Student Number: 39856956
Representation
Representation is a key factor in encouraging Indigenous people and youth in playing sport. It is important to be represented in high level sports and have local role models such as family, friends or others in the community. Even though there are a large percentage of Aboriginal athletes in the NRL and AFL who represent their culture, many First Nations people think it is more attainable when they see local athletes smashing goals in sport. There are still many professional sports though, such as netball, which have very little Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation. In both elite and local levels, there is underrepresentation and therefore a lack of role models for First Nations athletes.
It is important for Aboriginal people to have role models at elite and local levels. Elite athletes represent their culture and family on a big stage, showing youth that climbing to the top levels in sport is a reachable goal and can it is attainable to represent just like them. Local athletes are able to show youth that no matter who you are and where you come from, participating in any sport is a possibility. There are many more local athletes who come from remote communities than in the elite level which demonstrates that participating in sport, no matter where you come from is a possibility. ​
Without representation, Aboriginal people grow up thinking that it is not possible, are unlikely to be good at sport or get to higher levels, so they never try.
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By having a role model and having your identity represented in sport, it shows individuals that it is possible and attainable to participate in a sport and also disproves negative stereotypes of Aboriginal people in sport. "If they can do it, why cant I?"- Rachael Howard
High level: Lydia Williams
Lydia Williams, a proud Aboriginal woman is a role model to Indigenous youth. During the World Cup in 2023, she was put on a massive stage for Australia and was able to demonstrate to kids that there is no limit to what they can achieve. "I hope that I can be a role model to Indigenous kids and prove that you can come from anywhere and make something of yourself.
A study of the impacts of the Indigenous Marathon Project on the community living in Thursday Island in the Torres Strait found that having local role models had positive "ripple effects". Seeing people who came from the same remote communities which they had, promote and model healthy lifestyles, running and positive health outcomes lessened the embarrassment and shame of participating in sport. It also found that Indigenous respondents to the study were more likely than non-Indigenous respondents to be influenced by the IMP runners which is likely due to the representation of Aboriginal peoples.
Low level: IMP
