Gamechangers: Race, Inclusion & Education

The Gamechangers: race, inclusion & education

Former Olympic sprinter Patrick Johnson joined Sport Integrity Australia as a Culture and Safety Advisor to ensure our responses are appropriate and informed. Former Australian Diamonds Captain Caitlin Bassett speaks about her role as an Athlete Educator. 

TRANSCRIPT: PODCAST TEASER

Patrick Johnson: I think there's a shift to understanding sport is a vehicle for health, for education, to awareness, but also knowing what it means around reconciliation. The shift around real respect, real acknowledgement and real understanding, there has to be a pathway. Regardless of where you live in this country if you want to be a great sportsperson then let's make sure you have the opportunity. It shouldn't matter if you're in rural or remote communities, it shouldn't matter if you're black, white or brindle, whatever background, you should be able to be given the same opportunities as everyone else.

Caitlin Basset: If the sporting organisation is using your image and using you to promote their brand, they also need to be responsible for helping keep you safe. Like I can throw and catch a netball and that's great, but how's that going to help me in the real world? And it's really nice to be working in this education role and understand that the things that I learnt during sport are now so relevant in helping me help others.

TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW WITH PATRICK JOHNSON

Tim Gavel: But firstly, to Patrick Johnson. Patrick is a Kaanju man from far North Queensland who's best known for being the first man of non-African descent to smash the 10 second barrier for the 100 metres. A dual Olympian, Patrick has an extensive career off the track that includes 10 years in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, more than 20 years of advocacy work for equal rights for all Australians, in addition to numerous indigenous leadership roles. Patrick is the inaugural Chair of the AOC's Indigenous Advisory Committee and is on the organising committee for the Olympic Games Board for Brisbane 2032, and he joins us now.

Well Patrick, firstly welcome to Sport Integrity Australia. I guess culture is a very important part of sport these days?

Patrick Johnson: Yeah definitely, and I think that's something that’s really great to be a part of Sport Integrity Australia, particularly around, we talk about cultural aspects and education and awareness, and I think it's something that as a country, and in sport that we really are making a lot of inroads to that space, but everyone's on their different journeys. So, it's really important to have that respect, but we have to lead by example, and I think that's where, part of my role here at Sport Integrity Australia is to really ensure that we are leading that space. 

Tim Gavel: Sport can be driver, can't it? In the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, there's a feeling that sport can drive cultural change wider than sport and that's why it's so important to embed it into sport.

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, and I think there's a shift to understanding sport is a vehicle for health, for education, to awareness, but also knowing what it means around reconciliation, and I think that there's a sense of the next nine years until Brisbane 2032, that we want to ensure that all Australians are a part of the Olympic Games and part of sport, and that's probably a bigger picture that we've looked at and bigger change that's happening in Australian sport, that we have to call out racism. We have to call out inequality. We have to create a real space for, culturally safe spaces around diversity and inclusion, and I think that's the shift that's happening in this country. 

And of course, we've got a long way to go in certain sports and certain realities, but I think if we have good leaders in this space and everyone sort of buys into it and understands why we're doing it, then it's a real game changer in what we're doing leading into 2032, but it's also ten years post the Olympic Games which is really important and really leave a legacy that's really meaningful.

Tim Gavel: Personally, did you experience much racism coming through as a sprinter?

Patrick Johnson: Not as much. There was always some racist taunts but I was fairly fortunate where my running, I did the talking on the track. But also, I think in track and field you had a lot of diversity and against, I was competing against Americans, Jamaicans and the rest of the world so it probably wasn't a space for racism, but it still occurs and I think this is the biggest issue that we've got in sport is making sure that we have no tolerance for it at every level, from grassroots, also high performance. And again, it's dealing with the unconscious bias as well that people may have over the years, so it's actually addressing that which is a really important component where people don't even know they're saying certain things that may be racist or may be affecting the staff or to athletes or anyone. 

So, we've really got to really be really inward thinking about how we reflect on our conversations and how we think, and that's a shift that as part of sport has a great vehicle in doing because sport breaks down all the barriers. Religion, race, culture, it brings people together. So how do we make sure sport then influences and educates in the right way?

