Using university sports facilities to promote physical activity and wellbeing for ezidi people in regional australia

Introduction University sports facilities play a key role in supporting the wellbeing of staff, students, and the broader community. This is especially relevant in regional Australian communities where sports participation is a key cultural experience. Community members from migrant and refugee backgrounds are less likely to be involved in regular sport and physical activity or receive their associated health benefits. This study evaluated a two-year program in regional Australia that used university sports facilities and programs to build community partnerships that aimed to assist a cohort of Ezidi people with refugee backgrounds to become more physically active. Methods The Diffusion of Innovation (Rogers, 2003) theory for health promotion and a qualitative approach were used to obtain the perspectives of community stakeholders, including university sports staff and Ezidi participants. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were the main source of data collection involving twenty people (14 Ezidi people, 6 community stakeholders). These were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. The research questions that guided the study were: RQ1-How does physical activity drive social inclusion for newly arrived Ezidi people in a regional city? RQ2-What characterises best practice for supporting migrants and refugees transition to a regional Australian community for holistic health benefits? Results: Analysis of semistructured interviews and focus groups identified five key themes: 1) Opportunity for cross-cultural understanding; 2) Opportunities to be social; 3) A sense of belonging; 4) Health benefits (Physical, mental and emotional) following the experience of trauma; 5) Challenging gender stereotypes. The findings demonstrated that the university-based sports program benefitted the holistic wellbeing of Ezidi community members, promoted intercultural understanding, and even challenged gender stereotypes. Mental and social health especially were positively impacted following the experience of trauma, with young Ezidi people, in particular, having opportunity to engage with ‘Australian’ university students and community members of similar age. The findings indicate that early intervention of intersectoral sporting programs for newly arrived migrants and refugees in regional Australia can be a powerful mechanism for physical activity promotion and enhancing settlement outcomes. Young people, from older adolescence to early adulthood, appeared to experience the most positive outcomes. Discussion The program has exemplified the power of university-community networks to benefit holistic community wellbeing and physical activity promotion. This study has potential to support future bestpractice transition models for other diaspora groups globally. This study demonstrated the power of interagency collaborations, and the benefits of low-cost group activities. Reference Rogers, E. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations. Simon and Schuster.