Sport Health Volume 38 Issue 3 - Diversity and Inclusion in Sport

Sport

health VOLUME 38 ISSUE 3 2021

Diversity and Inclusion in Sport

FEATURING

• The Gender Equality Debate • LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Sport • Diversity in Cricket • Physical Activity in Children With Disabilities

Contents 08

REGULARS

Inclusion in Sport, are you ready?

02

Inclusion consultant Lauren Foote talks about the important steps organisations need to embrace inclusion in sport.

From the Chair SMA Chair Professor Gregory Kolt reflects on the first half of 2021 and SMA’s many achievements this year.

03 From the CEO Jamie Crain looks back on his first few months as CEO and what is to come for SMA over the next 12 months.

18 Changing the Game of Diversity in Cricket – interview with Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion Manger Hussain Hanif

12

SMA speaks to Hussain Hanif about the ins and outs of diversity and inclusion in New Zealand sport.

The Gender Equality Debate: A Boost for Women in Sport Athlete Assessments Rebekah Box talks all things gender pay gap and sporting opportunities for female athletes.

FEATURES

04

22

Unconscious Bias and Equity Dr Katie Marino discusses Diversity and Inclusivity improving understanding and the importance of leadership.

Opinions expressed throughout the magazine are the contributors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of Sports Medicine Australia (SMA). Members and readers are advised that SMA cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of statements made in advertisements nor the quality of goods or services advertised. All materials copyright.

On acceptance of an article for publication, copyright passes to the publisher.

b

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

Publisher Sports Medicine Australia Sports House, 375 Albert Rd Albert Park VIC 3206 sma.org.au ISSN No. 1032-5662 PP No. 226480/00028

Transgender Inclusion in Sport Professor George B. Cunningham, Associate Professor E. Nicole Melton and Risa F. Isard discuss the benefits of inclusion, particularly for transgender athletes.

Copy Editor Kristen Butterworth Manager – Marketing and Communications Cohen McElroy Design/Typesetting Perry Watson Design Cover Photography Gettyimages/wavebreakmedia Content Photography Author supplied; www.gettyimages.com.au

Volume 38 • Issue 3 • 2021

28 Physical Movement in Children with Disability CEO of Disability Sport Australia Murray Elbourne speaks about the lack of physical activity in children with disability and what needs to change.

42 Sports Medicine Around the World: Tunisia

34 The Inclusion of Trans and Gender Diverse People in Sport Pride in Sports Beau Newell brings light to the impact inclusion has on trans and gender diverse athletes as well as providing key terms and definitions around gender identity.

30 LGBT+ Inclusion in Australian Sport: What’s the Score?

44 People who shaped SMA Dr Ian Gillam tells the story of his career, his numerous achievements and many roles with SMA.

38 Community News

Co-Founder of Proud2Play Ryan Storr highlights the importance of LGBT+ inclusion in sport and what we can do to achieve it.

48 Sports Trainer Spotlight – Gudrun Porreca Gudrun Porreca tells us the ins and outs of being an SMA Sports Trainer and how to get there.

INTERVIEWS

40 5 Minutes With – Chelsea Mulcahy SMA Northern Territory State Council Member Chelsea Mulcahy shares insight into her career and journey with SMA.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

1

FROM THE CHAIR

FROM THE CHAIR

A commitment to safe participation AS ANOTHER MONTH OF 2021 DRAWS TO A CLOSE, SMA LOOKS BACK ON A BUSY QUARTER AND REFLECTS ON THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR ORGANISATION.

F

ollowing the momentum of the new year, we welcomed our new CEO, Jamie Crain, who commenced at the start of March. Jamie has brought a high level of business acumen within memberbased organisations and has already focused his attention on how SMA operates internally and externally, and how we can grow the value we provide our members and communities. The Board and I are looking forward to working with Jamie further on strategic planning for SMA going forward.

In January we saw a successful launch our new member-only online community – SMA Connect. SMA Connect is the new home for all your membership benefits. A key feature of SMA Connect is the online forum which has already seen over a hundred discussions on a range of sports medicine topics including highly-specific clinical management discussions and well as those relating to community level participation and our important Sports Trainers.

Thanks to all of you who have logged in and utilised this new platform, and I look forward to seeing even

2

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

This edition of Sport Health focuses on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport.

Creating inclusive and safe environments for participation in sport and physical activity is a commitment that we must all make.

more SMA members engaging with the resources available to them.

In other SMA news, plans for the 2021 Annual Conference are underway with registrations opening soon.

The conference will deliver a fourday program from October 6-9 at the picturesque Pullman Hotel in Melbourne with industry leading multi-disciplinary sports medicine presentations, research, workshops and exhibitors. I hope to see you there.

As you read this edition, I encourage you to reflect on your own communities, teams, clubs, or organisations. How do you implement an appropriate environment to encourage greater diversity and inclusion?

What can you do to be better?

Creating inclusive and safe environments for participation in sport and physical activity is a commitment that we must all make.

We must have the courage and responsibility to call out and improve the things we see that do not align with safe and inclusive participation.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our contributors to Sport Health for taking the time to inform and educate our members and other readers on the many issues that contribute to safe participation in sport and physical activity.

Professor Gregory Kolt Chair

FROM THE CEO

FROM THE CEO

Different together AFTER JUST A FEW WEEKS INTO MY NEW ROLE AT SMA, I CAN ALREADY SEE WHAT AN EXCITING YEAR 2021 IS SHAPING UP TO BE, AND WITH THE ROLLOUT OF THE COVID VACCINES FINALLY, WE CAN HAVE HOPE THAT WE ARE NEARING THE END OF THE PANDEMIC PERIOD, WHICH HAS CAUSED GENUINE HARDSHIP FOR SO MANY.

A

s we noted in our previous edition, we are pleased to confirm that we will be resuming our annual SMA Conference which will take place from October 6-9. Our Eminent Speaker Series is now in full swing, and with the addition of live streaming, we can now give members access to some of the best subject matter experts across a range of sports medicine fields and disciplines from the convenience of their own home.

This year will also see some exciting changes to our Safer Sports Program.

We recently ran a member survey to gauge our members’ views across a range of important matters.

It was very exciting to see that a significant proportion of our members participated in the survey and gave us some very rich feedback and insights about what they would like from SMA and their membership into the future. We look forward to sharing more information about the results of the survey in the coming weeks, and in the year ahead, bring to life some of the great ideas that members have shared with us.

Ensuring that people feel safe and able to contribute in a constructive manner is critical for engaging people to their maximum potential.

This month’s topic is diversity and inclusion in sport. Having spent recent years consulting with many leadership teams, I’ve come to learn the importance of promoting diversity within teams and leadership more broadly. Whilst the concept isn’t new, there is an increasing amount of evidence that supports the notion that diversity within leadership and teams helps organisations perform

at their best, no matter what the industry. Having a diverse range of skills, backgrounds and lived experiences will promote new ways to overcome challenges, break paradigms and stretch people thinking beyond what they have previously considered “the norm”.

Creating an inclusive culture and environment within your organisation is no less important. Ensuring that people feel safe and able to contribute in a constructive manner is critical for engaging people to their maximum potential. This addition of Sport Health will help shine a light on these important topics and why they will help your organisation flourish.

We hope you enjoy this addition of Sport Health, and I look forward to meeting many of you in person or online in the coming months ahead.

Regards, Jamie Crain CEO

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

3

FEATURE: UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Unconscious Bias and Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Improving understanding and the importance of leadership AS A SOCIETY WE ARE INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF INJUSTICE AND INEQUITY. THIS IS PERHAPS IN PART DUE TO THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA REMINDING US OF THE INJUSTICES OF THE WORLD IN A MORE FREELY AVAILABLE AND OBVIOUS WAY THAN EVER BEFORE.

I

n 2020, various issues were brought into the limelight, with high-profile racial justice events and the Black Lives Matter protests. In addition, COVID-19 had and continues to have a greater effect on people belonging to black and minority ethnicities. These matters were widely covered by the mainstream media and sparked more awareness around the world, including within science and health care communities.

As with the rest of society, inequity, injustice, and bias is present within the sport and exercise medicine (SEM) community. This article aims to give an overview of unconscious bias, EDI (equity, diversity and inclusivity) and highlight the importance of inclusive leadership.

4

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

Unconscious Bias There is no doubt that conscious bias continues to be present and play a detrimental role in society.

However, as awareness of unconscious bias has increased, so too have the links between unconscious bias and the ongoing discriminations and prejudices present in society.

Unconscious bias is harder to see and understand. Therefore, it often goes unnoticed and, too often, unaddressed. Unconscious bias, often referred to as implicit bias, refers to unconscious pathways that have formed in our brains between certain cues, how we perceive them, and ultimately how we respond to them.

Unfortunately, unconscious bias affects us all, including myself. For example,

if reading an article about an airline pilot or company CEO, it is common to automatically picture a middleaged white male in these senior roles. I am also uncomfortably guilty of this and question why I have this expectation. The logical reasoning is that the majority of pilots and CEOs we encounter (both in real life and portrayed in the media) have been middle-aged white men. The danger of such unconscious associations is that they may result in us feeling unsettled or surprised when we see other people in these roles, resulting in more challenges and barriers for them.

The more aware we are of our own unconscious biases, the more we can acknowledge them when they occur and minimise the impact of them.

FEATURE: UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Recently I co-authored an editorial for the British Journal of Sport Medicine entitled: ‘Embrace your discomfort: leadership and unconscious bias in sport and exercise medicine’.

In it we explain unconscious bias and highlight eight steps that individuals can take to acknowledge unconscious bias in themselves and take steps to combat their own bias.

Figure one shows the infographic that accompanies the editorial.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) As the issues of certain groups being afforded less privileges than others for characteristics and circumstances that are beyond their control have been highlighted, there has been an increase in initiatives aimed at improving the

Figure 1. Infographic highlighting eight ways individuals can address their unconscious bias.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

5

FEATURE: UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Unconscious bias and Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Improving understanding and the importance of leadership

Figure 2. Highlighting the core difference between equity and equality.

situation. One example is the increase in equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) policies within organisations and workplaces. The overarching aim of EDI is to transform society into a more just and equitable place. The concepts of EDI can feel a bit confusing, to aid with understanding the definitions of the most relevant terms are as follows: ٚ Diversity refers to acknowledging all the ways people differ: race, sex, gender, age, disability, religious beliefs and socioeconomic status to name a few. ٚ Inclusivity is ensuring diversity in practice. Welcoming, supporting and respecting all individuals and groups. ٚ Equity refers to distributing resources based on needs, differing from equality in which individuals are offered the same opportunities regardless of

6

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

circumstance. The core difference between equity and equality is summarised nicely in Figure 2.

The term ‘belonging’ is often included in these conversations as well, meaning that everyone, no matter their differences, feels welcomed, included, and respected. Belonging highlights, the need to ensure no one feels as if their inclusion is questioned.

All the above terms mean different things, but closely overlap and rely on the others. Equity and belonging are the aims of diversity and inclusivity.

The fundamental reason why EDI policies are important is that they aim to ensure we are striving towards a more just and equitable society. The idea behind intersectionality within EDI is that no one is equal until everybody is, regardless of gender, race, disability and so on. In addition, it has been shown that diverse teams, workplaces

The overarching aim of EDI is to transform society into a more just and equitable place.

FEATURE: UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

and organisations are more innovative, creative and productive. This may be due to the creation of a positive environment in which people listen to each other’s perspectives, respect each other’s differences and actively work together to achieve goals, thus creating a culture where everyone can thrive.

Reasons why EDI policies and initiatives are particularly important in academic, health care and SEM communities include, but are not limited to: ٚ Ensuring that inclusive language is used to communicate science.

Language matters – it shapes the way we think and behave. ٚ Improving the lack of representation from under-represented groups within academia and SEM. Admissions processes and job recruitment must be equitable and promote inclusive ideals. Particularly important for leadership positions.

