title: Promoting physical activity among children and youth in disadvantaged South Australian CALD communities through alternative community sport opportunities.
abstract: Issue addressed:Recently arrived migrants and refugees from a culturally and linguistically diverse background (CALD) may be particularly vulnerable to social exclusion. Participation in sport is endorsed as a vehicle to ease the resettlement process; however, in Australia, this is often thought as a simple matter of integration into existing sport structures (e.g. clubs). This approach fails to place actual community needs at the centre of sport engagement efforts.Methods:A consultation framework was established with South Australian CALD community leaders and organisations to scope needs for community-based alternatives to participation in traditional sport (e.g. clubs), co-design a suitable community sport program and pilot it in five communities. Interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted with participants, community representatives, stakeholders and volunteers.Results:Regular, free soccer activities engaged 263 young people from a great variety of nationalities, including over 50% refugees, in secondary state school and community-based sites.Conclusion:Alternative community sport programs can provide a basic but valuable forum to promote physical activity and associated well being in CALD and refugee communities.So what?:Alternative approaches can extend the health benefits of sport participation to disadvantaged children and youth who are excluded from traditional sport participation opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Sciences, Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia, City East Campus, Frome Road, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, City East Campus, Frome Road, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012916:Soccer; D013177:Sports; D035862:Vulnerable Populations