The Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) recognises NAIDOC Week, July 3-10, 2022, as an important time to reflect on and acknowledge the rich and diverse history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
With the 2022 theme being Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!, it is a chance to continue the momentum to continue to get up, stand up and show up in the quest for systematic change and support the indigenous people, community and elders.
To celebrate the week, let’s see how sports across the nation have been getting First Nations people involved:
Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia relaunched its First Nations programs including Raise The Bar and Athletics for the Outback. From July, more young Indigenous people will have the chance to participate in athletics disciplines across regional and remote communities.
These programs provide athletics and educational opportunities to Indigenous participants and coaches by developing the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue lifelong participation and enjoyment of the sport.
Queensland Rugby League
Funding from the Queensland Government’s ActiveKIT, and support from the National Rugby League (NRL), Queensland Rugby League (QRL) have travelled across the state and provided rugby league education and training opportunities to some remote communities in Palm Island, Woorabinda, Cherbourg, Wujal Wujal, Coen and Lockhart River.
As part of QRL’s Reconciliation Action Plan, Strategic Plan and Diversity and Inclusion Framework, there has been a great success with the League Tag Program in Coen seeing one-third of the town’s population turn up to watch and participate in the game and community BBQ on the opening night.
Rugby Australia
The Wallabies are set to sing the Australian national anthem in the local Indigenous language. They’ll also wear their First Nations jersey at Suncorp Stadium in the test series against England, which features Kamilaroi and Gamilaraay man Dennis Golding’s design.
The Wallabies first sung the anthem in First Nations language back in 2020, when Olivia Fox sang in Eora language at the CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.
Australian Taekwondo
As part Sport Australia’s Sporting Schools program Cassandra Plain from Outback Taekwondo in the Northern Territory is just one of several Australian Taekwondo affiliated club owners running Taekwondo Kickstarters.
Taekwondo Kickstarters is a fun, safe and inclusive program that teaches kids about all of the benefits that Taekwondo has to offer.
Recently returning from Warruwi School in the Northern Territory, located about 300km east of Darwin, Cassandra conducted a three-day Taekwondo Kickstarters program with 75 students participating.