Importance of leadership Creating safe spaces for conversations about diversity and inclusivity in science, health care and SEM is a vital step, with the ultimate goal of improving the culture. It is a key responsibility of those in leadership roles to take on this challenge. It is essential the burden of striving for change does not fall on underrepresented and minority groups. It will likely take less time to achieve a more just society if individuals from more privileged groups take an active, visible, and positive role in developing equitable change, particularly as allies and advocates in their leadership roles.

Individuals from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to have the burden of needing to work harder to justify their presence in the workplace while potentially combating discrimination, bias and microaggressions. Inclusive leadership will recognise this and remove the

‘minority tax’. It is important that leaders have core competencies in EDI issues and demonstrate cultural and emotional intelligence. Self-awareness of unconscious bias is an important aspect of this and something we can all strive to improve upon.

Final Thoughts Issues surrounding bias and EDI are continually developing and improving.

I regularly come across more progressive and considerate terms and concepts to learn and grow from.

I encourage all to continue to speak out against prejudice, discrimination and bias, and join with the next steps of being actively anti-racist, anti-sexist etc. This is certainly not a simple topic and there are no easy answers as to how we address inequality and injustice. But doing nothing is no longer an option. Hopefully this article will spark reflection and encourage further conversations.

ٚ Equitable allocation of funding for research projects. ٚ Ensuring research findings are relevant for the populations we serve. Currently the majority of research is based upon findings from white, male research populations. ٚ Continuing to tackle issues with inflexible and unsupportive academic culture. This includes the ongoing issues with genderstereotyped expectations of family and home care.

Many of the overarching issues of inequity within science and medicine were highlighted in the #metooSTEM movement on Twitter, which gave a platform for stories to be shared and change to be encouraged.

Biography Dr Katie Marino Katie is a junior doctor in England, UK. She has done a Masters in Sport and Exercise Medicine and was elected to ‘Head of Membership Services’ for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) in 2020. She is also an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM).

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

7

FEATURE: INCLUSION IN SPORT

Inclusion in Sport –

are you ready?

THE MINUTE I WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR I KNEW THAT I BELONGED. THIS WAS THE FEELING I HAD INSTANTLY WHEN I WENT TO MY FIRST ROLLER DERBY TRAINING SESSION.

I

t was 2012, not long after I had watched the film Whip It and had a heated discussion about if this sport actually existed. It seemed way too cool to be true, and I had a hint of something I hadn’t experienced in sport before. Something that was hard to put my finger on at the time. This feeling of wanting more and the tiny exhale that left my lungs was the first essence of inclusion for me. Measuring inclusion can be hard. For me, it’s knowing that I can be myself, express myself fully, and speak honestly. It’s seeing people that look like me. It’s hearing language that works, and knowing there is a place where I can belong. After playing sport my whole life, suddenly I had an ah-ha moment, and I knew this was the place for me.

I was always a sporty kid, playing netball like many Aussie girls, and every sport that I could get my hands on in school. My brother was of course enrolled in AFL as was the standard for our respective genders at the time.

There were no girls football teams, and we didn’t really question it. I enjoyed playing marks up at the park, or at

8

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

school with the boys. But my gender placed a barrier on feeling included in this space. It wasn’t comfortable to play with just boys. I was confused why other girls didn’t want to play sport. This trend continued through high school where participation rates in girls dramatically declined, due to a range of inequities, social stigma, lack of opportunities, lack of role models and cost. Thankfully, these barriers are shifting, but to ensure we are offering opportunities to marginalised groups, we must understand the systemic ways they have been negatively impacted.

Understanding this difference in opportunity is the first step to being a clinician, coach or a trainer who gets it.

During high school, I started to see the differences in opportunities offered to girls and boys. When I enrolled in soccer, it became glaringly clear.

The boys got the new uniforms, the coach, the training times, and those little drink bottles you place on your chin and just squeeze. I remember really wanting to use one of those. I remember my team making divisionals and not having a teacher to take us.

Door after door I knocked until a science teacher said yes. Off we went, in a minivan, a bunch of misfit girls to divisionals. With the old uniforms, numbers peeling off the back, and our own drink bottles. Would a player my age in the boys team have known my desire for this? Was it his fault? No. But it still happened, and acknowledging the privilege even for something as small as a drink bottle matters.

When we think about LGBTIQ inclusion we think about a pride cup, or flags, or the rainbow families who already occupy the club. I want us to start thinking about the drink bottle. What opportunities or privileges does the default community already have that they wouldn’t even notice is an advantage? Is it the best training times? Access to the change rooms?

Do we ask kids to get their mum and dad to sign things rather than their parents? Are most participants Caucasian? Do we look at a group of people on a women’s side and say ‘alright ladies!’ rather than ‘everyone, folks, or players.’ Do we use the disabled toilet for storage and not

FEATURE: INCLUSION IN SPORT

actually for people who need it? Do we provide uniform options that might suit a range of different body types? (seriously white shorts it’s time to go).

Do I log onto your website, or look at your logo and see people that look like me? Do we have posters, and trophies, and hall of fame walls with women, or people of colour, or an out gay person on them? These might seem like little things, but just like a tiny exhale they can be pretty huge. Want to be more inclusive? This is where it begins.

My first derby session was at Skaterz Eltham where I had signed up for a ‘fresh meat’ program. The name hardly

fits the inclusive approach to beginner exercise guidelines now, but at the time there was an air of rockstar status that drew me in. I didn’t just want to play this sport, I wanted meet my heroes. I wanted to be around them.

They were magic. I wanted whatever was all over them to maybe rub off on me, so perhaps I could be 1% magic too. I wasn’t sure if it was confidence, athleticism, or just a sense of strong, powerful women who were doing this badass thing for nobody but themselves.

I remember how nervous I was finding the right hire skates, and how cocky I quickly became remembering my skills from snow skiing. Soon, I had one foot over the other and was completing what’s called a crossover to turn corners. Suddenly, there were a few whistles and the group all seemed to stop and come together. I hadn’t thought this far ahead and kind of slowed myself down with a wall and began to wiggle over towards the group like an injured lamb. Next minute I fell loudly and, in a horror, the entire group

looked over. I stood up, and fell again instantly this time getting a good view of the orange wheel that had fallen off my skate roll into the coach ‘Splatterpus.’ Embarrassed beyond belief I continued to somehow crawl and toward the group and find my wheel before the session had begun.

Why do I tell this story? Well, we all start somewhere, and also don’t trust hire skates. However, beyond the embarrassment and even in spite of it, as a closeted gay person I knew this was the community for me. A tiny voice said, yes, and I listened.

The more I attended derby training sessions the more I felt comfortable with the prospect of coming out. The more visibility I had of other LGBTIQ people – not just existing but thriving.

I learned about pronouns and quickly got used to sharing mine at the beginning of each training session, on my signature at work, and a sticker on my helmet. I trained with many trans and non-binary teammates. I attended pride cup rounds, and big games all over the world. Any venue we went to, the toilets had a big sign

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

9

FEATURE: INCLUSION IN SPORT

Inclusion in Sport – are you ready?

reading “All Gender bathrooms.” It suddenly became so simple, all we needed was to ensure people felt welcome, wanted, and had what everyone else had. Unfortunately, my experience in sport as a gay woman is different to others. Many people from the LGBTIQ community still face the fear of homophobia or transphobia in sport. Many people have had a negative experience in the sporting arena. Inclusion in this space is about making a commitment to inclusion.

Recently, I had the pleasure to attend the Stand Out Cup event with Hockey Victoria. It’s eighth year running this event has grown to be a family friendly day with two divisions of teams all competing for inclusion. With these sorts of events, we can take a step forward and place inclusion on the priority list for 2021. If you’re wanting some practical tips for becoming a more LGBTIQ inclusive space, here are five pillars to help get us started.

1. Visibility What sort of visibility do people see when they visit our club or organisation? Are there pictures of the same type of person, or do we have diversity in the images we use online? Do we have a rainbow flag, sticker, or celebrate days of significance such as International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2021 (IDAHOBIT), Wear It Purple Day and Transgender Day of Visibility? I recommend doing a quick online self-audit for review.

2. Policy What sort of policies do we have to support gender non-conforming people either in our sport, or on our registration forms? Is there an option for a gender beyond male and female? Do we have a trans and gender diverse policy at our club?

Having these readily available on your website can help guide people 10

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

from the LGBTIQ community if they wish to work with you. Do we know what we would do if we witnessed homophobia in our club? Having an action plan, and knowing your position is key. All too often we are asked to help clubs after an event of homophobia or transphobia. It’s your choice, you can have a plan now, or scramble for one later.

3. Education Does our organisation know about the rainbow community or need education? Proud to Play runs workshops to help clubs gain a better understanding of the prevalence and needs of the LGBTIQ community.

4. Language What sort of language do we use with our clients? I can’t tell you how many times a physio has assumed I have a husband. Ask people if they have a partner, parents, and what pronouns they use. When we have a new person at derby, we share our pronouns with them. You can also place them on your signature to show allyship to the LGBTIQ community.

For example, “Hi I’m Lauren, I use she/ they pronouns. Nice to meet you.”

5. Action Do we have an action plan for change? Are we working towards a Pride round? If you are – great!

First let’s make sure we start the

FEATURE: INCLUSION IN SPORT

culture change towards inclusion before we host an event that needs to be safe and welcoming for the LGBTIQ community.

Often people talk a lot about their club being ‘a place for everyone.’

However, when I hear this sentence it’s often layered with defensiveness, and confusion about why a marginalised group would need anything different to anyone else. When I hear this sentence as an inclusion officer, I get curious.

Has this club or practitioner done the work? Have they dismantled their own privilege to carve some space for others? Inclusion is personal work. The nature of helping, whether it be in allied health circles or in sport, comes from a position of power. Often people have unexamined power, and when asked to carve space for others they simply get angry, or defensive or scared they might lose something. So, when I hear that everyone is welcome, I personally approach with caution. Not because I don’t want this idealistic world to exist, but to ignore the power structures that clearly benefit some and not others represents danger to me.

What I’m trying to highlight is a simple concept I learned from a This Girl Can workshop. This Girl Can is a great campaign designed to increase physical activity levels amongst women. It gained a lot of media attention for its digital campaign featuring a range of diverse women in different shapes and sizes exercising and loving it. This ground breaking campaign gave women something we’d been craving for decades – visibility of people that look like us, joyfully moving. It gave us permission to love our cellulite, our wrinkles, our insulin pump and get out there and move for the fun of it. For years we have been told that exercise is to uphold an order of things. You exercise to lose

weight, to be correct, and to fit into the one body type and shape that a woman needs to be. That shape is predominantly white, able bodied, thin and smiling. Sport is already a place that rejects this stereotype of what it means to be the ‘correct’ version of you. There is no way to be the correct you other than authenticity. In sport, to give someone permission to be their authentic self, sometimes we need to earn their trust. In terms of LGBTIQ people, there is still a very high fear of rejection and discrimination.

Imagine being scared to attend an event, even as a spectator. So, when we are recruiting for this demographic – targeted programs work. Want to see who is getting it right? Check it out: ٚ The Climbing QTs program, a rock climbing meet up for the rainbow community

ٚ Bushrangers Basketball- a LGBTIQ friendly basketball open gendered group ٚ The Victorian Roller Derby League – where you can be a gender expansive person and play all the way from grassroots to the elite level orr sign up to our Rainbow rolling program targeted at the LGBTIQ community. ٚ The Melbourne Front Runners – a LGBTIQ running group Whether you are an allied health professional or a sports trainer, do you think about inclusion in your practice? Do you have a quick checklist for the language you use, or the way you advertise, or what images people see? Do you already have the cool drink bottle? Want to share?

Maybe now is the time to start.

ٚ The Clams – a body positive inclusive water ballet group,

About the Author Lauren Foote is an inclusion consultant, exercise physiologist, roller derby player and ambassador for the Change our Game program. Lauren uses she/they pronouns and has recently joined the team at Proud to Play to drive forward LGBTIQ inclusion in sport. Lauren has a wealth of experience engaging marginalised groups in physical activity in both clinical and community settings and has a strong interest in leveling the playing field for women in sport. Lauren is a world champion roller derby player for the Victorian Roller Derby league and enjoys speaking about her experience in sport, and driving change for the future. lauren@proud2play.org.au

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

11

FEATURE: THE GENDER EQUALIT Y DEBATE

The Gender Equality Debate A Boost for Women in Sport 12

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

FEATURE: THE GENDER EQUALIT Y DEBATE

E

ducation and information surrounding gender equality and equal rights has been on the rise, more accessible, and discussed by the broader community for some time now. As a young woman myself, I can’t remember a time from my adolescence where equality wasn’t an important topic of discussion being had around me.

