Victoria University’s (VU) change makers Melbourne’s west (CMMW) project is revolutionising the landscape of Melbourne’s west to uplift migrants and refugees in the community.
Teaming up with Volunteer West, Welcoming Australia, Brimbank council, and Wyndham Basketball, the project delivers a range of transformative initiatives to positively affect the lives of hundreds of migrants and refugees.
VU reports that Melbourne’s west has a high proportion of migrants and refugees who are under-represented in sport and physical activity. Community sporting clubs often express a desire to be more inclusive, but change can be challenging due to barriers like racism, sexism, cost, and unwelcoming environments.
Former Volunteer West chief executive Thu-Trang Tran said her team benefited enormously from the collaboration.
“We were able to learn and incorporate inclusive practices and share knowledge between the partners. The partnerships we formed have endured and have positively impacted other ventures,” she said.
Led by VU’s professor Ramon Spaaij, professor Brent McDonald, associate professor Fiona McLachlan, and Dr Carla Luguetti, the CMMW research team collaborated with 66 leaders from 38 clubs across 12 sports. These leaders engaged directly with their communities to rethink problems, develop positive practices, and transform their environments.
The outcomes of this collaboration are significant and have included the implementation of strategies and institutional changes towards greater inclusivity, such as hosting ‘come and try’ days in collaboration with community groups and producing club information in a range of languages.
The project has already seen tangible success stories including the Footscray Hockey Club which set up a youth advisory committee and instituted a gender equity policy which led to 50 per cent of members being women and girls and 40 per cent of their board and coaches being female. As well as the Broadmeadows Basketball Association, which developed a diversity and inclusion action plan, which includes commitments to increase cultural and ethnic diversity among staff, coaches, players, and volunteers, and enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards racism.
“With the support of our partners, Volunteer West, Welcoming Australia, Brimbank council, Wyndham Basketball, local clubs, VU students, and community sport members, we have created tangible strategies that are already affecting positive change,” Professor Spaaij said.
