Sport
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For some people who have made Australia their new home, sport has been an important bridge to their new culture. Sport has enabled them to meet and build friendships with other Australians, to learn about life in Australia and to share who they are with others. It is an important way of promoting health and wellbeing, and can help refugees in recovering from traumatic experiences.
However, refugees face barriers to becoming involved in sport. There are not enough sport programs which cater for the cultural needs of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Refugees also find it difficult to participate because they lack the money to do so, cannot get transport to participate, or find it difficult to speak English.
Organisations involved in the settlement of refugees have long recognised the value of sport in helping people adjust to life in Australia. Many local strategies have been developed to help refugees participate in sport.
