EMBRACING CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN SLSA ON THE SAME WAVE

Transcription

1 EMBRACING CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN SLSA ON THE SAME WAVE Jhn Fitzgerald Adelaide, Suth Australia Directr f Develpment Surf Life Saving Australia Chris Giles Sydney, New Suth Wales Natinal Develpment Manager Surf Life Saving Australia ABSTRACT The beach is a cmmn pint f recreatin fr all Australians. Families flck t the beach n the weekend t picnic and t enjy the sun, the sand and the surf. The traditinal family hliday als ccurs at the beach, whether yu cme frm a castal suburb r frm the centre f Australia. Many Australian cuples als marry n the beach. The beach has becme an imprtant part f the Australian psyche. The Australian surf lifesaver has als becme synnymus with the beach and in particular with safety at the beach. The surf lifesaver has becme an Australian icn, respected by all. As such, the events that ccurred n Crnulla beach n 4 December 2005 generated anger within the cmmunity. This incident ccurred between a number f lcal surf lifesavers and a number f Muslim yuths. It is alleged that this incident was started by an exchange f wrds and ended with a physical altercatin. In respnse t this incident, a large grup f men and wmen gathered in the surrunds f Nrth Crnulla beach n 11 December t shw supprt fr the lcal cmmunity. This gathering has becme knwn as the Crnulla rits. On the Same Wave is a prgram that aims t prvide supprt t yung Australians f all backgrunds, particularly yung Australians f Middle Eastern backgrund, t engage Surf Life Saving arund Australia. The partnership als aims t achieve greater harmny between all beach users and prmte a culture that the beach is there t share. It further aims t develp inclusive practices within SLSA and individual surf life saving clubs t mre effectively recruit members frm a brader ppulatin demgraphic. In delivering On the Same Wave, SLSA is nt nly meeting the cultural needs f the rganisatin, but als shwcasing a practical example f SLSA as a lead rganisatin f scial change in the Australian cmmunity. INTRODUCTION A recent independent review f the Natinal Museum f Australia Surf Life Saving Travelling Exhibitin (travelling t each state during 2007 in celebratin f 100 years f Surf Life Saving in Australia), by a Research Fellw in histry at University f Queensland, began with the fllwing intrductry cmments After 100 years the mst astnishing thing abut the surf lifesaving mvement in Australia is that it is currently at the vanguard f sme critical areas f scial change in Australia. That an assciatin f abut 113,000 vlunteer members wh adpted at their inceptin a military-style mdel f rganizatin, and wh nly admitted wmen t full membership in 1980, is capable f leading majr scial change in Australia is a subject wrthy f further analysis. (Stell, 2007) Thrugh these cmments, the reviewer recgnizes the valuable rle Surf Life Saving is playing in leading the way in embracing scial change; a rle that will prvide benefits acrss the Australian

2 cmmunity. Embracing cultural diversity is ne element f the scial change agenda engaging Surf Life Saving Australia in its pursuit f rganisatinal change. THE AUSTRALIAN BEACH CONTEXT The beach is a ppular recreatinal destinatin fr Australians. The beach plays an imprtant rle in the makeup f the Australian psyche. It is a destinatin f preference that epitmises the rites f passage fr many within the Australian cmmunity as they mve thrugh life: they hneymn at the beach, they take their families n hlidays t the beach, they find refuge at the beach in Australia s heat, and they mve residence t be near the beach. The issue f cultural diversity n Australia s beaches invlves sharing and participating in the beach experience. The questin emerges, On whse terms des that sharing and participatin take place? The Australian surf lifesaver has als becme synnymus with the beach, and in particular with safety at the beach. The Australian surf lifesaver has becme a natinal icn. In 2007 Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) celebrates 100 years as a water safety rganisatin. Over that time, SLSA has remained essentially a white, Angl-Celtic rganisatin. Tday, the Australian cmmunity enjys a high degree f cultural diversity, and if SLSA is t maintain its relevancy as a cmmunity based rganisatin, then it needs t reflect a membership base that is mre representative f the Australian cmmunity. An incident at Crnulla n 4 December 2005 generated a wakeup call t bth SLSA and the Australian cmmunity. The incident ccurred between tw lcal surf lifesavers and a number f yung Australians f Middle Eastern appearance. It is alleged t have started as an exchange f wrds and ended with a physical cnfrntatin. In respnse t the incident, a large grup f men and wmen gathered in the surrunds f Nrth Crnulla beach the fllwing weekend carrying Australian flags and vicing supprt fr lcal surf lifesavers.. The resulting civil disrder became knwn as the Crnulla rits. The Australian beach lifestyle had becme a fcus f cmmunity tensin. This paper addresses the issues f diversity and inclusin within SLSA, with a particular fcus n cultural diversity and ethnicity issues arising as a cnsequence f the Crnulla rits. It prvides a discussin f the steps taken t cnsult with the cmmunity, the challenges faced in ensuring SLSA s acceptance and understanding f cultural diversity, and addressing SLSA s image t reflect that acceptance and understanding t the Australian cmmunity. ETHNICITY AND SURF LIFE SAVING A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Surf Life Saving Australia has in excess f than 113,000 members in 305 clubs arund the cast (Surf, Life, Saving, & Australia, 2006). Fr its first seventy years, almst withut exceptin, SLSA was the preserve f white, Angl-Saxn males. It was nt until 1980, when females were finally admitted as fully-patrlling members, that SLSA rganisatin pened itself up t significant scial change as an rganisatin. Wmen nw make up in excess f 40 per cent f the SLSA s 120,000 membership. The ppularity f the nippers mvement (i.e. bys and girls between the ages f five and thirteen) since the late 1970s has been anther surce f scial change as SLSA pened itself up t children and their families. Tday there are mre future vlunteer lifesavers in training (ie. nippers ) than there are active patrlling surf lifesavers. These tw significant changes t SLSA s demgraphic makeup ver the past thirty years help t chrnicle a changing perceptin f the rganisatin pening itself up t an increasingly wider Australian demgraphic. But there is still a way t g. In a cuntry where 24 per cent f the ppulatin was brn verseas (Australian, Bureau, f, & Statistics, 2006)and 26 per cent f persns brn in Australia had at least ne verseas-brn parent (Australian et al., 2006) SLSA membership has yet t be representative f this demgraphic prfile. The reasns are cmplex, and include bth perceived

