Minister Katrine Hildyard with Port Adelaide Football Club Community Programs Team Leader Christine Glenn and kinship carer Arabella Stravolemos.
In an exciting collaboration between the South Australian sporting community and the State Government, four of the state’s leading sporting organisations are kicking off a specialised training program aimed at creating a supportive and inclusive environment for children who have experienced trauma. The program, titled ‘Calm, Connect, Coach: Understanding childhood trauma and supportive sporting environments’, has been developed by the Department for Child Protection and equips coaches, administrators, and volunteers with the necessary skills to comprehend the nuances of childhood trauma, its impact on brain development, and behavioural responses.
Included in the program are the SA Cricket Association, Basketball SA, Adelaide Football Club, and Port Adelaide Football Club. These organisations have completed the pilot phase of the learning package, which addressed how trauma can affect children’s participation in sports, with activities that have proven benefits in physical, mental, and emotional health.
Minister for Child Protection, Katrine Hildyard, shared, “We know that for young people who have experienced trauma, just fronting up to a club can be a really big step. We know trauma can impact how children engage with activities and respond to different situations. By helping our sporting volunteers and coaches understand this, we can create more trauma-informed and supportive environments that positively include all kids.
“I’m so very grateful to major sporting organisations, including SACA, Basketball SA, Adelaide Football Club and Port Adelaide Football Club for embracing this important training. We often say that every person and every organisation has a role to play in child protection and family support. Thank you to these sporting organisations for playing theirs.”
The government has also developed a Joint Plan of Action with these organisations to cement the commitment toward children and young people engaged with the child protection and family support system. This plan will improve opportunities for children to engage in sports, support attendance at events, promote the use of sports vouchers, and initiate a sporting equipment donation scheme.
The training syllabus provided an introduction to childhood trauma, highlighted the benefits of sports for affected children, and outlined potential challenges to their engagement. It also presented a series of trauma-informed strategies for coaching, leading to more empathetic and effective interactions with young participants.
Following the reception of positive feedback from the initial implementation, there are now initiatives underway to expand and sustain the training across more sporting organisations.
Jake Battifuoco, General Manager at Power Community Ltd, shared, ” Port Adelaide Football Club Sporting clubs, especially at the grassroots level, have a significant opportunity to positively influence children and young people. It’s important to recognise that many carry unseen challenges into the sporting environment.
“The trauma-informed training was incredibly valuable, equipping our team with practical tools and strategies to better understand trauma-related behaviours and create a safe, inclusive space where every child feels supported and empowered to thrive.”
Through initiatives like these, South Australia is paving the way for a more aware and inclusive sporting culture.
