The power of partnerships: Education-community collaborations to enhance lifelong physical activity among young people from newly-arrived migrant and refugee backgrounds in regional Australia

Abstract

<p>Launched in early 2021, the Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity (DSISPA) program, supported by the Australian Government - Department of Health (2020-2022), has been providing funded sport and physical activity opportunities to people from newly-arrived migrants (within 5 years in Australia) and refugee backgrounds in Armidale, NSW. DSISPA program has already had a strong impact, particularly among the Ezidi community through engagement with over 500 children and adults. To date, participants have been involved in swimming lessons, going to the gym, winter soccer and twilight volleyball competitions, Inclusive Football Coaching workshops, a Youth Leadership program, Armidale Sport and Recreation indoor bowling nights, a Football Academy Development squad and attending the National Primary School Games. This has shown the power of education providers (Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, Universities) working in local partnerships with community stakeholders and Not-For-Profit organisations for the benefit of young people. Importantly, it meets the key objectives of the WHO (World Health Organisation) Health Promoting Schools framework, also known as taking a Whole School Approach (NESA, 2018). Working together via 'partnerships and services' with the local community are key to reinforcing health promoting behaviours that occur through 'teaching and learning' and the microcosm of the 'school environment'. Collectively, these domains seek to enhance the health of all students, but particularly take a social justice approach to balance the health inequities that may be experienced by some students in their lives beyond the school gates (WHO, 2021).</p>