The Black Rhinos: A Primary Prevention Approach

Sport-Based Youth Development (SBYD) programs have demonstrated potential to positively influence the psychosocial wellbeing, physical health, education and employment outcomes of young participants from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. This research is a collaboration between RMIT University and The Black Rhinos Basketball Program (managed by Afri-AusCare), which is a SBYD program facilitating the prevention of (re)offending of young African Australians living in and around the south-eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne.  

The aim of the research is to explore how a sport-based program can provide an avenue to assist young people (aged 5–12) and their families connect with services that support physical and mental health and wellbeing. This will be analysed through the expansion of the Black Rhinos Basketball Program, to support this younger population, which currently has no access to this initiative. This expansion will incorporate a primary prevention focus, working with primary school aged-children and their families, integrating leadership development, youth mentoring relationships, education tutoring, after school and holiday programs, healthy eating programs, and the involvement of parents and family.  

Through the co-design of the program with the AAC community, its implementation and concluding with an evaluation of its impact, this research will generate new evidence on the role of sports-based youth development programs in migrant and refugee communities to enhance community connection and belonging, migrant and refugee health and wellbeing, and educational attainment.  

• Robyn Martin
• Ronnie Egan
• Rachel Goff
• Rob Cunningham
• Patrick O'Keefe  

2022–2024  

VicHealth

An evaluation of the impact of the Black Rhinos Junior Basketball program (PDF 19.1 MB)