Evaluation of a Youth CaLD (Cultural and Linguistically Diverse) Sports Program in Western Australia: Resettling refugees using sport as a conduit to integration

Abstract

This paper is based on an evaluation of a Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Youth Sport, Recreation and Leisure Project conducted in Perth, Western Australia by researchers from Edith Cowan University on behalf of the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR). The purpose of the Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Youth Sport, Recreation and Leisure Project which was facilitated by the City of Stirling (CoS Project) was to develop links between mainstream sport and recreation organisations, clubs and facilities in the CoS and young people from CaLD backgrounds. The authors of this paper were contracted by DSR to evaluate the Project over a two year period (2007-2008) in a two phase outcome evaluation. The purpose of the evaluation was to document the extent to which the Project had achieved its intended outcomes; to document barriers to the achievement of outcomes and; to document whether, and how, barriers to achievement of outcomes have been overcome. The primary target group is young people from CaLD backgrounds from new and emerging communities, particularly African young people as they dominated the refugee intake to the CoS (between 2001-2009). The paper provides new and useful insights into the resettlement needs and issues facing not only refugees in general, but young refugees and the ways in which sport, in the host country, may or may not facilitate the integration process. We use the term African with caution in this paper and understand it incorporates many nations; however it is used in the paper for a reference point. This paper is based on the final report submitted to DSR in May 2009, titled Evaluation of The City of Stirling CALD Youth Sport and Recreation Project. The basis of this paper’s structure and conclusions are based on this report.