3 and real barriers t entry t Surf Life Saving in the eyes f bth members f the cmmunity and members within SLSA. The icnic image f the Australian surf lifesaver tanned, blnd hair, blue eyes, and able t swim thrugh huge seas is a lng way frm the reality f surf life saving tday. This perceptin f a surf lifesaver pses a barrier t many members f culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) cmmunities. T qualify as a fully qualified patrlling surf lifesaver, a candidate must pass a series f tests invlving basic thery, first aid and resuscitatin, surf rescue skills and a basic physical fitness assessment as part f a Brnze medallin. In reality, there are many ther patrlling duties, such as first aid, resuscitatin and radi peratin, which d nt require the hlding f a Brnze Medallin. In 2000, SLSA recgnised that SLSA s membership demgraphics were nt representative f the wider Australian cmmunity. It cmmissined research that fcussed n perceptins f surf life saving in the ethnic Australian cmmunities. Overall, this research fund that there was a high rate f awareness f surf clubs and surf life saving amng ethic Australians (Big Picture Cnsulting Grup, 2000, p.5). But it als identified barriers t jining including friendship circles and physical restrictins including the inability t swim. As a result f the Sund the Sirens research, SLSA adpted the engagement f brader ethnic grups as ne f its key strategic bjectives. Innvative prgrams were develped by a clubs including ne at Scarbr Surf Life Saving Club prmpted by a drwning f a yung Vietnamese Australian male. The Scarbr SLSC (Western Australia) develped a prgram invlving internatinal students frm the Perth Mdern Schl. Students frm Afghanistan, Belgium, Burma, China, France, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Krea, Philippines, Sudan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yugslavia were invited t a series f Days At The Beach. After tw years, the prgram resulted in seven students btaining their Brnze Medallin. One f the key lessns frm the Scarbr experience is that, fr its prgram t succeed, cnsistent effrt and cmmitment was required. Unfrtunately, a lack f access t the financial resurces necessary t prvide natinal supprt fr a greater engagement f CALD cmmunities was a limiting factr. This changed fllwing the events at Crnulla in December ON THE SAME WAVE The On the Same Wave (OTSW) prgram is an initiative f Surf Life Saving, the cmmunity and bth lcal and natinal gvernment and was cmmenced in July The OTSW prgram prvides supprt t yung Australians f all backgrunds, particularly yung Australians f Middle Eastern backgrund, t becme part f the beach experience, and t engage with Surf Life Saving arund Australia. The partnership aims t achieve greater harmny between all beach users and prmte a culture that the beach is there t share. It further aims t develp inclusive practices within SLSA and individual surf life saving clubs t mre effectively attract members frm a brader Australian ppulatin demgraphic. Initial cnsultatin The OTSW prgram cmmenced with fcus grup cnsultatin in Suth-Western Sydney. Participants in the fcus grups came frm a diversity f cmmunities, with the majrity being Australians frm Middle Eastern and Lebanese backgrunds. Key findings frm the fcus grups included: There is a very strng perceptin amngst yung peple that Surf Life Saving is fr peple frm Angl-Celtic backgrunds. At the utset 98% f yung peple said that they wuld nt cnsider becming a surf lifesaver. Reasns fr nt jining included nt feeling welcme, nt believing they had the physical skills, and having significant family cmmitments that limited their time.

