BASEBALL VICTORIA - COACHING ACCREDITATION July 2014 | Page 8

CaLD Communities and Indigenous Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) refers to the wide range of cultural groups and individuals that make up the Australian population. It includes groups and individuals who differ according to religion, race, language and ethnicity, except those whose ancestry is Anglo-Saxon, Anglo Celtic, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. CaLD communities provide a huge opportunity for clubs to increase and maintain their levels of participation and will also help to create an inclusive culture . Providing access opportunities for, and engaging multicultural communities should be an important consideration for all baseball clubs. There are many different types of CaLD communities in Australia and with this comes different barriers to sport participation. One of the key steps in the inclusion of a CaLD community that needs to be taken at your club is understanding the specifi c needs of that community. This will help you to understand the barriers they face. Invite: Providing fliers in languages other than English about your club and its programs to the CaLD communities in your area. Talking to key CaLD community leaders and invite them to the club. Advertise the invitation through ethno specific radio and newspapers. Welcome: Have “come and try” days at your club specifically for CaLD communities. Strong Induction Processes – Once you have invited a community into your club, you must make sure they feel involved and engaged immediately. This will help them feel a sense of belonging which will keep them coming back to the club. Understand: Adjusting training and playing times to respect the culture of the CaLD community. Providing different food and drink options at the canteen. Encouraging a member of a CaLD community to be on your club committee to help look after the needs of their community . Offering discounted memberships to suit their situation. Tip: Create a close working relationship with a member of the community “The journey around the bases is different for everyone”