Tim Gavel: Because discrimination still exists in sport and that is, I guess, where culture comes into it but with racism, it can lead to discrimination as well. I guess at a grassroots level, that's where you'd be trying to sort of integrate that racism, discrimination has no place in sport. 

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, it has to be at all levels and that's really important. From grassroots of course, they don't know nothing about racism unless they learn it from where they play or what they do so it's actually educating everyone involved, from parents to coaches to sporting organisations that there's no tolerance for racism, bullying, harassment, and you name it. It's really important that we understand why it happens, and I think there's that educational piece where you can say no to racism, but what's it really mean? 

So, there's that educational piece of why are people racists or why are people bullying or being harassed? So, it's really being clear, understanding the reasons behind it and ensuring that we understand we don't have any tolerance for it, so we don't have a place for that in this country and particularly in sport. 

Tim Gavel: Do you find it's an uncomfortable conversation to have with some people who probably don't know any different?

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, it's always uncomfortable but I think you have to have an open dialogue. You have to start somewhere, and again it's how you approach that. You have people that as I mentioned, that may have an unconscious bias of saying certain things that not really appropriate because they've said the same thing for the last 30 or 40 years. But how do we ensure that we educate them in a way that so 'Well hang on, that's not really appropriate. What you've actually said is pretty demeaning and it is racist towards who I am and my culture and my people and my religion’ or whatnot. 

So, it's actually, I'm a big person on calling it out but also educating because, again, some people who are blatantly racist, yes you got to call them out and you got to put them into place, but it's also understanding that some people that don't mean to do it because they actually didn't think it was an issue. 

So, it's actually changing the hearts and minds of individuals from the grassroots to high performance from, parents to referees to coaches to administrators to start saying, ‘Hang on, we need to just take a moment here. What do we actually mean by being culturally appropriate?’, ‘How do we actually make sure this space is safe for everyone regardless of your nationality or background?’ But we want to make sure we're the leaders for our kids because everything what I do and we do, I hope, is for leaving a greater legacy for our kids.

Tim Gavel: When you go to the Sports Commission, you're dealing with the elite athletes, you're Chair of the Indigenous Committee at the Australian Olympic Committee, do you find that it resonates? The message that you're telling elite athletes 'This is what you should be saying, this is what you should be doing, and this is how you should act so that it is culturally appropriate', are you finding that message is getting through?

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, I think the great thing about a lot of the athletes I've dealt with and even through the Olympic movement, that athletes are really, actively buying into this. They want to ensure that they are culturally appropriate because they see Australia as very diverse and multicultural, and sport is but how do we ensure that it's for everyone? 

And I think the great thing that we've got in Australia, there's a real movement within athletes in this country that are really the gamechangers. They're changing the way people perceive sport and athletes themselves because, if you don't have it leading by our athletes and our superstars, not only from our people that's well known but from the athletes from the grassroots, then it's very, very hard to continue their education because it's not driven by the ones that are really affected by it.

Tim Gavel: It’s not entirely easy though, is it? Because there is racism let's face it in Australia, and racism occurs at many different levels and you mentioned there a moment ago, the casual racism where people may not understand or really believe that they're being racist, whereas it's the blatant racism which can be incredibly hurtful and is directed towards somebody, so it still exists in Australia, doesn't it?

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, we can't sort of say it doesn't and it's really important that we all as individuals have responsibility to call it out. If you have a mate that's being racist, then you have to all that out.

Tim Gavel: Have you had that experience yourself?

Patrick Johnson: I've had sort of certain mates that have said things jokingly, I said 'Mate, I'm sorry mate, that's not appropriate', and they go 'But we know each other'. I said 'No, no, mate, I'm sorry but understand', and it's just educating. There's going to be people that are, whatever in life they're always going to be racist to, they're going to be ignorant to some of the real issues that are happening on the ground and where people come from, and they have their own stigma around our cultures and people. 

So again, it shouldn't be left up to the people of culture to call it out it has to be every single person's responsibility, regardless black, white or brindle, you call it out because you know it's wrong.

Tim Gavel: Within the Olympic movement, are there enough indigenous athletes taking part in sport?