4 Participants had strng feelings abut the Crnulla rits. They ften felt singled ut in Crnulla and n the beach. 80% f participants indicated that seeing ethnic surf lifesavers n the beach wuld help t prevent a repeat f the incidents in Crnulla. Despite the large number f fcus grup participants wh said they wuld nt be surf lifesavers, 60% indicated that they wuld be interested t learn skills assciated with lifesaving. This latter finding was an imprtant influence in the design f the OTSW prgram and resulted in an emphasis being placed n general beach awareness and surf safety, and less f an emphasis n recruiting surf lifesavers. The utcmes f the prgram were refcussed t the number f peple invlved in beach visits and basic surf safety lessns. T supprt this cre f the OTSW prgram, it was agreed that ther strands in the strategy wuld include: prductin f multi-lingual brchures with a safety and recruitment fcus wide prmtin f OTSW prgrams t reach a maximum number f peple cultural awareness training in the surf life saving clubs The evlving prgram With infrmatin gained frm the initial fcus grup cnsultatin, the On the Same Wave prgram was develped with a number f strands. The apprach taken was met with a willingness frm cmmunities and schl grups t learn mre abut beach safety and surf lifesaving. As a result, surf awareness prgrams were delivered extensively and were reinfrced with infrmatin abut further curses (such as the SLSA Brnze Medallin) and membership pprtunities within surf life saving clubs. The fllwing specific prgrams were delivered and cntinue t be delivered: Surf Awareness prgrams Resurce Develpment Brnze Medallin training Cultural Awareness Training Prmting surf awareness t peple frm CALD backgrunds. Prgrams f varius lengths including ne, tw r five day prgrams as well as half day and ne hur sessins. These prgrams aim t increase surf safety amngst CALD cmmunities and t reach a wide number f peple frm acrss Sydney, with the aim f breaking dwn surf life saving steretypes. Resurces, including lessn plans and delivery supprts, have been develped t assist in the delivery f prgrams. Outcmes f the prgrams are matched t the needs and abilities f the students, resulting in delivery in a frmat that caters fr grups with limited swimming ability. Brnze Medallin training was delivered t a grup f yung peple frm the Lakemba Sprts Club t prvide them with the necessary skills t becme active surf lifesavers. These individuals als received further awards during their training including first aid and resuscitatin awards. Eighteen (18) new members frm predminantly Muslim backgrunds are nw actively patrlling as members f ne f Crnulla s fur surf life saving clubs. Cultural awareness training was cnducted with surf life saving vlunteers and staff in rder t ensure that they had an understanding f the issues affecting peple frm diverse cultural backgrunds as well as an appreciatin fr the radblcks that CALD peple face when cnsidering jining SLS. This training has been further develped as part f an nging surf life saving training package fr clubs.

5 The OTSW strategy reflects nt nly the need t engage with the cmmunity, but als t build a culture f change within SLSA and its clubs that acknwledges and embraces cultural diversity within Australian sciety. This need was addressed thrugh the delivery f cultural awareness training and the develpment f a cultural awareness DVD. These measures mved twards engaging clubs in cultural change. Sustaining such change prvides SLSA with a significant challenge t ensure that On the Same Wave creates sustained change. Outcmes (June 2006 June 2007) The OTSW prgram has achieved a number f utcmes in its first year. These utcmes include a. OTSW prgram utreach invlving 46 schls and cmmunity grups visited, 819 lifesaving awards gained (including surf awareness awards, Brnze medallins, resuscitatin and first aid awards), and 1754 students participating in surf educatin sessins. b. Extensive resurces prduced fr clubs (cultural awareness training DVD, supprt tls fr engagement and delivery f prgrams, psters) and the cmmunity (multi-lingual water safety brchures, multilingual infrmatin brchures and inclusive imagery). c. Cntact and cllabratin with Intensive English Clleges (IEC s) t educate newly arrived migrants in surf safety and surf lifesaving. These clleges have been established t prvided schling t newly arrived yung peple that have limited English skills. d. A significant level f engagement and educatin within CALD cmmunities in three f the majr Australian Capital Cities (Sydney, Melburne, Brisbane). e. A prgram mdel that prvides advice t clubs and states n key principles f cmmunity engagement and prgram delivery based n the Sydney experiences. Engage with cmmunities thrugh fcus grups t establish cmmunity perceptins f surf life saving and learning needs apprpriate t each cmmunity. Access the suite f OTSW educatinal resurces t meet a range f cmmunity learning needs. Prvide training fr a pl f skilled surf lifesavers t enable them t articulate the benefits f the water safety, drive prgram bjectives and tailr resurces t cmmunity needs. Prvide cultural awareness training t equip surf life saving club persnnel t ensure clubs are accepting f cultural difference. f. Extensive media cverage bth natinally and internatinally. Challenges fr SLSA As a result f the On The Same Wave experience, three majr challenges present fr SLSA within the cntext f embracing cultural diversity. 1. The first challenge invlves breaking dwn the perceptin that all surf lifesavers are f white Angl Celtic Australians wh must be strng swimmers. This is a significant barrier in reaching ut t CALD cmmunities. Part f this challenge invlves SLSA s use f steretypical images f surf lifesavers in printed materials and advertising. In beginning t address this challenge, SLSA is reviewing imagery and marketing strategies. 2. A secnd challenge relates t the sustainability f a cultural diversity change agenda acrss the rganisatin. All levels f SLSA (members, clubs, states, natinal) need t make a cmmitment t

