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Community Engagement

Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Exercise Science

Community Engagement


East Timor – “Future in Youth”

The School is committed to innovative community engagement projects, and its major initiative is the “Future In Youth” project in Timor Leste (East Timor). On an annual basis, staff and students from the School deliver a three-week Sport Education program aimed to engage local teenagers, parents and others, as well as a Coach Education program for local volunteer coaches.

ACU students coaching in Timor 

Students have the opportunity to travel to Timor Leste and assist in the community capacity building project in the community of Baucau, 120 kilometres east of the capitol, Dili. Under the supervision of senior staff, students conduct an after-school sport education program for youth using the sport of football (soccer) as a vehicle to promote messages of health, wellbeing and life skills.  Students are involved in all facets of the program including the preparation, conduct and evaluation. Students find the experience demanding and challenging but also very rewarding from both a personal and professional perspective. The program aims to meet the expectations of the Football Federation of Australia which has been engaged by the East Timor government to assist the East Timor Football Federation in the re-structure and development of the sport. A primary legacy would be the first steps in the formation of a community network of sporting teams/clubs.

ACU community engagement in East TImor 

The outcomes have been outstanding, with the “Future In Youth” program recruiting 800 children and adolescents and 33 coaches into the three-week football program in November 2011. This followed a successful mid-year Coach Education program that had over 40 Volunteer Coaches attend. This built on the first year delivery in 2010, where over 500 children participated in the Sport Education program. Upon reviewing the program through focus groups of coaches and participants, the results indicate that there was improved understanding of nutrition, a willingness of the coaches to be involved in the conduct of opportunities for children, and that participants enjoyed the program  and wanted more opportunities to play.
 

Active After-School Care


Through the strong partnership between Active After-School Care (AASC) and the School of Exercise Science at ACU’s Strathfield campus, students have been able to participate in programs that enable them to bring theory learned at university into practise.  They are able to contribute to the health and wellbeing of children in local communities whilst learning skills not taught in the confines of a lecture theatre. And by providing their time free of charge, schools and community groups are able to use government funding to purchase the equipment needed to sustain these programs. This in turn enables the AASC to be able to deliver their important program to a wider cross-section of the local community.

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Nano Nagle Camp


The Nano Nagle Camp is a camp for disadvantaged children aged 6-12 years old who live in the Campbelltown area in Sydney. It is managed by the Presentation Sisters in partnership with St Vincent de Paul Family Care and Support Service at Campbelltown.  Camps are run with only 12 children and 8-10 volunteer leaders who act as positive role models and mentors, whilst helping to engage the children in camp activities including archery, low ropes, canoeing, sports, craft, swimming and team initiative courses.  Exercise Science students have been participating as camp leaders since 2009, with over 15 students each year attending training and each of the ten camps. An increase in funding, and participation of volunteer camp leaders, has meant that there will be an increase in the number of camps offered in 2012.

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Edmund Rice Camps


Edmund Rice camps offer holiday programs for disadvantaged children of all ages, with the majority coming from the Mt Druitt area in Sydney.  The camp, set up by the Christian Brothers, is staffed by young volunteers (18-35 years) who participate in all aspects of the programs.  Students from the School of Exercise Science at Strathfield, together with students from other faculties, aim to provide the children with a safe, positive, fun and rewarding holiday experience.  Volunteer leaders are asked to be attentive to the needs of the children and to act as positive role models.  The camp challenges the young adult volunteer leaders to offer friendship and leadership.  Being responsible for children allows the volunteers to enhance their own living skills, responsibility, and self-awareness of their talents. Exercise Science provides three camp leaders at each of the five annual Edmund Rice camps.

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