21/03/2023

The Saints Athletics Club Multicultural Inclusion Program has been up and running since 2019, paving the way for talented migrants and new arrivals to become our next Olympians.

As Saints Athletics Club Program Coordinator Hans Van Bavel explains, the club is at the heart of its community, encouraging young people from multicultural communities to participate in athletics.

What is the program’s purpose and how did it come about?

The initiative originally came about because we knew that the migrants and new arrivals in our community are athletically aware but hardship, (especially financial pressure), precluded them from participating in our sport. Whilst we had recruited a small number of athletes from multicultural backgrounds, we considered that there was potential for significantly increasing numbers of this group.

We were given the opportunity to develop the program with support from Athletics SA and the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR). This collaboration enabled the program to be implemented at our Club in 2019.

The initial program commenced in 2019 and involved 12 young people with ages ranging from 12 to 16 years.

In the most recent 2022-23 season, the program has grown to 30 athletes with ages ranging from nine to 23 years. We are incredibly proud that we have 25 participants competing in the regular Athletics SA summer competition.

How did this idea progress?

One of our club’s key sprint coaches Rick Wilson and myself, along with the committee’s support, saw an opportunity to help new arrivals to our country - in particular, young people from African nations, given the talents often exhibited by these athletes. Subsequent conversations with Athletics SA and ORSR resulted in a collaboration with our club to run a pilot program funded by ORSR. The program is now solely driven by our club.

What challenges or issues is it designed to address?

The program was created to not only identify interest and talent but also to give everyone an opportunity to participate. Given that the young people from this demographic had very little understanding of how our sport works or what support was available to them, it provided our Club with an opportunity to see if they would enjoy the sport and feel part of our club community and also the broader athletics community.

We believe that our club has successfully achieved these outcomes and our multicultural athletes are now an integral part of our club culture.

What barriers did you come across in implementing this idea?

One of the barriers was to identify interested athletes for the program and connect with their families and their communities. We needed to build rapport and gain their trust, assuring them that the athletes would be supported.

One of our members tried door knocking for recruitment but they found that word of mouth seemed to work better. Attracting athletes became easier in the second season as those involved in the program promoted the program through their families, friends and wider communities.

Another challenge is to find ways to make the program sustainable. Many of these athletes do not have the funds available to cover the costs of fees, uniforms and equipment, and transport to and from training.

What has been the reaction (from club members and broader)?

The inclusion program has pushed the boundaries with both our club and Athletics SA by giving these members opportunities to participate in an environment they feel comfortable in. The success of our multicultural athletes has been an eye opener for both the participants as well as earning the admiration of the wider athletics community.

We have had several athletes reach the standards to participate in national competitions. These athletes have set a wonderful example of achievement and role modelled behaviours for others to follow.

All our club members have benefitted from the camaraderie generated by the introduction of this group of young people. We have been introduced to new cultures and come to recognise and value the strength of character of our multicultural athletes.

Do you think this initiative could be easily picked up by other clubs?

It is something that other clubs could implement, and it can easily be done by working with the governing body of your sport. Seek and accept help from your governing body and/or other interested parties.

Recognise that there will be financial challenges as programs like these often require funds that go beyond the typical support needed by your broader membership.

Any advice for other clubs seeking to implement this?

Look for someone with experience and the drive to want the program to achieve. The ability to establish a connection with the community is key so good communication skills are needed.

Negotiate for help and support from your parent body, especially to get the program get started. If people want to contribute, let them.

Has this supported an increase in members/volunteers/revenue?

The program itself has boosted morale for the community and diversity within the club.

We have also seen growth in the women’s side of the club with increased female participation – changing the club’s culture and making the club more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Is there anything you would do differently?

No. The program has been very successful and continues to grow in numbers and is limited only by financial constraints needed to help athletes achieve their potential.

Success/highlights of the program?

Our multicultural athletes have lit up the track and field world this past season with their outstanding performances at the 2023 South Australian Track and Field Championships, the 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships and the 2022 Australian All Schools Championships. Our multicultural athletes had great results winning five gold, five silver and two bronze medals with a combined total of 20 national qualifiers.

Andrew Maenda had some standout performances breaking state records in both the U16 and U18 100 metres in the recent State Championships. His time of 10.57 seconds in the U18 100 metres also qualifies him as a Youth Commonwealth Games A Qualifier.

Andrew is a foundation member of our multicultural inclusion squad. Andrew arrived in Australia as a 3-year-old from Congo with his Mum and he is proud of what he has achieved so far and the opportunities Saints has given him.

“This program has challenged me mentally and prepared me for specific things and I learnt new things about this sport that I didn’t know before,” Andrew said.