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Introducing ASHE!

Rumbalara's unique partnership with the University of Melbourne

By Jason Briggs and Andy Cowan

The primary goal of the Academy of Sport, Health and Education is to contribute to a significant improvement in the health, education and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community of the Goulburn Valley region, to be achieved through courses and activities built around sport and sport-related areas, which are inclusive and open to the wider community, and which foster personal development, leadership and integration.

The primary goal of the Academy of Sport, Health and Education is to contribute to a significant improvement in the health, education and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community of the Goulburn Valley region, to be achieved through courses and activities built around sport and sport-related areas, which are inclusive and open to the wider community, and which foster personal development, leadership and integration.

The Academy of Sport, Health and Education (ASHE) in Shepparton is a partnership between The University of Melbourne and the Rumbalara Football Netball Club (RFNC), with strong support from Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE. ASHE is a novel and carefully conceived approach to the social and economic integration of Indigenous people. ASHE addresses education, health and employment inequities for Indigenous people by providing personal support and counselling, relevant courses, and explicit links to genuine employment and further education outcomes.

ASHE is not an elite-sporting academy, nor is it solely about careers in sport. Rather, the subtlety of the concept lies in the use of participation in sport as the entry point for gaining the interest and confidence of Indigenous people. The success of ASHE rests on its capacity to seamlessly integrate sport, health and education within a trusted, culturally appropriate environment.

While the main impetus for ASHE is the participation and integration of Indigenous people, ASHE is not exclusively for Indigenous people. ASHE is inclusive. However, Indigenous leadership is central to the ASHE concept of providing a trusted environment and a symbol of Indigenous leadership.

ASHE vocational programs focus on individuals and their personal needs and objectives. The ASHE participants receive individualised education and career planning as the foundation for their participation in programs. ASHE courses are modular and articulated, providing maximum opportunities and incentives for individuals to build credits towards certification at higher levels and maximum flexibility of entry and exit points. ASHE currently is delivering the certificate II in Sport (career orientated participation) and will expand in 2005 to offer Certificate III and IV level courses in Sport and Recreation.

In addition to the sporting focus of the curriculum students are involved in leadership and personal development camps throughout the semester. And have the opportunity to complete accreditations in first aid, sport training and coaching. These accreditations will support them in them in accessing employment or further training.

ASHE development occurs at a critical time for the integration of Indigenous people in the Goulburn Valley. The development of ASHE coincides with the COAG Trials, for which Shepparton is a trial site. It is believed the existence of ASHE, as a means for expressing Indigenous leadership, will have significant symbolic and practical influence. ASHE will contribute significantly to challenging assumptions and building new community attitudes. A thriving ASHE also will make a broader contribution to community needs, assisting in the social, cultural, economic and infrastructure development of the City of Greater Shepparton and the region. ASHE therefore has the potential to build a national profile as an exemplar for Indigenous integration, drawing attention to Victoria, the Goulburn Valley Region, and the City of Greater Shepparton.

In creating ASHE, The Rumbalara Football Netball Club and The University of Melbourne are committed to establishing a unique educational institution that provides distinctive programs of first-class standard. Three factors are believed central to the Academy's potential:

• ASHE serves the needs of all people in the community, not only those with talent in sport -- sport provides the framework for the programs, but sporting careers are not the principal goal.
• The curriculum is cross-sectoral, focussing on individual needs through personal needs analyses, the identification of personal goals, and direct links to employment and other education opportunities.
• The RFNC-University of Melbourne partnership is a robust and powerful one. RFNC is at the hub of community leadership, with a proven record in delivering community programs. The University of Melbourne brings its academic expertise, organisational capacity and deep, long-term commitment to engagement with the region through its Goulburn Valley Initiative (GVI).

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