Educating managers for equity and social justice: Integrating Indigenous knowledges and perspectives in Australian sport, recreation and event management curricula

Abstract

The past two decades have witnessed a shift from stand-alone and critically reflexive leisure studies programs into an assortment of sport, tourism, hospitality, events, and (outdoor) active recreation management-focused programs. This shift, driven by student and University led demand for more vocational and employability oriented degrees, has reduced the criticality of leisure studies and, consequently, its capacity to evaluate the particular relationships between Indigenous peoples and leisure, sport and recreation in Australia. In this article, we introduce the concept of ‘Indigenisation’ and demonstrate the demand for leisure and sport studies curricula that embed Indigenous-related content, knowledges and perspectives. We provide a case study of efforts to Indigenise the Sport, Recreation and Event Management program at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. This case study provides the context for a critical reflection from a leisure studies educator, and a set of recommendations for how criticality and reflexive teaching and learning practice can be more effectively integrated into twenty-first century leisure and sport studies education.