Community Sport Volunteers Need Systemic Support to Address Child Abuse: A Call for Holistic Training and Resources
Original framing: “Volunteers need training and support to deal with disclosures of child abuse in community sport” — Phys.org
The original framing omits the historical and cultural contexts of child abuse in sport, including the role of colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism in perpetuating abuse. It also neglects the perspectives of marginalized communities, including Indigenous Australians, who have long been disproportionately affected by child abuse in sport. Furthermore, the study's focus on volunteer support overlooks the need for systemic reforms that address the root causes of abuse.
Medium structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
This narrative was produced by researchers from Victoria University, in collaboration with VicHealth, to inform policy and practice in community sport. The framing serves to highlight the need for volunteer support, while obscuring the broader structural issues that contribute to child abuse in sport. The power structures of the sport industry and the state are implicated in the study's findings.
Child abuse in sport has a long and complex history, with roots in colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism. The study's findings are part of a broader pattern of neglect and inaction that has allowed abuse to persist in sport. By examining the historical contexts of abuse, community sport organizations can develop a deeper understanding of the structural issues that contribute to abuse.
The study's findings highlight the need for community sport organizations to prioritize systemic reforms that address the root causes of abuse, including colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism.