A ‘fair go’ on Australian beaches

Abstract

Equality of opportunity is an ideal not always realized in community sport settings. This research explores if the symbolic notion of a ‘fair go’ can be enabled, and if so how participation opportunities can be enabled in community sport programme design to accommodate the variety of needs found in diverse population groups. We answer the research question, how is social inclusion interpreted in the mechanisms that support and sustain locally based community sport programmes? Using a mixed methodology, multiple case study approach, in the setting of an iconic Australian Civil Society Organization, programmes designed to engage recent migrants or refugees unfamiliar with Australian surf conditions and people with disabilities are analysed. Programmes were analysed using Bailey's social inclusion framework, encompassing spatial, relational, functional and power dimensions. Through comparative analysis, fundamental practices that allowed sustained implementation of socially inclusive programmes are identified. Additionally, the framework draws out the elements of the programmes that could be improved.

Keywords:

• social inclusion
• community sport development
• community champion
• marginalized
• exclusion

Notes on contributors

Hazel Maxwell is a Research Associate at the UTS Business School and a member of Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre. Her research interests include cultural diversity, social inclusion and social capital in community contexts, particularly community sport settings.

Melissa Edwards is a Senior Lecturer at the UTS Business School and core member of the Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre. As an early career researcher, her work focuses on areas of community organising, sustainability and complexity. She has been working with a team of researchers to develop a tool for measuring the wider social impact of community organisations.

Megan Stronach has much experience in sport management, particularly in swimming where she has worked as an elite level coach, teacher and manager. She currently works as a Research Fellow for the University of Tasmania. Megan's research interests include transition experiences of elite level athletes, cultural issues in sport, women's issues in sport, and sport and the law.

Vanessa Brown is the People and Development Manager for SLSA and is responsible for membership, member development, member recognition, inclusion, history and ecosurf. She is passionate about the contribution and engagement of volunteers, leadership and social impact.

Notes

1. This terminology is used widely within the SLSA organization. We provide a critique of this in the paper.