Moving into my adult years, I have had the opportunity to critically analyse and reflect on my time growing up, both in and out of the realms of sport, and upon reflection have been able to see times where inequality was prevalent, both in my own and other’s experiences.

IF YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH US AT ATHLETE ASSESSMENTS, YOU MIGHT KNOW WE’RE BIG BELIEVERS IN GENDER EQUALITY AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL PAY, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND EQUAL RECOGNITION, NOT ONLY FOR FEMALE ATHLETES, BUT FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN GENERAL.

Most kids are encouraged to try most sports at least once.

Sport provides a unique environment for kids to play, learn, get involved, and make friends that they otherwise would not have. But currently, despite the encouragement to get involved in sport, should a little girl choose to take her sport further one day and potentially pursue it as a career, the opportunities available are lacking when compared to those of her male counterparts in all but a few sports.

The debate around gender equality in sports remains a controversial topic, unfortunately. Even the founder of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, said in 1896, “No matter how toughened a sportswoman may be, her organism is not cut out to sustain certain shocks.”

Now we’ll be the first to say that the sporting industry is making steps towards an equal future. However, there is still a way to go. Sport has long mirrored society, so the discrepancy in equal pay between men and women has persisted within sport, just as it has in other professions.

2019 was a defining year in soccer for the conversation as the public showed their support for gender equality and in return we were provided with an insight from female athletes into the jobs and lives they must lead outside of their professional sporting career. The debate that had been simmering under the surface and was often confined as a topic of family barbeques or gatherings amongst friends, was ignited and reinvigorated globally in 2019 after the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) won the World Cup and the crowd chanted “Equal Pay!”.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

13

FEATURE: THE GENDER EQUALIT Y DEBATE

The Gender Equality Debate: A Boost for Women in Sport That same year, the Women’s Sport Foundation highlighted some of the women in sport leading the charge in the fight for equal pay. In advance of their World Cup win, the USWNT took a stand against ‘institutionalised gender discrimination’ against the team.

The women’s team has performed exceedingly better than their male counterparts, who in 2018 failed to even qualify for the men’s World Cup. While the women have placed in the top three in every women’s World Cup since 1991 when the tournament began.

Looking to hockey, the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team, prior to their historic gold medal in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, were fighting for equal pay and treatment to that of the men’s team. The New York Times reported that at that time the women were barely scraping a living wage and were left out of preOlympic marketing plans despite their continued success as a team.

Their star forward Hilary Knight said: “We’re passionately pursuing something for the greater good.”

One of the most well-known and on-going debates, even today in 2021, are the salaries of the WNBA and their NBA counterparts. It is known that most professional women basketball players, in order to make a sustainable income playing basketball, need to compete in numerous different national leagues. This creates an extreme physical demand on the athletes by not having an off-season as they are playing in Europe, Russia, China, and Australia to make ends meet. However, it is important to note that the WNBA players are not asking for the multimillion-dollar figure incomes that their NBA counterparts receive, they are asking for percentage equity (more on this later).

Close to home, I remember having the conversation with one of my childhood friends who has gone on to 14

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

The 2017 Intergenerational Review of Australian Sport highlighted that in Australia only 8% of sponsorship is directed towards women’s sport and 7% of broadcast coverage.

play in the AFLW. We were discussing her training and game schedule, in and out of season, and I was shocked to learn that despite her and her teammates being required to train and play the same amount of times a week as their male AFL counterparts, they were being paid 20% of what their average male counterpart was earning per game, however they were not being paid a salary for training at all, meaning they all needed to sustain full-time jobs outside of their fulltime training and playing schedule.

Whereas their male counterparts are being paid as full-time athletes.

In that same year, the AFLW Grand Final broke their attendance record with more than 53,000 fans rolling into the stadium to watch. It was also the biggest audience for a women’s sporting event in Australia, ever.

Gender Equality – the stats!

Women make up 40% of sportspeople, however as of 2020 they continue to only receive 4% of the total sports media coverage in print and broadcast is devoted to them. This is even despite fluctuations during key events like the Olympics or World Cup.

Since media coverage has been demonstrated to directly impact a sport’s ability to attract and maintain commercial sponsorships, a lack of coverage can have significant impact on the sustainability of female athletes, sports, and competitions.

The 2017 Intergenerational Review of Australian Sport highlighted that in Australia only 8% of sponsorship is directed towards women’s sport and 7% of broadcast coverage.

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, male athletes get $179 million more in athletic scholarships each year than females do. Additionally, collegiate institutions spend just 24% of their athletic operating budgets on female sports, as well as just 16%

FEATURE: THE GENDER EQUALIT Y DEBATE

Some people have the argument that “women’s sport isn’t interesting enough”. Even though over the years the popularity of women’s sports is growing, unfortunately the media coverage and sponsorship dollars haven’t necessarily followed through and gender equality remains an issue.

In 2015, the Women’s World Cup soccer final was the most watched soccer match—men’s or women’s— EVER in the US with nearly 25.4 million viewers. Yet the players were far less compensated than their male counterparts. Then, if we look again at the 2019 final, the women achieve a 22% higher viewership than the 2018 Men’s World Cup final.

So, what’s next?

Firstly, it’s important to ensure you and those around you are educated on what equal pay actually means.

Equal pay means equal pay for the same amount of work under the same boss. The fight is asking for female and male athletes within the same level of teams, who have the same basic workload, responsibilities and number of matches, be paid the same basic wage by their sport’s governing body. of recruiting budgets and 33% of scholarship budgets on female athletes.

The Women’s Sports Foundation also reported that the NBA pays its players 49-51% of the league’s revenue, while WNBA players take home a maximum of 22.8%. The equity in these sports come from percentage matching not dollar, as without the players the WNBA wouldn’t be able to generate the revenue it does.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the median full-time annual income for men that are classified as a sportsperson (includes athletes from all levels that earn money from their sport) is AU$67,652 (US$52,515).

Women in this category earn

AU$42,900 (US$33,301). That means on average female athletes are earning 63% of their male counterparts.

However, when we look at top-tier athletes, the pay gap is much larger. For example, in the soccer World Cup, if the Australian National Team, the Matildas, had won the entire competition, they would have received $4 million in prize money. That figure is just half of what the Socceroos earned for simply qualifying to play in the World Cup. However, it is also important to note that in 2019 under a new equal pay arrangement, the Matildas and Soceroos now receive an equal 24% share of an agreed cumulative of revenues generated by the National Team in 2019-20, rising by 1% each year.

What it boils down to is that we all collectively, men and women, need to do more about gender equality.

We need to pave the way for the next generation of girls and women, just as we do for boys and men. There should be no disparity in sports, in the workplace, or in life. All athletes should be seen as, and treated as, equals in all respects. Gender should not be the thing that defines us or separates us from our fellow athletes.

Let’s show the young girls everywhere that they can be whatever they want to be, and that they deserve to be paid equally for it too!

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

15

FEATURE: THE GENDER EQUALIT Y DEBATE

The Gender Equality Debate: A Boost for Women in Sport

OTHER FAST FACTS: ٚ According to a BBC sport survey, up to 83% of sports now offer the same amount of prize money for men and women. But in the 17% that don’t, the difference runs into the millions. ٚ Annually, boys get 1.13 million more sporting opportunities than girls.

About the Author Rebekah Box is the Marketing and Design

ٚ 4% of the total commercial investment in sport goes into women’s sport, despite a 2018 Nielsen report revealing that 84% of general sports fans have an interest in women’s sports.

Manager for Australian Sport Consultancy company, Athlete Assessments, and is a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Bachelor of

ٚ Only half of the governing bodies in sport currently meet the government target to have women making up one quarter of the people sitting around the boardroom table.

Journalism Alumni. Moving into this role, Rebekah found a way to blend her writing and design skills gained through a range of experience, balancing her role working in both written and visual communication

ٚ When it comes to women’s sport, tennis is by far the most lucrative sport for female athletes.

fields on a daily basis. With a background rich in sport, and a passion for equal rights, inclusion, and diversity in and out of sport,

ٚ In the Forbes 2020 top 50 highest paid athletes, there is one woman, Naomi Osaka, is sitting at number #29. ٚ Coaches in women’s team sports at college level earn 63 cents for every dollar earned

by Head Coaches of men’s teams.

16

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

Rebekah is in her element at Athlete Assessments, lucky enough to combine her creative flair with her love of sport.

2021 SMA CONFERENCE

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

SUBMIT NOW DEADLINE: MAY 14

MELBOURNE, OCTOBER 6-9 #SMAConf21

FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH HUSSAIN HANIF

Changing the Game of Diversity in Cricket Interview with Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion Manager Hussain Hanif

A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE CULTURE ENSURES OUR PEOPLE FEEL VALUED, RESPECTED AND HAVE ACCESS TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, SUPPORTING FULL PARTICIPATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. AUSTRALIA PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND HAS A COME A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WITH PLENTY MORE WORK TO ACHIEVE. THE TEAM AT SPORTS MEDICINE AUSTRALIA HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING WITH HUSS HANIF, ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MANAGER OF CANTERBURY CRICKET AND MAINLAND FOOTBALL TO DISCUSS THE INTRICACIES THAT COME WITH WORKING TOWARDS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE JUST GETTING STARTED, AND THE NEXT STEPS FOR IMPROVING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MOVING FORWARD.

18

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH HUSSAIN HANIF

Are you able to tell us about what diversity and inclusion in New Zealand looks like compared to Australia? Do you notice similar challenges or patterns for certain groups of people?

A large majority of New Zealand sporting organisations are at the beginning of their diversity and inclusion in sports journey. With limited resources and funding, and clubs and associations relying heavily on volunteers to survive. Australia is ahead of New Zealand in the diversity and inclusion cricket space. A major factor is Australia ‘s larger population with 26 million people compared to five million in New Zealand with a lot more funding to support diversity and inclusion as a priority. The challenge is getting sporting organisations in New Zealand to make diversity and inclusion s a priority if they want to make their game a sport for all.

What is something that is done in Australia for diversity and inclusion in sport which you think could be implemented in New Zealand or vice versa?

Disability cricket (blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing and intellectual disability) is growing around the world and I feel that it can be implemented in New Zealand. There is a blind/low vision national team called the Blind Caps, so we have an opportunity to work directly with disability sporting providers in New Zealand. By working with clubs and associations to educate and plant seeds in the community cricket space, Our long term goals are to have some New Zealand disability cricket sides.

You have spoken about the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack – can you tell us about how your community has been using cricket as a way to heal from this?

Christchurch people were both devastated and shocked by the events of March 15, 2019. A nation that prides itself on its blessings and friendliness was left questioning how a terror attack with blatant prejudice at its root played out. Sporting communities felt the effects of the terror attack

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

19

FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH HUSSAIN HANIF

Changing the Game of Diversity in Cricket

Interview with Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion Manager Hussain Hanif with friends, family members and staff from many codes tragically killed, injured or left facing long-term, overwhelming emotional pain.

In mid-2019, Canterbury Cricket and Mainland Football (the partners) formed a partnership. They wanted to do something meaningful to support the Muslim community in its recovery following this horrific event, and to support and encourage inclusion in sport and physical activity environments. Sport and physical activity breaks down barriers, creates commonality and brings people together. People connecting over a positive and healthy social structure such as sport can re-establish community networks, establish new ones and perhaps most importantly, find avenues for support and friendship after the traumatic events of March 15. My role as the Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion Manager was created with the above partners an opportunity to harness both the nation’s introspection and energy for change post-March 15 to use sport and physical activity as a vehicle to increase inclusion and appreciation of diversity.

How do you think diversity and inclusion in Australia and New Zealand has improved – what do you think is still needed going forward?

