Indigenous Sport and Culture Plan
For the communities of the Kullarri region, the Western Desert region and the Tjurabalan region (COAG East Kimberley Trial Site)
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August 2008
Overview
The Indigenous Sport and Culture Plan (the Plan) is developed within a context of regional provision and policies, local community issues, existing local and regional planning processes and the state of existing infrastructure and service delivery. The scope of the Plan consisted of the Kullarri region; Western Desert region; and the Tjurabalan region (COAG East Kimberley Trial Site). Whilst the community assessment framework is specific to the Indigenous communities within these regions, the planning concepts, principles and models are readily applicable to Indigenous communities throughout Western Australia. Therefore, the Indigenous Sport and Culture Plan provides government with a framework to progress wider community areas such as justice, health, education and employment.
Sport and recreation traditionally has been identified within a context of competitive and social, or recreational based activity. However, a strong component of sport and recreation, particularly within Indigenous communities, is the linkage with traditional culture. Cultural activities such as hunting are generally more accepted as a form of sport and recreation due to its clear physical activity, however traditional dance (which also has physical activity) has not been generally accepted as a form of sport and recreation. Therefore, for the purposes of this Plan, sport and recreation is not separated from culture but rather it forms an integral component in understanding ‘culture' within Indigenous communities, as well as highlighting the culture within which it operates.
To raise the awareness and increase the participation of Indigenous Western Australians in physical activity, it is important that the cultural aspects of Indigenous people are accepted and promoted as part of sport and recreation. It is important to note, that certain aspects of traditional culture, such as art, does not fall within this context. However, there remains a need for a working relationship between the agencies such as the Department of Art and Culture and the Department of Sport and Recreation, due to the clear linkages between the two within an Australian Indigenous context. In this sense, each aspect holds equal importance as culture in its entirety is equally reliant on each component.
In town and cities, the planning of sport and culture infrastructure and service delivery has in the past been aligned to the local government, whilst the State Government has been involved in the high-level community planning. However in Indigenous communities sport and culture has in the past been aligned to the Commonwealth Government, and in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). As a result of this in Western Australia, Sport and Recreation (Culture) Plans have generally either not existed or been at best ad hoc at a local community level without consideration of the wider context within which the plan should operate, such as through a regional plan. This is of particular importance for Indigenous communities where the accessibility of suitable service providers is often limited and operating sustainable infrastructure and service delivery is not commercially viable.
In order to assist in this regard, a
regional approach is adopted to sport and culture planning.
To achieve this, a high level of coordination and cooperation is required
between the local Indigenous communities, Local Government, the Western
Australian State Government, the Commonwealth Government, Non-Government
Organisations (NGO's) other key stakeholders where appropriate, such as mining
companies and philanthropists.
For the purposes of the Indigenous Sport and Culture Plan and associated planning documents, the regional approach to sport and culture planning is defined as delivering future sport and culture infrastructure and services within communities focusing on building the regional sustainability and thereby achieving individual, local community and regional benefits.
Vision statement
To provide a flexible, holistic and coordinated response to the needs of Indigenous communities, that will assist the community to improve their overall quality of life by integrating the participation and management of sport and culture as part of their daily life.
Objectives
The broad objectives of the Indigenous Sport and Culture Plan are to increase the level of on-going participation of community members in sport and culture activities, through improving the access to appropriate and equitable infrastructure and services. Specifically, there are three main objectives:
- Access and Equity: to increase the equitable access to sport and culture infrastructure and services in Indigenous communities.
- Participation: to increase the sustained participation of community members in sport and culture activities.
- Sustainability: to implement measures, develop and maintain infrastructure and provide services that are sustainable in the communities over a long period of time.
This Plan was prepared and written by:
Quantum Consulting Australia Pty Ltd (in conjunction with Nyaarla Projects)
This report was commission by:
Department of Sport and Recreation
In conjunction with:
Department of Indigenous Affairs
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