Participation in sport and physical activity plays a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people and their communities. It provides a range of benefits including increased self esteem, social and community cohesion, improvements in health and overall wellbeing.

Indigenous Sport Program overview

The Indigenous Sport Program (ISP) is run by the Australian Sports Commission in partnership with the Department of Ageing and the Department of Sport and Recreation. The program aims to:

• Encourage Indigenous people to be more active and to play sport at all levels.
• Increase opportunities for Indigenous people to learn the skills needed to organise, deliver and manage community-based sport.
• Assist talented Indigenous sportspeople to access the support they need to reach their sporting goals. 

Indigenous Sport Development Officers (ISDOs) are located in centres throughout WA and help to promote community-based sporting opportunities and services. Through the ISDOs, you can also find out more about sport and recreation, including:

• Coaching and officiating.
• Getting involved in local sporting clubs.

The Elite Indigenous Travel and Accommodation Assistance Program (EITAAP) provides grants to Indigenous people over the age of 12 years who have been selected to represent their state/territory at national sporting events and competitions, or those selected in an Australian team to compete at international level.

The grants are for travel and accommodation expenses only and are also available for Indigenous coaches, managers, trainers and officials.

The Indigenous Sport Program (ISP), in partnership with the following State Sporting Associations, is working on designing and implementing programs to increase the participation rate of Indigenous people in the following sporting and recreational activities:

• Athletics WA
• Basketball WA
• Tennis West
• Football West
• Netball WA
• Softball WA
• Seniors Recreation Council
• Golf WA
• Western Australian Cricket Association

For more information on programs concerning these sports, please contact the Indigenous Sport Development Officer in your region.