I think recently we have seen a growth in women and girls participation and investment over the last few years which tells you when you invest in something you have a greater chance for it to grow. I feel national sporting organisations have a major responsibility towards building a system which ensures no one is missing out by addressing inequities to ensure everybody has the access and opportunity to participate. Promoting and championing the importance of diversity and inclusion, including women and girls, disabled people and all ethnicities should be a core strategic priority with adequate funding to support the equality.

Over time, New Zealand has seen consistent and steady improvement in the maturity of the disciplines

When you invest in something you have a greater chance for it to grow.

20

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH HUSSAIN HANIF

and practice related to the development of inclusive communities and cultures. More recently they have seen an ever-escalating global intolerance of inequities and systemic barriers to equality within their society.

Like Australia, New Zealand has a population that shows growing diversity, the 2018 census revealed that the majority of New Zealand’s population is of European descent (70 percent), with the indigenous Māori being the largest minority (16.5 percent), followed by Asians (15.3 percent), and non-Māori Pacific Islanders (9.0 percent). Not only that, but 1.1 million New Zealand Citizens identify as disabled, 24 percent of the country’s population. According to Sport New Zealand, young females perceive more barriers to being active than young males and 71 percent of young females (10–17 years) want to be more physically active.

In order to foster an inclusive and diverse society for all groups of people, it is essential that governments, organisations and communities create space for all individuals and groups from all walks of life where they can have a sense of belonging, participation, inclusion, recognition and legitimacy the same as their peers.

Biography Hussain Hanif is currently the Canterbury Cricket/ Mainland Football Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion Manager. Hussain has held previous roles as Community Engagement Specialist at Cricket Victoria/Melbourne Renegades as well as Senior Assistant Coach for Cricket Australia’s National team where he worked with players with intellectual disabilities.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

21

FEATURE: TRANSGENDER INCLUSION IN SPORT

Transgender Inclusion in Sport

George B. Cunningham1, Risa F. Isard, and E. Nicole Melton 1

The views expressed in this article are that of the authors and

do not reflect the official policy or position of their universities

22

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

FEATURE: TRANSGENDER INCLUSION IN SPORT

I

n the span of several months, two events captured the dichotomy of transgender participation in sport.

The first occurred in September 2020, when eight Australian sport federations issued guidelines to promote inclusion and participation of transgender athletes. Teddy Cook, an advocate for transgender rights, commented: “The commitment from these sports provides much needed guidance to the many clubs working hard to be the open and inclusive sport they want to be for all athletes, including those athletes who are trans”.

The second occurred months later, in March 2021, Amanda Stoker was promoted to Assistant Women’s Minister. The move is noteworthy because, according to her own website, Stoker holds the view that gender identity is a personal choice and that transgender women should be excluded from women’s sport.

As researchers who have spent the better part of two decades studying diversity and inclusion in sport, we suggest that these examples are reflective of similar instances around the world. For every effort to make sport more inclusive for all, there are corresponding attempts to limit transgender participation and maintain the status quo.

The debate around inclusion of transgender athletes in sport— whether on the field or in the locker room—generally coalesces around six issues: fairness, gendered notions of athleticism, safety, human rights, well-being, and economics.

Fairness Opponents of transgender inclusion in sport frequently point to fairness.

Transgender women (people with a male birth-assigned category and who identify as a woman)

supposedly have a natural advantage over cisgender women (people who have a female sex-assigned birth category and who identify as a woman), or so the argument goes.

These beliefs are largely stoked by anecdotal cases rather than reliance on data. Bethany Jones, of Nottingham Trent University (UK), and their colleagues conducted a systematic review of sport participation by transgender athletes.

They found no scientific evidence of performance advantages.

More recently, the International Federation of Sports Medicine, in a 2021 Consensus Statement, acknowledged the lack of quality empirical evidence on the topic. The Federation also endorsed current steps taken among elite governing bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee, to promote fairness and transgender inclusion.

Gendered Notions of Athleticism Relatedly, opponents of transgender inclusion in sport frequently endorse sexist notions of athletic performance.

They presuppose that athletes assigned male at birth naturally perform better than athletes assigned female at birth.

A review of the record books will certainly support this notion.

Athletes who have jumped the highest or run the fastest have been assigned male at birth.

But this data is from one extreme end of the athletic spectrum. Examination of all athletic performances shows a more even distribution. Consider, for example, the marathon results from the 2019 Sydney Running Festival.

The fastest woman completed the race in 2 hours 24 minutes. This time was slower than six men but it was faster than thousands of other competitors, many of whom were men.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

23

FEATURE: TRANSGENDER INCLUSION IN SPORT

Transgender Inclusion in Sport This data highlights several points.

First, ideas that male birth-assigned athletes are naturally superior ignores that sport is about more than biology. Success also requires learned skills, strategy, and technique.

Second, gendered stereotypes ignore the many examples of girls and women outperforming men. The aforementioned Sydney Marathon results serve as one example. International weightlifting competitions offer another.

New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard is a transgender woman, and many opposed her participation in international competitions.

However, she was bested in several events, thereby debunking notions of “natural” superiority of athletes assigned male at birth.

Finally, gendered stereotypes hurt everyone, including cis girls and women in sport. Girls and women perform worse in sport when reminded of the stereotype that girls are not as good at sports as boys. Exclusive policies are based on such stereotypes, creating the conditions to insidiously depress girls and women’s sport achievements.

Gendered stereotypes hurt everyone, including cis girls and women in sport.

Safety Others oppose transgender inclusion based on safety concerns, whether on the field or in the locker room.

On-the-field concerns frequently revolve around size and strength.

Again, these assumptions ignore the wide variety of body types among athletes, irrespective of their sex assigned at birth.

The opposition is also contrary to current practice, as cisgender athletes are not disqualified for being taller, larger, or stronger than other cisgender competitors. In fact, they are often celebrated for their attributes.

Safety concerns in the locker room are similarly ill-conceived. There is no 24

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

empirical evidence that inclusive locker rooms increase the risk of violence against cisgender women. In fact, the opposite is more likely. Data from the Williams Institute at UCLA (USA) shows that 9% of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals have been assaulted in a restroom, and 68% report at least one instance of verbal abuse in those spaces.

In short, there is no evidence to suggest cisgender athletes’ safety is at risk on the field of play or in the locker room.

There is, however, evidence to suggest transgender women’s safety is at

risk due to harassment and violence enacted by cisgender individuals.

Sport as a Human Right Sport is a human right, and thus, it is a right for transgender athletes, too.

This position is not one we advance alone, but instead, is shared by sport governing bodies around the world, including Sport Australia: Sport Australia believes that every Australian should be able to participate in sport and physical activity in a welcoming and inclusive

FEATURE: TRANSGENDER INCLUSION IN SPORT

and discrimination across society, and sport is no exception.

The impact is substantial. Transgender people who experience mistreatment are also more likely to report decreases in their physical and psychological well-being. Importantly, these health disparities are not innate but result from pervasive mistreatment.

Efforts to curb transgender rights can also increase death by suicide.

These patterns led University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) psychologist Stephanie Bulge to describe suicide among transgender individuals as a “public health crisis”.

Again, the effects are not limited to transgender athletes. Some sport organisations permit challenges to “challenge” any athlete’s gender, resulting in invasive testing. Such policies are an affront to someone’s personhood and only traumatise the competitor, whether identified as transgender or cisgender.

way – regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background, ethnicity, location or life stage.

The idea that sport is a human right means that all persons should be able to fully participate in sport and do so unencumbered. Again, Sport Australia recognises as much: Every person should be treated with respect and dignity and protected from discrimination, harassment and abuse. We recognie that people cannot enjoy themselves or perform at their best if they are treated unfairly, so

Australian sports and physical activity providers must provide environments that are free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.

Efforts to limit transgender participation in sport run afoul of these principles.

Well-being Delivering sport that is inclusive of transgender athletes also enhances well-being.

Transgender individuals face considerable prejudice, stigmatisation,

Furthermore, sport policies – whether excluding or including athletesare subject to a “policy feedback”, wherein consequences of the policies extend beyond the immediate regulation to influence attitudes and behaviors of participants, spectators, and others engaged. The policies serve as a proxy. An inclusive policy signals an environment that is open and accepting. An exclusive policy communicates hostility. These meta-messages of the policies have implications on the well-being of all athletes, and in particular trans athletes.

Of course, some might question whether well-being is an aim of sport. Again, major sport governing bodies advocate as much. The Australian Sports Commission, for example, notes that their focus “is to improve the health and well-being of Australians and build stronger communities through participation and engagement with sport.”

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

25

FEATURE: TRANSGENDER INCLUSION IN SPORT

Transgender Inclusion in Sport Economics Finally, there are financial costs associated with inclusive sport. We address this topic from two perspectives.

First, is it expensive to have inclusive locker rooms or changing facilities? The short answer is, no. Paul Stein, writing for Athletic Business, noted that adding privacy features to locker rooms is consistent with consumer demand. Both cisgender and transgender athletes prefer to change and shower in private. Sport clubs that respond to consumer preferences are likely to grow participation and their business.

Author Bios George B. Cunningham is a Professor of Health and Kinesiology and director of the Center for Sport Management Research and Education at Texas A&M University (USA). His research focus is on diversity and inclusion in sport and physical activity.

He has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters; has authored an award-

Retrofitting existing locker rooms is also possible at nominal cost. Several schools in New York (USA), for example, added privacy screens for “very minimal” costs. Brain Hunt, the school administrator, noted “It’s a universal accommodation… you don’t have to be transgender to want privacy.”

winning book (Diversity in Sport Organizations); and has co-edited an award-winning book (Routledge Handbook of Theory in Sport Management). He is a member of the National Academy of Kinesiology.

Risa F. Isard is a Research Fellow with

From a different perspective, there are substantial costs associated with exclusionary policies. Our research shows that consumers are attracted to fitness clubs they believe are inclusive of transgender individuals.

When they believe the club lacks such a focus, consumers are less enthusiastic about joining.

the Laboratory for Inclusion and Diversity in Sport in the McCormack Department of Sport Management in the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts. She specialises in advancing equity for girls and women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color, and others in and through sport.

Businesses express similar preferences-they want to be associated with inclusive entities. In the US, for example, the state of North Carolina experienced nearly four billion US dollars in losses when the legislature passed what many viewed as anti-transgender legislation.

Lawmakers reversed course the following year.

Previously, her career spanned sports policy, college and professional sports for women and men, and national nonprofit sports-related organisations. She has given invited talks at SXSW, the Surgeon General’s Innovation Summit, the University of Pennsylvania Law School Sports Symposium, and elsewhere. Her work on sport and equity has been published in popular

In short, inclusiveness pays.

press outlets such as Global Sport Matters, espnW, Ad Week, Quartz, and elsewhere.

Summary As Australian sport leaders and their global counterparts determine how they will respond to this moment, we ask them to consider the principles of fairness, athleticism, safety, human rights, well-being, and economic interests.

E. Nicole Melton is the Associate Department Chair and Associate Professor in the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts,

Our review demonstrates that inclusion is fair; stereotypes about the gendered notions of athleticism at the population level are unfounded and harmful; exclusion leads to safety risks among transgender athletes; sport is a human right; well-being outcomes are only achieved via inclusion; and such policies are economically advantageous.

Amherst. Her research examines diversity and inclusion in sport organisations, with a specific focus on LGBTQ+ inclusion. She serves as the co-director for Isenberg’s Laboratory for Inclusion and Diversity in Sport (LIDS). Most recently, Melton joined The Collective Think Tank, which is a group of academic and industry leaders focused on creating gender

The evidence is clear: the benefits of inclusion far outweigh the costs of exclusion. Sport can only serve our communities, countries, and global goals if everyone – transgender athletes included – has the opportunity to participate in a manner that affirms their humanity.

26

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

equity in sports. Melton earned her PhD, MS, and BBA from Texas A&M University, where she was a Division I NCAA student athlete and an assistant women’s golf coach.

