Netball NSW recently announced the launch of an interactive Cultural Competency and Reflections E-Learning course entitled C.A.R.E.
The course aims to empower and support the netball community to unite and take action to create positive change for First Nations participants in the game. It will give the NSW netball community a vital toolkit to help create culturally safe and inclusive environments for First Nations peoples who love our game.
C.A.R.E is now free for all netball participants, Clubs and Associations across the State. Importantly, it’s the first course of its kind to be launched by an Australian sporting organisation, and has been designed in close consultation with Netball NSW’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group.
It encourages participants to challenge coaching, officiating, selection and leadership policies and practices within their sphere of influence, given these policies and practices can often exclude or discriminate against Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples. The C.A.R.E package then encourages participants to reflect and advocate for positive alternatives.
Work started on the project in 2018 and Netball NSW General Manager of Performance & Pathways Mardi Aplin said C.A.R.E was the fulfilment of a huge body of work by many stakeholders within the game.
“Education is one of the most important tools to help us build a better future for all, and netball can only fully reach its potential when we provide a safe environment for everyone,” she said.
“The C.A.R.E course is a fantastic achievement, and we are exceptionally proud to be launching a product that provides our netball community with a brilliant resource to ensure ignorance is no longer an excuse when it comes to cultural awareness.
“The course asks our netball community to put themselves, or their child, in the shoes of the speakers, and to explore their reactions and feelings.
“It is important to acknowledge that to grow, to listen and to learn as a sport, we must be comfortable with being uncomfortable when taking the course. By taking part, our participants are helping to build towards a much better, shared netball experience for everyone.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our RAP Working Group for their wisdom, energy, passion and patience while collaborating with us on this vital education course.”
Alison Tucker-Munro of the NNSW RAP Working Group said the launch of the C.A.R.E course was a very welcome development.
“As Mardi said, education is vital when it comes to Reconciliation, and this online resource is just one step in a bigger journey that our sport must take if we want to work and walk together towards ensuring our sport is genuinely inclusive to all,” she said.
“The course really does highlight the critical role we all play in providing culturally safe spaces for Aboriginal people across NSW. We must strive to be a sport of choice for all Australians, and specifically our First Australians.
“It has taken a very long time to bring this to fruition, but these projects require a lot of time and proper consultation to ensure they can deliver what they are set up to do.
“The Information modules are designed to build knowledge and confidence to enable Associations and Clubs to create culturally safe and inclusive spaces for Aboriginal players, coaches, umpires, selectors and administrators.
“Together, with the help of the netball community we will find a way to stand against racism, because we, and our sport, will all be the better for it.”
To learn more about C.A.R.E, and to take the course, please click here
