An evaluation of an Australian Aboriginal controlled-community organization’s remote sports-based programme: a qualitative investigation

Abstract

Current research suggests that Aboriginal-controlled organizations should play a larger role in developing and implementing sports-based programmes for Aboriginal young people. In this paper, we explore the influence of an Aboriginal-controlled organization and its government-funded remote sports-based programme on Aboriginal participants and non-Aboriginal stakeholders. We consider whether this sports-based programme is meeting the needs of a remote community in Northern Territory, Australia, and argue that the influence of the Aboriginal controlled organization is somewhat minimized, due to the constraints of government policy and associated funding, which focus on the socioeconomic agenda of reducing gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians in health, education and employment. The Aboriginal community members and youth would appreciate the Aboriginal-controlled organization working more closely with them to improve the influence of the programme by paying respect to the local Aboriginal culture, social systems and knowledge.