2021 SMA CONFERENCE MELBOURNE, OCTOBER 6-9

BACK BIGGER AND BETTER REGISTRATION OPENING SOON

#SMAConf21

FEATURE: SHAPING THE SPACE

Shaping the space

for students

disabilities DISABILITY SPORTS AUSTRALIA IS A RECOGNISED PEAK BODY FOR DISABILITY SPORT BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION. OUR MISSION IS TO HAVE ALL AUSTRALIANS WITH DISABILITY BEING MORE ACTIVE, MORE OFTEN.

I

n 2021, DSA have entered into some exciting new programs that will shape the participation space for students with disabilities. Our Start up Kidz program funded through Sport Australia enables children in primary school to be supported through their initial inclusion journey with support research from the University of Sydney. This program underpins Activate Inclusion Sports Days delivered in New South Wales with the support of partners Variety – The Children’s Charity New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory

28

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

FEATURE: SHAPING THE SPACE

with

in sport and Sport New South Wales with Mable and Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) as community partners.

Author Bio Murray Elbourne has over 30 years’ experience in the disability sports sector as an athlete, coach, and sports administrator. He previously

From data gathered with participants of Activate Inclusion Sports Days, only 28% of students with disabilities fully participate in physical education and school sport.

This number is due to a lack of adaptive equipment and game play adaption knowledge. Disability Sports Australia are committed to expanding resources to schools nationally through the Activate Inclusion model, with the drive to increase participation and give children with disability an equal opportunity to stay active in their school and community environment.

held the position of Disability Inclusion Manager at Sport NSW, CEO of Blind Sports NSW, and Chair of Goalball Australia. In all three roles, Elbourn lead significant programs for people with a range of disabilities, increasing participation, revenue, and advocacy of the sector. Prior to his roles at Sport NSW and Blind Sports NSW, Elbourn served as National Client Services Manager at Energy Action and Internal Business Manager at E Utility and Konica Minolta in the United

In May 2021, Disability Sports Australia will launch its PUSH START fundraising campaign to support the growth of opportunity for these children around Australia. You can go to www.sports.org.au to purchase your virtual wheelchair and support our vision for equality, in the area of inclusive and adaptive activity to tackle social isolation and childhood obesity.

States. Murray has most recently also sat on the NSW Office of Sport Covid-19 sport recovery group as the representative across the disability sports sector.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

29

FEATURE: LGBT+ INCLUSION IN SPORT

LGBT+ Inclusion in Australian Sport: What’s the score?

T

here has been significant progress across Australian society for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender in Australia in recent years. For example, marriage equality was introduced in 2017 allowing same-sex couples in Australia to marry, off the back of a lengthy public campaign. However, research shows that the sport sector in Australia lags behind broader Australian society, and discrimination towards LGBT+ people is still common across sporting landscapes.

Substantial evidence exists which identifies that discrimination in the form of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia has significant detrimental impacts on both physical and mental health and wellbeing on LGBT+ people. Therefore, those working across sport, allied health, and movement settings need to ensure that they are providing environments and experiences that are free discrimination for LGBT+ people.

In this article, I will briefly summarise the research I have conducted in Australia on the topic of LGBT+ inclusion and highlight some important lessons from co-founding and helping lead a LGBT+ sports-based charity. You may also see different iterations of the LGBT+ acronym. There is no right or wrong acronym to use,

30

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

but often, when certain letters are used, it is just being used to specifically refer to the identity groups being referred to. For example, I use LGBT+ to refer to sexual orientation (who you are attracted to) and gender identity (who you are), and the plus refers to other identities associated to these two concepts, such as pansexual, asexual, and non-binary people.

What do we know?

Research undertaken in the past two decades here in Australia and other countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, identifies that homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia is prevalent within sport and movement settings. Such discrimination can include verbal abuse, physical abuse, and exclusion through both policies and practices.

Unfortunately, the inclusion of transgender people within sport, has become extremely politicised, and trans women in particular, have become the target of increased abuse and vilification. Transgender children have even been targeted by trying to exclude them from playing community and grassroots sport. Often, the arguments used against transgender people are based on factually incorrect information, prejudice, and ignorance. For example, there is often unsubstantiated concerns

around bathrooms. However, every household in Australia has a genderneutral toilet, which most individuals use with little fuss or concern.

As a sport for development researcher, this is problematic and disappointing, because we know that sport can, and is often used a as tool to increase quality of life, connect people to their local communities, and helps foster social capital and foster new social connections. What we often see is the opposite however with regards to LGBT+ people, and sport is used as a platform to exclude, alienate, and vilify, which leads to poor mental health outcomes. It is important to note also, that LGBT+ people do not have higher rates of mental health concerns because they are gay, bi, or transgender, but because of the impact of discrimination across society. Therefore, practitioners and those working in the field of sport and health, must ensure they are helping to combat discrimination directed towards LGBT+ people.

Some of the research I have conducted is confronting, especially around young people. For many young people, playing school sport and participating in Physical Education is a fun and enjoyable experience, but for many young people of diverse

FEATURE: LGBT+ INCLUSION IN SPORT

genders and sexualities, it can be a key site for abuse and bullying.

These experiences can cause trauma and stops LGBT+ people from being physically active and playing sport as adults or in later life. Most participants we work with at Proud 2 Play, nearly all recount negative and traumatising experiences as young people, where they were singled out and bullied for being perceived to be different.

One recent quote summarises the experiences of young people in school sport settings, from a project on young LGBT+ people’s experiences of sport and physical activity:

“PE was a really shitty thing for me, especially at the Catholic school. I was out and doing my bit as part of the community to ensure other people were safe. So, changing into our PE uniforms was the worst. I had to either go in an hour before everyone else or I had to wait for everyone else to be done because I was beat up when I tried to change with the other girls. They were like calling me ‘fag’ or ‘dyke’ and they just beat me up. It was horrible. The school did nothing about it and like it was constantly that fear from Year Eight onwards” (Young Trans Man, 18).

Have an understanding that an LGBT+ person most probably will have witnessed or experienced homophobia, biphobia or transphobia some point or another within sport or movement settings.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

31

FEATURE: LGBT+ INCLUSION IN SPORT

LGBT+ Inclusion in Australian Sport: What’s the score?

As a sector, we need to ensure we are providing safe and inclusive opportunities and experiences for LGBT+ people, of all ages. However, we know from research that if young people have negative experiences, this prevents them from participating in sport and movement settings at later life. One thing to note however, evident in my research, is that young people do want to play sport and engage in physical activity, to be able to meet new friends, make new connections, and for fun and enjoyment. Often, many sports clubs say ‘we do not have any LGBT+ people in our club’ but one thing I would urge you to consider, especially working with young people, is that there may be some, you are just not aware of them, or they may not have affirmed their identity, or come out yet. Sexuality in particular as a marker of difference can often be invisible, like some disabilities, rather than a visible marker such as race or ethnicity.

Additionally, a common phrase I hear from sports organisations and clubs, is ‘we treat everyone the same’. This highlights the differences between equality (treating everyone the same) versus equity (making adjustments based on inequalities), but ultimately, treating everybody the same does not 32

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

often work for LGBT+ people, because it works on the assumption that everyone is straight and cisgender (when you’re gender identity corresponds to the sex you were assigned at birth).

A key challenge for society and the sport and health sector moving forwards, is to ensure we tackle discrimination, and work to ensure that LGBT+ people have positive and enriching experiences, whether that is whilst playing sport, attending a gym, swimming at a local leisure centre, or receiving treatment from a physiotherapist or health professional.

Many organisations and people working in the sector do want to be inclusive, but often do not know how or lack education. My research with several Australian Sports Organisations, identifies that many organisations do not engage or enact LGBT+ inclusion because of underlying prejudice towards LGBT+ people, but more commonly, because they do not understand how to engage with LGBT+ inclusion, and are unsure what it means for their organisational practices.

There has been a rise in LGBT+ related diversity work in recent years to actively challenge structures and

practices which seek to marginalise and exclude LGBT+ people. There are organisations such as Proud 2 Play and Pride Cup Australia, a rise in pride themed games and celebrations, newly stablished LGBT+ supporter groups in AFL and Cricket, and more visible and out LGBT+ players and role models. There are many ways individuals can help foster a more inclusive society for LGBT+ people.

What can you do?

We all have a part to play in ensuring people of diverse backgrounds can lead active and healthy lifestyles, where movement and physical activity is a part of people’s every day lives. You can champion LGBT+ inclusion in your organisation or workplace, through active allyship, or you can even just take some small steps to ensuring that all LGBT+ people can access safe and inclusive opportunities. Here are some key things to consider: Have an awareness that people who you work with, engage with, or treat as clients, may be LGBT+. We know that roughly around 10% of the Australian population are LGBT+, so the chances are that you may know

FEATURE: LGBT+ INCLUSION IN SPORT

or work with someone who is of a diverse sexuality or gender. However, they may not disclose this to you, so it is important to not make assumptions.

People may not feel comfortable disclosing this to you, it may not be safe for them to do so, or they may need to seek trust from you first.

Have an understanding that an LGBT+ person most probably will have witnessed or experienced homophobia, biphobia or transphobia some point or another within sport or movement settings. Research over the past several decades tells us that around 75% of LGBT+ people have experienced or witnessed discrimination in sport, and heterosexual people also experience this too, when their sexuality or gender identity is questioned in a derogative way. Therefore, having this knowledge will mean you engage with LGBT+ people with a little understanding, empathy, and compassion.

Call out discrimination and exclusion when you see or hear it. For many LGBT+ people, it can be exhausting to call out homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, and can be stressful.

As a LGBT+ advocate, I know firsthand how challenging it can be, therefore any help and support in tackling discrimination and fostering more inclusive practices, takes the burden of LGBT+ people.

In conclusion, please take away from this article that homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia are still present within sport and movement settings, and this leads to poorer

health and wellbeing outcomes amongst LGBT+ people. As attitudes towards LGBT+ people across Australian society progress, policies and practices within the sport and health sectors must progress too. We must ensure every LGBT+ person in Australia can access safe, inclusive, and affirming opportunities and experiences when attempting to lead active and healthy lifestyles. For more information, and to access and view any of the research I have drawn upon to write this article, please get in touch or check out my google scholar page (https://scholar.google.com.au/ citations?user=797iRZkAAAAJ&hl=en).

Biography Dr Ryan Storr is a interdisciplinary social scientist and researcher, specialising in LGBT+ inclusion in sport. He is the

Make efforts to educate yourself. This can be done through participating in training and education (www. proud2play.org.au), reading articles, listening to podcasts, speaking and listening to LGBT+ people and friends. This is an ongoing process, and not something that can be achieved overnight.

co-founder of Proud2Play, a LGBT+ sport charity, which seeks to promote LGBT+ inclusion in sport and active recreation. He has published his research and work in a range of international journals. He has also written in a range of media outlets such as The Conversation, Guardian Australia, and has appeared on television programs on the ABC and Channel 10 news, speaking about homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in sport.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

33

PRIDE IN SPORT

The Inclusion of Trans and Gender Diverse People in Sport

Beau Newell

CONTENT WARNING: Some content within this article contains information about mental health and suicide amongst trans and gender diverse people. If this article is triggering for you, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14, or contact ACON (1800 063 060) to make an appointment for counselling as well as social work support to help resolve complex or ongoing LGBTQ related violence and harassment matters.

WHEN TRANS AND GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE ARE AFFIRMED AND INCLUDED IN SPORT, HEALTH AND WELLBEING OUTCOMES DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE.

S

port has a unique opportunity to bring communities together, including people of diverse genders and sexualities. As a country that holds sport close to its heart, sport can build awareness and generate greater support for broader diversity in Australian communities.

In Australia, we demand an inclusive sporting culture. We understand that sport is for all Australians. Every person has a fundamental right 34

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

to participate in sport, including trans and gender diverse people.

Football Australia, UniSport Australia and Water Polo Australia.

