lifestyle promotion. Garnduwa has a full time presence in Fitzroy Crossing plus regular visits by Eric Wade, Kickstart Development Officer, probably 12 - 15 times a year. Programs specific to Kickstart and involve participation of young people from this community include: • Isolated communities football carnival; • 17's Development Squad camp in Broome; • Darwin Just Jeans Cup. Other programs that involve participation outside of the community include: • Regional athletics in Halls Creek; • Athletics development camp in Broome; • State All Schools in Perth; • Women's Leadership camp in Broome; • Basketball in Halls Creek and Kununurra.


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Important Issues

Key People

• Alcohol and substance abuse; • Employment opportunities; • General Health issues; • Domestic violence; • Community cohesiveness. Dave Dique- Fitzroy School Physed Teacher; Paul Bridge - Bayulu School Principal; Trevor Menmuir- Police officer & FVASA Chairperson; James Brown - Kimberley Law and Culture; Mary Aiken - Hospital Health Worker; Geoff Davies - Garnduwa Program Coordinator.
