ESTABLISHED in 2004, the Academy of Sport, Health & Education is an Indigenous focused program with a difference.
ASHE, created in partnership between The University of Melbourne and Rumbalara Football and Netball Club, provides pathways to further education and employment for young and mature-aged Aboriginal students through the provision of VCAL and vocation learning in a culturally safe and supported environment.
In addition to returning to the classroom, this year saw the return of ASHEfest, which has brought Indigenous and non-Indigenous students together for Traditional games, arts and crafts, Traditional dance, language and storytelling since 2006.
“ASHEfest hasn’t run for the last two years due to Covid, before then, it has been running for many years, bringing students together to share our culture and our knowledge,” said student services officer, Seldan Andrews.
Almost 2,000 students from 22 schools in the region participated in ASHEfest 2022 over three days.
ASHE uses sporting participation to undertake education and training within a culturally appropriate environment, particularly for Indigenous students. Students are supported to follow their interests and talents beyond sport, however.
“We’re about more than just sport, we see talents in many areas and our aim is to capture what each the student wants to do and what is best for them,” explained Seldan.
“The biggest outcome is to keep kids engaged by providing one-on-one learning experiences, cultural education, employment opportunities and pathways, while also improving health and wellbeing outcomes
“When students finish with us, we don’t just let them go either. We ask, ‘Where can we go to from here?’ and support them until they find employment to start the next chapter,” Seldan said.
With sport participation at its core, ASHE is working to improve Aboriginal equality and overall life outcomes, providing accessible, culturally-relevant education, training, health and employment opportunities and outcomes to primarily – but not exclusively – Aboriginal people.