Patrick Johnson: Oh yeah there's been 60 known indigenous Olympians over the course of the Olympic movement but of course, we would like to see more and that's probably the big shift that's happening where leading into of course, nine years until 2032 but you can see the sports, the shift around real respect, real acknowledgment and real understanding there has to be a pathway. Regardless of where you live in this country, if you want to be a great sportsperson then let's make sure you have the opportunity. It shouldn't matter if you're in rural or remote communities, it shouldn't matter if you're black, white or brindle, whatever background you should be able to be given the same opportunities as everyone else. 

And I know it's not there, but I think there's a shift that's happening and that's something that I'm passionate about to ensure that, let's say the Olympic movement itself, should be not just for the rich, it should be for every single person in this country to aspire, believe and could be a part of.

Tim Gavel: With your workshops, what do you talk about when you talk to elite athletes? Performance, high performance people, what do you talk about?

Patrick Johnson: Well first is probably getting their knowledge and understanding. So, I'm a big believer in actually understanding what they know. So, we can talk about cultural safe places, you can talk about cultural integrity, authority, cultural education, but everyone's on a different journey, so it's really important to, connect with people. And that's one of the bigger issues I have is you have to connect with the audience and the people you're talking to. Not talk at them.

Tim Gavel: You don't lecture them.

Patrick Johnson: Yeah. It's really important you bring them along on the journey. So that's the shift that I make where it's not me just presenting about being a cultural safe space and what it means to have respect for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures and histories, it's about what do you know and how do we get you on that journey that it's meaningful but it's also it resonates to you and you can have the lived experience? It's not just ticking a box 'Oh look, I've done Reconciliation Week, I've done a cultural awareness training', I'm saying, well what do you do with that education? 

And I think that's the bigger picture where you've got to be able to take it home with you and it should be not something that's separate in this society, it should be part of who you are as an Australian. You look at the Aboriginal culture's the oldest living culture in the world, and the Torres Strait Islander culture, why are we not celebrating? Why do we not embrace that? Everyone deserves that so I'm a big believer that again, it's not something that should be separate it's got to be a part of who you are.

Tim Gavel: How careful do you think we need to be with our language? That's the key, isn't it? To make sure that it's not offensive.

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, it's very crucial because the language is everything because it's how we interpretate culture or how we express ourselves and if it's not done in the right way, you can really unfortunately ostracise communities, people, individuals, and I think really, it's just taking that little bit of extra time and care, and it's around consulting with the right people. 

Taking the time not to just put something out to say we've got something out there to say ‘We’re doing this’, it's actually taking the time to be really respectful, and I think it's a simple reality, respect. We talk about, everyone deserves respect and I think we need to ensure that we always give that respect.

Tim Gavel: You talk there about athletes, you talk about the community and part of the community of course is the media, sometimes the media doesn't really understand the whole cultural aspect when it comes to sport. Do you find that? Do you find that there is a bit of misinterpretation?

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, and I think there's good and bad. I think that's probably, there's another space where I think like any sort of outlet of, particularly around media, they've got to be well informed around some of the issues where you can talk about racists, you can talk about cultural difference, you can talk about religious difference, but you've got to do the research. You've got to actually come with knowledge and I think that's probably an opportunity that not only through media but across the board, that we've got to be a little bit more educated and a bit more aware of the situations or what we're covering because if we are, then we come with real informed questions, but also allow us to not be biased in some ways because it's easy to be biased, because if somebody says they had a racist taunt or been bullied or harassed and we just go straight to that, we don't sort of appreciate the history or the story behind that as well.

Tim Gavel: Yeah. I guess some would say that we sometimes go too far. We've got to find a happy medium, don't we?

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, and it's important because I think, we want a good story but it's also we want a factual story that is meaningful, but it actually ensures that there's real support for both sides. Where it's not just ostracising somebody who's called it out, it's making sure that really there's a little bit of a common sense, and there's a lot of respect that needs to be done because I think respect in what you do and how you talk to people, it goes a long way of getting the right information and the right facts when you talk about a story.

Tim Gavel: When you were running, when you were retired, did you have any inkling that this would be an area where you'd end up in?

Patrick Johnson: Not really. I mean I've always been passionate about creating change in health and wellbeing and in sport itself, but it's probably just come full circle and an opportunity to continue to give back. 

