Sporting Linx: An effective bio- psychosocial …...3 Sporting Linx: An effective bio-psychosocial systemic intervention for refugee youth in schools. - Traumatic events have primary

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Shaun Nemorin STARTTS

Sporting Linx: An effective bio-psychosocial systemic intervention for

refugee youth in schools.

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Today’s Presentation

© Copyright STARTTS

1. Why Sports?

2. Sporting Linx Project and Aims

3. Outcomes: A bio-psychosocial systemic intervention

4. Reflection

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Sporting Linx: An effective bio-psychosocial systemic intervention for refugee youth in schools.

- Traumatic events have primary effects not only on the psychological structures of the self but also on the systems of attachment and meaning that link individual and Community

- The fundamental stages of recovery are establishing safety, reconstructing the trauma story, and restoring the connection between survivors and their community (Herman 1992)

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Social Capital Building

Build bridges for individuals and groups to the wider community

Facilitate access to community resources and power structures

Foster individual self-confidence and cultural self-esteem

Why Sports?


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Positive Behaviour Modelling or Mentoring

Positive relationships between participants, group facilitator, counsellors and school faculty

Positive behaviour support strategies that promote positive connections with workers to assist in ameliorating the effects of negative experiences and to minimise the possibility of re-traumatisation.

Why Sports?


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Positive Behaviour Modelling or Mentoring (cont)

Rhodes (2002)

1. Enhance youth’s social relationships and emotional wellbeing.

2. Improvising cognitive skills through instruction and conversation

3. Promoting positive identity development through serving as role models and advocates

Why Sports?


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Cognitive Behavioural approach

Goal setting

Psycho-education

Grounded, centred, focussed

Standing strong

Why Sports?


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Asset Based Community Development (ABCD)

Focus on strengths.

Level playing field vis-à-vis host community

Providing an opportunity for recognition, impacting on self esteem.

Why Sports?


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Sporting Linx: Project Aims

To increase engagement of participants with each other and the community.

Modelling and practise of appropriate behaviour and attitudes toward sport and increased interpersonal skills

Highlight the importance of healthy lifestyles and relationships.

Highlight goal setting as a pathway to success.

Highlight Leadership skills

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In School Program

FACS funded

2011 inception

5 schools covered across Holroyd, Blacktown and Auburn councils

Sporting Linx Project


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In School Program (cont)

8-week (min) clinic in a stakeholder selected sport Professional coaches and community volunteers to bothcoach and mentor participants

A focus on:

game play, healthy lifestyle sportsmanship.Interpersonal Skills, Goal Setting

This creates the opportunity to identify and foster leadership potential.



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Leadership Camp

Participants who have been identified as showing leadership potential and community spirit are invited to attend.

Camp provides the opportunity to gain:

Coaching skills (formal certification)Refereeing skills (formal certification)Understand and develop leadership ability

Sustainability



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Bio-Psychosocial Systemic Model

Mainstream Society and InstitutionsRefugee Community

FamilyIndividual

Support NetworkTrauma

Interventions

BioPsycho

Social

RECOVERY

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Systemic (evaluation outcomes)

Individual

Access to Community development workers Access to Counsellors

Social

Access to team activities ( participation in competitions)Greater access to social/community support structures

Sporting Linx: A bio-psychosocial systemic intervention


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Systemic (Evaluation outcomes)

Refugee communities

Access to Inter school or Community activitiesLinking refugee communities with mainstream service providers and funding bodiesCommunity run events/programsGreater cross cultural understanding within local sport and community organizations

Organizational Access

School trainingDept Sport and RecreationLiaison, support and consultancy

Sporting Linx: A bio-psychosocial systemic intervention


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Reflection

Need to professionalise sports as a psychosocial tool and tool for social inclusion. Infinite anecdotal evidence (evaluation processes)

The incredible success of sport as a tool for community development within an Australian context.

Sporting Linx: Reflection


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Sporting Linx: An effective bio- psychosocial …...3 Sporting Linx: An effective bio-psychosocial systemic intervention for refugee youth in schools. - Traumatic events have primary