Background In October 2020, eight peak Australian sporting bodies implemented governance that supports a greater level of inclusion for trans and gender diverse people in their sports. The sporting organisations are AFL, Cricket Australia, Hockey Australia, Netball Australia, Rugby Australia, Tennis Australia, Touch

The implementation of this governance among these peak organisations demonstrated a fundamental shift within Australian sport towards the greater inclusion of trans and gender diverse athletes. By formalising their stand to be inclusive of trans and gender diverse people, these Australian sports have shown a true and tangible commitment to providing

PRIDE IN SPORT

environments where everyone involved is treated with respect and dignity.

The initiative was spearheaded and guided by Pride in Sport, a national program that assists sporting organisations with the inclusion of people of diverse sexualities and genders at all levels.

The Case for Inclusion While many sexuality and gender diverse people lead healthy and happy lives, research shows lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people experience significant health disparities when compared to the general population.

These health issues are not due to being LGBTQ but are directly related to experiences of stigma, prejudice, discrimination, and abuse.

Health outcomes for trans and gender diverse people are even more bleak.

According to Private Lives, Australia’s largest national survey of the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ people, trans and gender diverse participants reported higher rates of psychological distress, suicidal ideation and attempts, and poorer self-rated health than cisgender women and cisgender men.

Data from LGBTIQ+ Health Australia state that, compared to the general population, trans and gender diverse adults are nearly 11 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population with 35% of trans and gender diverse adults having attempted suicide in their lifetime. In addition, trans and gender diverse adults are 18 times more like to experience suicidal ideation, 6.5 times more like to self-harm and 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety.

Further, international research concludes that trans and gender diverse people are much less likely to participate in sport due to fear of transphobic discrimination from other players, coaches, and club officials.

Making sport inclusive of all, including trans and gender diverse people,

has positive effects not just for the sport and its culture but for its participants as well. When people are made to feel welcome, accepted and affirmed – on or off the sporting field – mental and physical health outcomes dramatically improve.

Improving Trans Health & Wellbeing We know that participating in sport makes a profound difference to those who play and compete. According to one US study, LGBTQ youth who participate in sports are likelier to have more self-esteem compared to those that do not. Another indicated 27% of trans youth who play sport say they received higher grades compared to 19% for those who don’t play sport.

In Australia, participation in mainstream community events was associated with increased resilience for all sexuality and gender diverse groups, including those with trans experiences.

Recognising the benefits of an inclusive approach not only to their organisational culture but to the health and wellbeing of participants, more sporting codes in Australia will be developing governance and frameworks to help guide their inclusion of trans and gender diverse people.

The Debate about Women’s Sport The inclusion of trans and gender diverse people in sport has raised concern in some circles about its

impact on women’s sport. It is important to acknowledge that women’s sport, and increasing the participation of all women in sport, is essential and important. The inclusion of trans women in women’s sport doesn’t challenge this. There is no evidence to suggest that the participation of women declines when a trans woman is part of the team.

Sports governance that address the inclusion of trans and gender diverse people seeks to provide clear and practical guidance to clubs so that all people have an opportunity to participate, including at an elite level.

In elite settings for many sports, trans people need to meet particular criteria such as achieving certain hormone profiles to be able to compete, which may address things such as strength, stamina, and physique.

This ensures all players engage in fair, safe and meaningful competition.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

35

PRIDE IN SPORT

The Inclusion of Trans and Gender Diverse People in Sport Sport is, of course, multifaceted and success and victory are not always contingent on a player’s physicality or hormone profile, and can look different for many people. Ultimately, there is no consistent research demonstrating trans women, by virtue of testosterone exposure alone, have a competitive advantage in sport. Hence, additional peer reviewed research with sound methodology, is encouraged.

We know from Olympics data that trans women as a whole don’t have an unfair advantage because none have ever won a gold medal, despite trans people being able to compete in the games since 2004. Contrary to fears expressed by some, there has been no large-scale dominance of trans athletes in women’s sports.

Trans women do not affirm their gender to gain an advantage and win a sporting competition. They do so because they are women and want to reveal this to improve their lives – and when it comes to sport, they simply want to have a go.

KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS

In Australia, participation in mainstream community events was associated with increased resilience for all sexuality and gender diverse groups, including those with trans experiences.

Conclusion While some trans people across Australia are members of very inclusive sports clubs, many report that joining a club is both intimidating and frightening. The commitment from a peak national body in implementing elite policies and community guidelines for trans athletes provides much needed guidance to the many clubs working hard to be the open and inclusive.

With clear direction and guidelines, trans inclusion governance will strengthen all sports and ensure trans and gender diverse players and athletes have the same opportunities to participate as everyone else, and that competition remains safe, fair, and meaningful.

Sport is for everyone and every person has a fundamental right to participate in sport, free from harassment and discrimination.

To learn more about trans inclusion in sport, please visit www. prideinsport.com.au/trans

36

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

Gender identity is defined in the Act as ‘the gender-related identity, appearance or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of a person (whether by way of medical intervention or not), with or without regard to the person’s designated sex at birth’. For example, a person’s birth certificate may include a marker which indicates that the person’s designated sex is female when that person identifies as a man (in other words, their gender identity is that of a man).

Gender diverse is an umbrella term that includes all the different ways gender can be experienced and perceived. It can include people questioning their gender, those who identify as trans/transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, gender non-conforming and many more.

Cisgender / cis is a term used to describe people who identify their gender as the same as what was assigned to them at birth (male or female). ‘Cis’ is a Latin term meaning ‘on the same side as’.

Sex refers to a person’s biological sex or sex characteristics. These may be genetic, hormonal, or anatomical. Unlike ‘gender identity’, ‘sex’ is not defined in the Act. Transgender (commonly abbreviated to ‘trans’) is a general term used to describe a person whose gender identity is different to the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender is about how an individual describes their own gender. It is not necessarily about their biological characteristics.

Trans people may position ‘being trans’ as a history or experience, rather than an identity, and consider their gender identity as simply being female, male or a non-binary identity.

PRIDE IN SPORT

Some trans people connect strongly with their trans experience, whereas others do not. Processes of gender affirmation may or may not be part of a trans or gender diverse person’s life.

Did you Know?

Sex verification (also known as gender verification or gender determination) was first carried out in July 1950, in the month leading into the European Championships in Belgium, where for the first time all athletes were tested to determine their sex.

Transition / Gender Affirmation The personal process or processes a trans or gender diverse person determines is right for them in order to live as their defined gender and so that society recognises this. Transition may involve social, medical/surgical and/or legal steps that affirm a person’s gender.

Subsequently, a Dutch athlete by the name of Foekje Dillema was banned for life in July 1950 for refusing to take part in this mandatory test. It was only after her death in 2007 that forensic results showed the presence of the Y-chromosome in her DNA.

Affirming gender doesn’t mean changing gender, ‘having a sex change’ or ‘becoming a man or a woman’, and transition isn’t the same as being trans. A trans or gender diverse person who hasn’t medically or legally affirmed their gender is no less the man, woman or nonbinary person they’ve always been. ٚ Social transition is the process by which a person changes their gender expression to better match their gender identity. This may include changing their name, pronouns, and appearance. ٚ Medical transition is the process by which a person changes their physical sex characteristics to align with their gender identity.

This may include hormone therapy, surgery or both. ٚ Legal transition is the process by which a person changes their identity documents, name, or both, to reflect their gender identity. This may include changing their gender marker on a passport or birth certificate or changing their name on a driver’s licence or bank card.

Learn more about LGBTQ related language and terminology at www. prideinsport.com.au/terminology

After Dillema’s ban, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) introduced a policy that any female athlete with a Y-chromosome would be expelled from competition. This radical rule was in place from 1966 until 2011 and was only revoked after world-wide protests against the IOC’s position on this matter.

About the Author Beau Newell is the National Program Manager of Pride in Sport, an ACON Pride Inclusion Program. Beau’s experience in sport began at a young age as a player, referee, coach, selector and administrator of several sporting codes. He has given keynote presentations to many major events and conferences on his professional and personal experiences as an out person in sport. More notably was his TEDx session on Eliminating the Self Edit – a earnest insight into the way people hide their true selves from others, for fear of discrimination, harassment and bullying. Through the lens of sport, Beau’s story provides insight into the disproportionate effects that selfediting can have on LGBTQ people in sport, compared to other areas of society, and how systematic change is required to provide safer and more inclusive environments for people with diverse genders and sexualities.

Beau’s knowledge and understanding of the sporting landscape is extensive. In the years leading into the marriage equality debate, Beau and his partner pioneered LGBTQ rights advocacy in regional and rural NSW becoming the spokesperson for many outspoken LGBTQ individuals in regional Australia, which led to Beau being nationally recognised for his contribution for his LGBTQ advocacy at the Australian Honour Awards.

About Pride in Sport Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations at all levels in the inclusion of employees, athletes, volunteers, and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities Pride in Sport sits within ACONs Pride Inclusion suite or Programs. Find out more at www.prideinsport.com.au

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

37

COMMUNIT Y NEWS

Sports Medicine @SMA_News sma.org.au • SMA unveils new Extreme Heat Policy • Dr Ken Fitch awarded Officer of the Order of Australia • Eminent Speaker Series Part One: Dr Peter Brukner – We are getting fatter and sicker. What are we going to do about it? – Review • SMA Connect – The new home of your SMA Membership benefits • 2021 SMA Conference – Call for Abstracts submissions open until May 14 • Eminent Speaker Series Part Two: Professor Wendy Brown: New Global Guidelines on Physical Activity and Health – What has changed and why? – Review • 2021 SMA Conference Update: Revised Submission Rules and Deadlines

@AICE Sports & Exercise • 2021 Sports Chiropractic Symposium • AICE event calendar • Meet the Next Generation of Chiropractors • Get to know AICE • Introducing ACA Preferred

@ACSEP_ acsep.org.au • ACSEP Elects First Female President • Growing Bodies – Injury prevention in Adolescent rowers • Athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) • Latest ACSEP Blog

APS • Psychologists welcome $89m mental health study • Half of aged-care residents need urgent mental health support • Psychologists welcome telehealth extension • Psychologists concerned about proposed changes to NDIS assessments

38

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

COMMUNIT Y NEWS

Community News @SportsDietAus sportsdietitians.com.au • Media Release – Gaye Rutherford announced as SDA President of the Board • Nutrition for the Junior Athlete • SDA Female Athlete Symposium: Clarifying the Evidence • Register for SDA Conference 2021 • Sports Nutrition Course Online • Latest SDA Blog • Latest SDA Recipes

@ESSA_News essa.org.au • ESSA announces its latest Fellow: Associate Professor Justin Keogh • ESSA signs Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Biokinetics Association of South Africa (BASA) • ESSA congratulates Dr Amy Harding, winner of 2020 ESSA Medal • Virtual event – Research to Practice 2021

@APAPhysio australian.physio • Notice of Annual General Meeting • New physiotherapy study puts spotlight on AFLW head and knee injuries • Physios need to be part of the mental health solution to make ‘every door, the right door’ for patients • Register for Thrive 2021 Physiotherapy Conference • Physiotherapy management of neck pain • Journal of Physiotherapy

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

39

5 MINUTES WITH

5 minutes with

Chelsea Mulcahy

IN THIS ISSUE OF SPORT HEALTH, WE SPEND 5 MINUTES WITH CHELSEA MULCAHY, A SPORTS TRAINER WITH OVER 26 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND A MEMBER OF THE SMA NORTHERN TERRITORY STATE COUNCIL FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. Tell us a little bit about your background My background, well I started my career as a Sports Trainer when I injured myself and could no longer play sport. It was really important for me to find a way to stay involved as I really loved the team aspect, for me I really missed my basketball as that was my passion growing up. I turned my attention to being involved with basketball but not as a player and began working as a Sports Trainer in the local competition and from there I worked my way up to be involved with the National Basketball League (NBL) and even a few International sides. After gaining such experience with basketball, I have now transitioned and been a Sports Trainer in basically every sport you could think of, I have been involved in Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Soccer, Netball and Rugby League. My two predominate sports still to this day are football

40

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

5 MINUTES WITH

and basketball, I look forward to being involved every weekend.

