Centre for and Social Impact

Pacific Outreach Program – Program Evaluation Research Report Report prepared for the National (NRL) July 2017 2 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Pacific Outreach Program stakeholders, including representatives from organisations and relevant government departments in sport, education and community development contexts, who gave their time to participate in the interviews. The assistance of staff at the NRL is gratefully acknowledged.

Project team

Associate Professor Emma Sherry (PhD) Dr Nico Schulenkorf (PhD) Dr Emma Seal (PhD)

June 2017

For further information

Associate Professor Emma Sherry Centre for Sport and Social Impact La Trobe University Victoria 3086

T +61 3 9479 1343 E [email protected] Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 3

Contents

Executive Summary 5

1.0 Introduction 6 1.1 The Pacific Outreach Program 6 1.2 Sport-for-Development Approaches 6 1.3 Report Outline 8

2.0 Method 9 2.1 Research Aims 9 2.2 Data Collection 9 2.3 Data Analysis 9

3.0 State of Play: Contextual Factors Influencing Sport-For-Development in Fiji 12 3.1 Macro Level Factors – Broad Context 12 3.2 Meso Level Factors – Operating Environment 13 3.3 Micro Level – Internal Operations 13

4.0 Pacific Outreach Program Progress and Stakeholder Ideas for Future Development 15 4.1 Progress Achieved 15 4.2 Enabling Factors 25 4.3 Areas for Development 26

5.0 Summary and Concluding Comments 31

References 33 4 Centre for Sport and Social Impact Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 5

Executive Summary

Program Background: The NRL’s Pacific Outreach Program is a three-way partnership between the Australian Government (represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, DFAT), the Government in Fiji, and the Australian Rugby League Commission (represented by the NRL).

Program Aim:

The Pacific Outreach Program was funded using a DFAT innovation grant, with financial support from corporate sponsors and the NRL and extends the League for Life programming that was originally implemented in Papua New Guinea. The program focus and implementation varies depending on the unique requirements of each country, but improving overall wellbeing and children’s engagement with education are key components.

Purpose of this Report: To undertake a qualitative research evaluation of the Pacific Outreach Program in Fiji to identify progress and indicators of program success held by the various stakeholders in Australia and Fiji.

Key Findings: This review has followed three overarching themes and has identified areas where progress has been made, in combination with highlighting issues that can be addressed to improve the program. The three themes are: 1) State of Play: Contextual Factors Influencing Sport-For-Development in Fiji, 2) Progress Achieved and 3) League For Life Development Areas. Key findings within each are outlined below.

• State of Play, contextual factors influencing Sport-For-Development in Fiji: League for Life is situated within a unique context, with factors categorised into Macro (broad environmental context), Meso (operating environment, e.g. key stakeholders) and Micro Levels (internal operations). The NRL has most control over the Meso and Micro Levels. • Progress Achieved: Successful establishment of League for Life in Fiji, refinement of program aims, stakeholder engagement, training provision, delivery of sporting opportunities for marginalised groups, social and behavioural messaging/outcomes, and the promotion of rugby league in Fiji • Areas For Development: Further training of NRL staff and establishing clear career development pathways, stakeholder engagement and communication, provision of program resources, long- term program planning, allocation of more staffing resources to administration and ongoing management of related processes. 6 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Pacific Outreach Program

The NRL’s Pacific Outreach Program is a three-way partnership between the Australian Government (represented by the DFAT), the Fijian Government (represented by the National Department of Education), and the Australian Rugby League Commission (represented by the NRL). In Fiji the program is delivered as ‘League for Life’, which encapsulates the essence of the overarching aims. The program is a result of a comprehensive program design process, strategically formulated to contribute to development outcomes. Initially the program only existed in Papua New Guinea, however it has now been introduced in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. The program aims in each location are dependent on the unique contextual issues that are present and are tailored to foster relevant development outcomes.

1.2 Sport-for-Development Approaches

There are various conceptual and practical approaches to sport-for-development and a brief overview is useful in terms of providing a framework for understanding and evaluating a program such as this. A well-regarded academic and practitioner, Coalter (2008) describes the difference between two common approaches to sport-for-development programs:

1. Sport Plus: Focus is on developing sustainable sport organisations (increases in capacity and participation), social messages may be communicated; or 2. Plus Sport: Sport programs are conducted to engage large numbers of participants, communicate social messages and encourage behaviour change. Programs may be one or the other, or a hybrid approach between the two types (Coalter, 2008). Understanding a program approach is important to define the identity and focus of a program and the most appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes. Coalter (2008) highlights that sport organisations delivering programs with a ‘Plus Sport’ approach often face the challenge of rationalising progress based on sport capacity and participation indicators, which will be difficult to demonstrate if that is not the central aim of the program, as is the case with League for Life.