Because I had it fortunate where I've had a different upbringing and I've had the trials and tribulations like anyone else, but I've always created a space that, life's about challenges and you got to challenge yourself and you've also got to make sure that it means something, you got to have purpose. If you don't have purpose, it's very hard to do what you do, and I think I've always done something I've loved to do and always challenged it and challenged myself to always think outside the box.

Tim Gavel: You do need people championing your cause though, don't you? And being supportive because sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, and I think sometimes you got to do it yourself and it's sometimes hard where you want to get the right support but sometimes you won't get the support. And that's probably a tough reality that particularly in sport and life after sport and what you want to do, your dreams and aspirations, but I'm always a big believer that you never forget the people that have supported you, but you sometimes have to do the hard yards yourself and you continue to do their hard yards to create change.

Tim Gavel: Do you find that because you were a champion sportsman, sports person, it is easier to gain acceptance? And I guess it is sometimes hard for you to realise why others can't have the same elevation that you've had or same acceptance?

Patrick Johnson: Oh, not really, 'cause I think it's what you make of life. What you put in life is what you get out and of course, we all have different paths and different opportunities but again, I can't talk on how other people have experienced it. But I can only talk about I've struggled, I've gone through the trials and tribulations of sport, post sport, career development, all the sort of, emotions that you go through, but I've always had one thing in in front of my mind is, do what you love and always put that passion and drive into it and if you want to do something, do it yourself. Don't wait for anyone else.

Tim Gavel: How was it after you retired? Did you fall into a little bit of a slump?

Patrick Johnson: Yeah, that’s always there, 'cause I think like anything, I had aspirations of doing many things and I wanted to just focus on what my heart says and what my mind is sort of thinking and I decided I wanted to do a lot more in community around health and wellbeing and to inspire our next generation to believe there's something out there for them. 

So, again, it wasn't a well-paid job, it was just something that I love to do and again, we talk about money, it's not everything, but you've got to make sure that you're doing something that you love and if you do something that you love, then it's not really work, is it?

Tim Gavel: Tell us about some of the experiences you've had because you worked at Foreign Affairs post Olympics, post your running career, you've also been involved in encouraging healthy lifestyle in indigenous communities and now you're on a couple of boards, you're a leader in terms of cultural and racial change. How does that experience shape you as a person do you think?

Patrick Johnson: Well, it's probably important I had that lived experience. So, my lived experience of going through the trials and tribulations of sport, going through different career opportunities and doing certain things that may not have been something I wanted to do but I knew there was something at the end of the road so to speak. So, I've always been a very positive person, very optimistic regardless of what life has thrown at me. 

I've always persevered so I think the lived experience as an athlete of course, and of course, as you know Tim, living on a boat in the Whitsundays, it's always a big trial and error up there as well. I was able to always maintain that what you put in life is what you get out and you can only control the controllables. 

So, I was able to always, regardless if I got injured or regardless if I moved on to a different career or I wasn't being as successful, I always maintain that sense of purpose which sometimes is very difficult because you may not have always that sense of clear purpose. But I had a clear sense of purpose, do what I love and always give it 120 percent. 

Tim Gavel: Good on you, Patrick. As I said, welcome to Sport Integrity Australia. I'm sure you're going to make a huge difference. Thanks very much for joining us.

Patrick Johnson: Pleasure. Thank you, Tim.

Podcast Transition: You're listening to On Side, the official podcast of Sport Integrity Australia.

TRANSCRIPT: FROM LEFT FIELD WITH HAYLEY BAKER

Podcast Transition: And now for our segment ‘From Left Field’, where we answer a question from the public.

Hayley Baker: Hi, I'm Haley. I'm an Education Presenter with Sport Integrity Australia. Today's Left of Field question is 'Are anti-depressants banned? As a category, antidepressants aren't banned in sport, and there are a number of common medications that are permitted for use in athletes. 

However, as we know, substances can change overtime, so athletes need to be careful to make sure that they're checking their substances regularly on Global DRO. At the end of the day, your mental health is most important, so be sure to check in with your doctor if you feel like you need mental health support.

Tim Gavel: Well, thanks for joining us on On Side. I'm Tim Gavel. See you soon with another episode of On Side.

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