How did you get involved at SMA? This is a good question, it has been a while now, but I initially got involved with SMA through my work doing the Drugs in Sport presentation for ASADA in Western Australia. From my work there, I met people involved with the WA State Council and started to attend WA professional development events as well as the annual SMA Conference. I became further involved in SMA just as I was moving up to Darwin, I came across Dr Geoffrey Thompson during my move and he invited me along to a NT State Council meeting and as they say, the rest is history. That first meeting would have been just over 11 years ago now and since then I have been a NT SMA Council member for 10 years.

Speaking about your involvement with the NT State Council, how do you enjoy that role?

I really enjoy my role on the NT State Council, the chance to help other sports medicine professionals in and around the NT has been great.

The experience with the Council has taught me so much and I have loved the chance to work with the SMA National Board on occasions too.

For you, what is the biggest benefit of being an SMA member?

The biggest benefit for me as an SMA member would 100% be my access to other sports medicine professionals and the networking opportunities all around Australia that come through SMA events and the conference. I know we spoke about it before, but a big benefit of my membership is my spot on the NT State Council, it has allowed me to meet so many different people and contribute to sport across the NT. Sports Medicine. What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?

I have had some good advice along

the way but one that stands out for me would be: record every contact you meet along the way, save that mobile number or email address.

It may sound straight forward but this has been so important over my career as a Sports Trainer. I remember meeting this young footballer in the NT who had just done their ACL and didn’t want to go down the surgical path. We emailed back and forth I was able to get him in contact with a specialist who I had met at a SMA PD event earlier that year and put the two in contact. The young footballer returned to playing with no surgery and it all came from taking down his details and using my networks.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

41

SPORTS MEDICINE AROUND THE WORLD: TUNISIA

Sports Medicine in

Tunisia

Zakia Bartegi, MD

SPORTS MEDICINE WAS BORN IN THE COUNTRY OF TUNISIA DURING THE ORGANISATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN GAMES IN 1967 IN THE CITY OF TUNIS. A SPORTS MEDICINE UNIT WAS CREATED AT THE SPORTS CENTRE FOR THIS OCCASION.

I

n 1970, this unit was transformed into a National Sports Medicine Centre. Several doctors of different specialities and with a University Diploma for Specialised Studies (DUES) or a Certificate for Specialised Studies(CES) obtained in Europe, worked there under convention, from two to three hours per week.

They worked alongside cooperating doctors from the

42

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

former Eastern countries, mainly practising a curative medicine.

In 1980, the first full-time doctor began working at the centre, with a qualification in sports medicine obtained in France.

The 1980s saw the development of sports edicine from curative medicine to preventive and curative medicine, with the introduction of exercise tests both in laboratory and in the field.

Between 1984 and 2000, eight regional sports medicine centres, in eight governorates of the country, were created.

There was also the creation of a University Diploma: a DUES over two years in three faculties of medicine: Tunis, Sousse and Sfax.

The curriculum of this diploma is similar to that of the French one. The curriculum is given at a rate of four hours per week (one afternoon per week) by professors of the faculty, each in his/her specialty, French professor colleagues (especially at the beginning and according to the bilateral cooperation programs between the Tunisian and French faculties) and doctors from the sports medical centre for practical sessions specific to sport such as: the fight against doping, exercise tests, and so on.

SPORTS MEDICINE AROUND THE WORLD: TUNISIA

The topics covered are aptitude for sport and contraindications, traumatology and orthopaedic surgery, cardiorespiratory physiology during exercise, the specificities of certain diseases in athletes such as asthma, diabetes, sport and children.

Over the two years, one yearly month of practical programme is spent in a sports medicine centre.

At the end of the two years, and to obtain the diploma, a dissertation must be written.

This diploma is not a speciality, it is just a skill that will give doctors the opportunity to practise sports medicine.

There are four medical faculties in Tunisia: Tunis, the first medical faculty in the country, which started in 1965; Sousse 150 kilometres away from Tunis; Sfax in the South,300 kilometres from Tunis; and Monastir, also in the centre (20 kilometres from Sousse), the latest one created.

As already mentioned, only three of them award a Sports Medicine Diploma: Tunis, Sousse and Sfax.

Medical studies in Tunisian faculties last five years at the faculty, plus three years of family medicine at university hospitals, ending with the presentation of a dissertation to obtain the Doctorate in Medicine. The specialities last fouryears of residency, ending with a specialty examination.

Any general practitioner or resident in a speciality can register for this Sports Medicine Diploma, as well as residents of certain specialities such as cardiology, traumatology and so on.

With the evolution of university studies in Tunisia, the DUES have turned into a Professional Master of Medicine applied to sport of only one year with a PFE (end of study project: example of a dissertation) and four weeks of an internship in a sports medicine centre. Classes are taught only by professors from each faculty, and the topics covered are the same.

Each year about 50 doctors finish their speciality and go working in sports medicine centres or in clubs, full time or part time.

Another scientific activity in sports medicine is a Tunisian Sports Medicine Society, created in 1980 by the Manager of the National Sports Medicine Centre.

This society has been very active, being member of FIMS, member of the Latin-Mediterranean Grouping, and of the Arab Union of Sports Medicine.

It organises annual training days for sports doctors, and scientific conferences with the presence of eminent foreign specialists.

In 2001, the Tunisian Sports Medicine Society left the centre to become independent, its activity shrank to only a yearly two-day congress.

The National Sports Medicine Centre has created its scientific and training activity: The centre organises a yearly Sports Medicine Convention, a scientific congress, in addition to its participation to the societies congress.

In addition to this, the centre in collaboration with its international sports or scientific partners (International sports federations, especially european sports medicine centres)organises postgraduate training courses in cutting-edge areas of sports medicine or specific to a sport. These courses are for sports medicine centres, sports clubs and federations’ doctors.

With the organisation for the second time of the Mediterranean Games in Tunisia in 2001, sports medicine experienced a considerable boom with the creation of a new national sports medicine centre in a new, modern, large and well-equipped room.

physical medicine service and a consultation service with many means of exploration such as medical imaging.

The regional centres have developed into sectoral centres with functional exploration equipment at each centre and modern rehabilitation equipment.

At least two full-time sports doctors work in each centre with the help of different part-time specialists.

An anti-doping laboratory was accredited by the IOC in 2001.

An anti-doping unit was created at the centre to deal with the national program. In 2008, it was transformed into the National Anti-Doping Agency (ANAD) and left the centre.

About 40 full-time doctors work in Tunisian Sports Medicine Centres, around 40 also work in clubs, especially football, and several Tunisian sports doctors work in the Gulf countries.

For military sports medicine, a sports medicine unit was created in 1965 by a French doctor. This unit has developed into a military sports medicine centre which takes care of military athletes.

Biography Dr.Z. Bartegi is a retired M.D with extensive experience as a sports physician in her country at the National Sports Medicine Center from which she

From curative medicine in 1967, sports medicine evolved to curative, preventive and predictive medicine. The centre is now called the National Centre for Medicine and Sports Sciences, with three laboratories: physiology, biology and biomechanics, a well-equipped

became General Manager. She has also acted as the General Medical Inspector of Public Health. At an international level, she was particularly activein AntiDoping activities in TUE committees of the International Sport Federation.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

43

PEOPLE WHO SHAPED SMA: DR IAN GILL AM

People Who Shaped SMA

Dr Ian Gillam

BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, Dip Phys Ed, FASMF, ESSAF

What my involvement in Sports Medicine has meant to me?

While this article is about People who have shaped SMA, for me, this is about how SMA has shaped me, through the career opportunities that I have enjoyed, and those who I have met, have been involved and worked with over the 50 years that I have been a member. I could not have achieved or imagined some of the opportunities I have been presented with through SMA and the wonderful friendships I can now enjoy when catching up at Annual Conferences or SMA Fellows dinners.

My interest in Sports Medicine began in my school years.

I have always loved sport, as a young child growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s and playing footy in the backyard with my number 31 Melbourne Footy jumper (Ron Barassi, my childhood hero), or listening to Ashes tests on the radio, even late into the night 44

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

are my fondest memories. But as a chronic asthmatic, sport’s participation, especially in sports which required continuous running were always a challenge. Asthma treatment in those days consisted of oral, mainly ineffective antihistamines or an intramuscular adrenaline injection in the event of an acute attack. I was to miss most of second grade in primary school due to my uncontrolled asthma, and it was only until aerosol beta-2 agonist medications were available in 1968 that all types of sports participation became possible.

Through trial and error during my primary and high school years, I discovered that I was a reasonable sprinter and that field events such as long jump, triple jump and the throwing events were possible without my asthma becoming a limiting factor. The javelin was my best event and I was selected to represent my school at the all-high school sports. In later years at

high school, I also played basketball and AFL footy and enjoyed gymnastics.

Interestingly, while was training hard for my sports, I did a Harvard Step test in a Year 10 PE class; but was I disappointed when I only scored ‘fair’ on the test. The next day I was in bed with a viral infection. I had no idea at that stage that a virus could affect my recovery heart rate and hence lead to a poorer result. However, my interest in exercise physiology was born.

My Sporting passions; Skiing and surfing.

My university holidays in the 1970’s were spent surfing Australia’s east coast from Mallacoota to Noosa (Photo Surfing at Noosa in the 1970s); the latter of which has now become my home.

Following a brief skiing experience in high school, I was keen to join the Melbourne University ski club and skiing at Mt Buller most weekends became

PEOPLE WHO SHAPED SMA: DR IAN GILL AM

my priority. With my PE background I also began to train the MU ski team and I was selected as a cross-country skier in the MU Ski team at Thredbo in 1975 and 1976. Through SMA and my skiing interest, I met Mr John Stanley, the three-time Winter Olympic Physiotherapist and we decided to publish a booklet together – The Complete Guide to Ski Fitness. I also became the regular fitness and sports science writer for Australia Skiing over the next three years and a lecturer on the APA Ski Fitness course. Skiing was to become my lifelong sporting passion.

After joining a ski-club at Mt Buller in the early 80’s, I have continued to ski and over the past five years I have continued to compete in interclub GS racing (Ski Racing at Mt Buller in 2015).

My university years.

Having studied the physical sciences, with a particular interest in chemistry, I began studying at Melbourne University in 1970 with a career in geochemistry or geophysics in mind. However, my interest in sport and exercise was still strong, and now with better asthmacontrol medications being available, I decided to change to physical education in 1971 while continuing my BSc in biological sciences, with a goal to major in exercise physiology and biochemistry. This led me to Dr Mary Chennells in the Department of Physiology at Melbourne University who while primarily a respiratory physiologist, was also interested in exercise physiology. Dr Chennells was also the secretary of the Victorian Branch of SMA who encouraged me to join SMA in 1971. I had now found my ‘home’.

On completing both my Dip PE and my BSc in physiology and nutritional biochemistry, I was accepted into the BSc (Hons) program with Dr Chennells becoming my research supervisor. I had not lost my interest in exercise and asthma, so I decided to undertake research into the effect of exercise intensity and duration on exercise-

induced asthma (EIA) (Photo with Dr Chennells for my MSc Graduation).

Dr Chennells also encouraged me to attend the 1974 FIMS Conference which was to be held at Melbourne University.

There I met Alan Clarke, a lecturer from Burwood State College who told me about the new BEd (Phys Ed) starting in 1976. He suggested I meet with HOD to discuss a forthcoming lecturer position in Physiology and Exercise Physiology and in 1976. I was offered the position as the lecturer in exercise physiology and given the opportunity to develop new courses and a new laboratory in exercise physiology.

When undertaking my BSc (Hons) in EIA at Melbourne University in 19736, I met Dick Telford, who working on his PhD developing new fitness tests on the Repco cycle ergometer.

Dick later became the Foundation Director in Sports Science at the AIS in 1980, and much later to my PhD co-supervisor in and research associate in 1990 at the AIS. Dick, also an SMA Fellow, has become a lifelong mentor and friend throughout my career.

I continued my EIA research studies in 1978-79, while lecturing at Burwood State College and after a taking some study leave, I completed my MSc working as a scientific officer in the Department of Thoracic Medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital with Dr Louis Landau and Dr Chennells.

Dr Sandra Anderson who worked at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, and one of the world’s foremost EIA researchers also agreed to be a co-supervisor on the project. The research resulted in an invitation to speak at the international conference on The Asthmatic Child in Play and Sport in Oslo, Norway in 1983.

