Call to Australia's Churches to Reach Indigenous Communities with Sport

Christian charity Well-Being Australia is asking churches across Australia with sports programmes to consider linking with indigenous churches and church agencies to improve the wellbeing of indigenous communities in the country.

Mark Tronson, chairman of Well-Being Australia, also recommends churches teaming up with the Australian Government's newly established indigenous task force which is working with indigenous communities to help improve their quality of life.

"We have in our power the potential to use sport as a positive, non-judgmental way to bring normality of life to disadvantaged communities," said Mr Tronson, who was the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years until 2000.

"Although there are a lot of effective programmes already, the question of 'how much is too much?' becomes 'how much is not enough' if there is even one person who can still be helped," he added.

As part of his work with Well-Being Australia, Mr Tronson has established a number of 'country town tours' in which athletes and coaches visit rural centres as positive role models.

Mr Tronson proposed a similar exchange of visits between indigenous churches or centres and non-indigenous churches to provide members of the indigenous population "with another view of life outside their communities".

He also encouraged urban churches to set up good relations with Aboriginal communities in cities by starting up regular sports exchanges and mentoring schemes.

"There is a window of opportunity here for local churches with sports engagement to make a difference, particularly in isolated communities that have so far fallen outside the radar," Mr Tronson affirmed.

He said that sports exchanges were just one way of creating supportive environments that would give troubled individuals a hope and a belief in the future and a safe space "where internalised hurts can be discussed" with mentors.

Mr Tronson added that sports exchanges would give troubled individuals a sense of worth as important members of a sporting team with shared experiences. A non-threatening team environment, meanwhile, would help troubled men and women speak up about personal problems and open the way for them to receive further help if necessary.

"Without that opportunity, some of these talented young people may be left by the wayside of society," he said.