Social and Cultural Impacts of Australian Football with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

This thesis explores the social and cultural impacts of Australian Football (AFL) with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A decolonised approach to research was embodied by the non-Indigenous researcher to prioritise Indigenous worldviews and knowledges. Ninety-nine program participants and managers from AFL Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs were engaged in interviews and yarning circles. Through an integrated Indigenous socio-ecological model, findings highlight the central role of culture in program design and outcomes. This research ultimately presents fundamental design principles for decolonising program design, prioritising Indigenous worldviews and challenging Western approaches to realise self-determined, long-term outcomes.