Initial involvement with ASMF and teaching on the first ASMF/ ACGP’s Sports Physicians course.

I quickly become actively involved with the ASMF (Victoria) branch in the late 1970’s, and under the chairmanship of Dr Andrey Kretsch, I was invited to be a member of a ASMF multi-disciplinary research group to survey some 300 participants of the 1980 Melbourne Marathon. The study involved medical, pre- and post-training physical and mental health training, diet and prerace preparation (Ian Gillam photo as a member of the 1980 Marathon research group). Articles from this study were published in the MJA.

Surfing in the 1970’s at Tea Tree Bay, Noosa

I attended my first ASMF Conference in Adelaide in 1978 and met Dr Peter Fuller, a well-respected Sports VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

45

PEOPLE WHO SHAPED SMA: DR IAN GILL AM

People Who Shaped SMA

Dr Ian Gillam Medicine practitioner in Melbourne at Ashwood Sports Medicine Clinic (now Lifecare). Through Peter, I also met physiotherapists Steve Sandor and Michael Kenihan at Lifecare, who have been on-going professional friends I have worked with since then.

In 1981 Dr Fred Better and Andrey Kretsch invited me to teach the exercise and sports science component of the newly established ASMF-accredited course in Advanced Training in Sports Medicine for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (Victoria) at Trawalla, Toorak. I continued in this role until 1988. The course became the basis for the ACSP registration and I was invited to be a clinical training instructor in exercise and sports physiology, for the Australian College of Sports Physicians 1992 and 1993. Many of those who were graduates from this course subsequently became the leaders in sports medicine in Australia and internationally, including Dr Peter Brukner, Dr Karim Khan, Dr Peter Larkins, Dr Garry Zimmerman, Dr Andrew Daff and Dr John Orchard just to name a few. I was recommended for SMA Fellowship for this educational input in 1989. This network has opened up many professional opportunities over the past 40 years which have been invaluable throughout my career.

In 1983, I moved to Phillip Institute of Technology (now RMIT University) to teach exercise physiology, sports science, metabolic physiology and clinical nutrition. In addition, I was appointed Managing Director of the PIT/RMIT Sports Science and Fitness Research Centre RMIT in 1985 that provided sports science services to a wide range of VIS and AIS athletes and teams from over 10 different sports.

John Stanley, also a keen sailor, was invited to be the sports physiotherapist for the Challenge 12 crew, one of the Australian challengers to decide who should represent Australia to defend 46

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

Ian Gillam as a member of the 1980 SMA Melbourne Marathon Committee in 1978

of the America’s Cup in Perth. John was keen to evaluate the physiological demands on the ‘grinders’ who were critical in the tacking manoeuvres of the during match racing. In a match race series against Australia II that was held on Port Phillip Bay, we undertook the first heart rate telemetry studies from a yacht, while the two 12-meter challengers were in full racing mode.

After attending a Winter Olympics Awards night in 1986 John Stanley called me. After speaking to the owners of Mt Buller Ski Lifts, he suggested I call them to discuss if I would be interested in assisting them to establish a Winter Olympic training centre and a HighAltitude Training Centre at Mt Buller.

Within weeks I excitedly accepted a consultancy role to work with MBSL to initially set-up an on-site gym and training facility at Buller, and then to examine the viability of establishing a high-altitude training facility to be used by elite teams and other professional sports over the summer season. Over the last 30 years the Winter Olympic training Centre has become the home of many of Australia’s Winter Olympians including most of Australia’s medallists in aerial and freestyle skiing.

John and I were to become longterm friends and I was privileged to contribute to John’s obituary that was published in Sport Health in 2014.

In 1990, Dr Dick Telford asked if I would be interested in accepting an AIS research fellowship to undertake a research project on the antioxidant status and resultant oxidative tissue damage of elite endurance athletes, and its possible relationship to physical underperformance. This research undertaken through the Department of Physiology at Melbourne University and in collaboration with the Department of biochemistry at ANU, became the basis of my PhD and resulted in three ASMF Fellows awards at National Conferences (see below). (see photo of me working in the Biochemistry Lab at the AIS).

New Horizons and elite sports consultancy On returning to RMIT in 1996 I decided to leave academia and establish my own exercise physiology, sports science and nutrition consulting business.

This was work in both clinical exercise physiology and nutrition and to develop consultancy opportunities in elite sport. Initially working in a sports physiotherapy practice and developing a referral network with local GPs, I was invited to work in two large multidisciplinary medical clinics in Camberwell and Brighton, and later at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine in Hawthorn. The focus of my clinical exercise physiology work was primarily clients with chronic metabolic, cardiac and chronic musculoskeletal disease and fatigue related conditions.

In addition to this, a close liaison was developed with Dr Fuller and other sports medicine practitioners at Lifecare, to work collaboratively with athletes with the medical, exercise and nutritional issues and those with chronic fatigue and “overtraining” related health issues.

Following my presentation at the SMA Conference in mid-late 1990’s, I was invited to present a paper on nutritional factors underlying fatigue and overtraining in elite athletes at

PEOPLE WHO SHAPED SMA: DR IAN GILL AM

the National 1998 ACSEP Conference.

Shortly afterwards I was contacted by Dr Andrew Daff, the Medical Director at the AFL Melbourne Demons, asking if I would be interested in working with one of MFC players who was struggling with on-going fatigue issues during pre-season training. I immediately accepted this invitation, and based on the AIS research work undertaking on the biochemical monitoring and the nutritional status of elite athletes in hard training, I began working closely with Dr Daff to assist the player. Developing an exercise and nutritional management plan for the coming few months, the player slowly recovered and was able to resume full training for the 2000 season.

The player, was to develop as a key inside midfielder for MFC, who played over 200 games, became a dual winner of the MFC B and F award, and club captain. I felt privileged to work with him throughout my time at MFC and his eight-year MFC career. As a result, I was invited to work as an integral member of the sports medicine team initially as the MFC sports nutritionist, using biochemical monitoring of the MFC player group over the season and to use this data to develop individual nutritional intervention programs.

Over the eight years I was working at MFC, my role expanded into a range of other areas of sports science, and in 2008 I was given a role as the Chair of Innovation; a Committee involving the sports medicine and coaching teams to develop new strategies to improve the team’s on-field performance.

As well as this, following a recommendation from Dr Peter Fuller, I was also offered the sports nutritionist and sports scientist role with Scotch College Rowing in 2005; a role that has continued for the past 15 years until 2020. Over those 15 years, Scotch College Rowing has won 14 of the 15 Australian Schoolboy First-eight rowing titles and won the Queen Elizabeth Cup, equivalent of world title at Henley on Thames in England in 2016. I was also

given the opportunity to travel with the first-eight crew to provide nutrition, hydration and recovery strategies including sports science support.

The close working relationship with Dr Fuller continued, as the Medical Director of the Drapac Professional Cycling team, I was invited to be the sports nutritionist from 2009 until 2015. My role was to assist Dr Fuller with the required three-monthly UCI blood testing of the team and using this data, to develop individualised nutritional strategy plans and to provide nutritional and health plans for the team when travelling internationally. I also provided race nutrition support from the race car during international tours.

My involvement and my contributions to SMA as a National and State Council Board member I was a ASMF National Board member, from 1990-1992 and again from 1998-2001 when I was also Discipline Vice President for SMA. In this role represented all the allied health Disciplines affiliated disciplines with SMA. I was also a member of National SMA Fellows Committee and Vice President (Science) from 19982001. I have recently accepted this role again from 2020 to 2022.

After recently moving to the Sunshine Coast in 2014, I accepted a position on the Queensland SMA State Council member until 2018.

In this role I was the Convenor of the Sunshine Coast Professional Education and Seminar series.

I was a member of the following National SMA Conference Scientific Committees in 1990 (Alice Springs), 1993 (Melbourne) 2002 (Melbourne), 2003 (Canberra).

Later on, I was Deputy Chair of the Judging Panel for SMA of the Fellows Research Awards (with Associate Prof Warren Payne) for the for “Best Conference Paper” each National SMA Conferences from 1995 to 2002.

My Career Highlights My career highlight was receiving the award for the best conference paper at the 1994 National Science and Medicine in Sport Conference in Brisbane.. The paper Gillam I, Telford R and Skinner S. Effect of antioxidant supplements on plasma levels of steroid hormones and uric acid following exercise; Changes consistent with the inhibition of 21-alpha hydroxylase activity. This paper was based on my PhD Research at the AIS. I also received a “highly commended” award for another paper based on my PhD research in 1996, and a “commended award’ in 1993.

My advice to young exercise and sports medicine professionals?

Join and be actively involved with SMA through working on the many state committees, workshops or conferences. Develop your professional SMA networks; you never know what opportunities may develop and what impact this may have on your career and the friendships you make to create a fulfilling and exciting career.

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

47

SPORT TRAINER SPOTLIGHT: GUDRUN PORRECA

Sports Trainer Spotlight

Gudrun Porreca How did you get involved at SMA? When my son was young (he is now 40), he was playing rugby league and I was doing the first aid for his team as there were no trainers back then. As soon as his club found out that I was a nurse I was doing the first aid for all the teams. I have always loved sport and that is when I decided to become a Sports Trainer. At that time, I was also working in the home and community sector and through that I was asked to be a trainer and an assessor. I taught in the disability and aged care sector for many years and then later I was asked to teach for SMA. I hesitated for a while because I loved the hands on but then I realised how passionate I was about making sure that we have good trainers out there and it was the best of both worlds as I could still be a Sports Trainer and a lecturer. These days I am busy with lecturing, but I am still heavily involved in rugby league as a trainer. I am incredibly lucky as my husband is also a Sports Trainer so we can relate well with each other.

How long have you been an SMA Sports Trainer?

I have been a Sports Trainer with SMA for about 25 years.

What do you love most about being a Sports Trainer?

I have always loved the people that I look after as a Sports Trainer. We are lucky that as trainers we get to mix with a large variety of people of various cultures. As a trainer I have worked

48

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

with the Sudanese and Philippine basketball. I have also worked with the indigenous marathon foundation.

I love being involved in sport at all levels from a National level to school sports. Its also great meeting other Sports Trainers through conferences.

What has been the highlight of your journey as a Sports Trainer so far?

The biggest highlight for me was being recognised by SMA in the Sports Trainers service awards and presented with my certificate by Chief Minister of the ACT, Andrew Barr MLA who was the Minister for Sports and Recreation back then. This was in 2013 and was part of the 50 years of sports medicine celebrations.

Another highlight was being asked to attend a master class and simulation challenge with the Paramedics in 2015. Performing real life scenarios in a simulated environment.

As a lecturer it was my trip to the Northern Territory to Elcho Island to full fill a grant to lecture a small remote indigenous community, I was asked

by Robert De Castella to do this.

What tips/advice do you have for any new Sports Trainers who are just starting out?

My advice to someone just starting out would be to be organised (have the right equipment and make sure you are familiar with the location.)

Being a Sports Trainer is also about good customer service.

Being neat, tidy and punctual.

I would advise a new trainer to get to know the rules of the sport that you will be covering. This is particularly true if you are dealing with concussion or blood.

Make sure that you are regularly updating your credentials and try to go to the SMA workshops and conferences (many of which are free to members).

It is also a good idea to work with an experienced trainer and be open to learning from them. We as trainers can always learn more, I have also learnt a lot from our clients.

Be open to working with a variety of sports as this also makes you a better trainer.

Make sure that you always work within the limits of your training as we are not doctors.

Always err on the side of caution and refer when necessary. Be sure to always fill out an accident/incident report as this keeps you safe as a trainer.

Make sure that your qualifications are always up to date as well as your SMA insurance.

Most of all have fun and enjoy what you are doing whilst remaining professional at all times.

SPORTS TRAINER SPOTLIGHT: GUDRUN PORRECA

VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3 2021

49

Publisher Sports Medicine Australia PO Box 78 Mitchell ACT 2911 sma.org.au ISSN No. 1032-5662 PP No. 226480/00028