6 cultural acceptance and change. This will nly happen when surf lifesavers understand the benefits f embracing cultural diversity. Failure t address this challenge carries with it the risk f diminishing SLSA s relevancy t the Australian cmmunity. 3. A third challenge invlves wrking with lcal cmmunities t address the integratin f marginalized grups int mainstream rganizatins and services. This challenge invlves recgnizing the imprtance f establishing and maintaining relatinships as the crnerstne f any relatinship with a cmmunity grup. That relatinship will define and determine the utcmes f the resulting prgram, and its nging success. This challenge translates int the need fr the lcal surf life saving club t establish psitive and mutually supprtive relatinships with the cmmunity grup(s) participating in the prgram. An Inclusive Organisatin In addressing the challenges utlined abve, SLSA is embracing cultural diversity within a wider Inclusin Strategy perspective. A number f issues relating t cultural diversity are seen as being applicable acrss ther frms f diversity (i.e. gender, age, sexuality, physical disability, etc). The Inclusin Strategy enunciates a set f basic inclusin principles that relate acrss a range f diversity challenges. Key inclusin principles are Diversity embraces a range f membership prfiles, including wmen, yuth, age, cultural and linguistic diversity, and disability. Inclusin is fundamental t the egalitarian culture within SLSA, and thse egalitarian values embrace all Australians. Establishing and maintaining a psitive relatinship is the crnerstne f any inclusive practice. The relatinship established defines and determines the utcmes f an inclusin prgram, and its nging success. Inclusin as fundamental t the recruitment and retentin f all members. Surf Life Saving is fr all Australians. Embracing cultural diversity is ne dynamic in the challenge f change if vlunteer rganisatins are t maintain their relevancy within the Australian cmmunity. Over the years, SLSA has respnded t diversity challenges ver the past thirty years. The acknwledgment that SLSA needed t pen its drs t mre diverse sectins f the Australian cmmunity can been demnstrated thrugh the inclusin f wmen as active surf lifesavers inclusin f nippers as members f the rganisatin adptin f masters cmpetitin t prvide lder surf lifesavers with the pprtunity t maintain an active interest in surf sprts and als t encurage them t cntinue active patrlling duties r cmmence such duties (fr later entry members) extending the minimum age f SLSA membership t 5 years (previusly 7 years).

7 The OTSW prgram and its fcus n embracing cultural diversity is a cntinuatin f SLSA s jurney twards being an inclusive rganisatin within a changing Australian sciety. Take Hme Messages 1. Spending time listening t the target cmmunity and seeing the issues frm their perspective is critical t the engagement f the cmmunity, and the nging success f any prgram. 2. Establishing a degree f cmfrt with water-based activities (preferably within the target cmmunity lcality) prvides the basis f trust upn which the prgram will be built. 3. Engaging with ther cmmunity supprt agencies (that prvide integratin services fr the target cmmunity) is imprtant t learn frm their experiences. 4. Mdifying teaching / learning resurces t cater fr the experiences and understandings f a particular cmmunity is vital in tailring a prgram t the needs f that cmmunity. 5. Change is a tw-way prcess. An analysis f the change required within yur rganizatin will be critical if it is t adapt t the needs and expectatins f a wider range f cmmunity participatin. 6. Embracing diversity is a slw prcess. It is imprtant nt t expect significant change in the shrt term. Embracing diversity is a lng-term prject. REFERENCES Australian Bureau f Statistics. (2006) Australian Year Bk. Canberra: authr Big Picture Cnsulting Grup. (2000). Sund The Siren: Explring the Changing Face f Surf Life Saving Australia. Sydney: Surf Life Saving Australia. Stell, M. (2007). Between the flags: 100 years f surf lifesaving [Electrnic Versin]. recllectins Jurnal f the Natinal Museum f Australia, 2. Retrieved frm Surf Life Saving Australia. (2006). SLSA Annual Reprt. Sydney: authr.