Coalter (2008) has developed a process model to guide planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sport-for-development programs, which is summarised in Table 1 for reference. Coalter’s logic model has informed the analysis and presentation of findings, but has been modified in relation to emerging themes. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 7

Table 1: Coalter’s (2008) Logic Model for Sport-In-Development Programs Table 1: Coalter’s (2008) Logic Model for Sport-In-Development Programs

Aims ¯ Aims and objectives of a sport-in-development program Consultation with community/stakeholders should be documented as precisely as possible to help build Audit of community conditions/resources culture and philosophy of program, engage stakeholders, ¯ maintain focus and guide monitoring and evaluation. Aims (affirmed or revised)/objectives Performance Indicators ¯ The organisational and community resources (e.g. financial, Inputs human, organisational and material resources) used to create and run the program ¯ The development of peer leaders, coaches and educators – Outputs 1 key to capacity, delivery and sustainability [staff training/development] Operates at organisational level and a personal level for those involved in training and development ¯ What is being delivered (i.e. content and quantity of output) Outputs 2 and an understanding of the process of delivery and what Programs: sporting/non-sporting impacts on the effectiveness, or not, of the program. [content/process] ¯ Program provision of sporting opportunities for as many Sporting Inclusion young people as possible, with an emphasis on diversity. The Equity/target groups extent to which this is achieved influences the program’s potential for achieving social goals through sport. Core sport outcomes are critical to long-term participation ¯ and development in sport in the community once a program Sporting Outcomes has concluded; sporting skills contribute to an individual’s Skills competencies sporting skills and self-esteem contributes to the

development of non-sport outcomes targeted by programs. Sport-in-development programs typically aim to achieve ¯ personal and social development through programs (e.g. Intermediate Outcomes sport skills lead to self-esteem). Programs also aim to (i) Personal/social development promote social messaging to enhance understanding of an (ii) Information/understanding issue (e.g. health outcomes), Coalter highlights this is not an automatic outcome of a sport program and instead needs to be facilitated. Due to challenges of attribution, it is extremely challenging to conclude that behaviour change has been brought about by ¯ sport-in-development programs. Claims need to be Impacts supported by strong logic models, systematic M&E, robust Changed behaviours impact measures, accounting for the relative contribution of other factors in achieving changes in behaviour. Adapted from Coalter (2008)

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1.3 Report Outline

The report is organised in the following way:

• Section 2.0 briefly outlines the method undertaken to capture data for this review; • Section 3.0 describes the ‘state of play’, that is, the contextual factors that influence sport-for- development in Fiji. There is a distinction made between Macro, Meso and Micro levels to clearly highlight those factors the NRL has limited control over (i.e. Macro level) and those that are more readily influenced; • Section 4.0 presents key findings related to program progress and outcomes; and • Section 5.0 provides summary and concluding comments to be considered in program development moving forward. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 9

2.0 Method

2.1 Research Aims

The aim of this research project was to undertake a qualitative research evaluation of the League for Life program in Fiji to understand emerging outcomes, progress and challenges, since the inception of the program in this region in 2015.

2.2 Data Collection

Data was collected for this research project through qualitative research methods, including individual interviews and focus groups with representatives from organisations and relevant government departments in sport, education and community development contexts. Surveys completed by teachers and development officers (DOs), and stories of change completed by students after they experienced the program complete the suite of data collection tools.

Interview data was collected during an in-country visit by La Trobe researcher Associate Professor Emma Sherry, with an NRL representative present at most interviews/focus group sessions. In total 25 research interviews and focus groups were undertaken with over 30 individual Australian and Fijian stakeholders.

2.3 Data Analysis

All qualitative data were organised in NVivo 10, a software package designed to assist in the organisation of qualitative data for analysis. A framework of sport management, sport development and community development concepts and theory provided a broad framework to help the researcher understand the qualitative data collected for this report.

The themes presented here were arrived at through a systematic coding process, including a broad read through, a search for recurring concepts and patterns, and then a grouping together of recurring concepts and patterns into themes to make sense of the data and address the research aims of this evaluation. 10 Centre for Sport and Social Impact Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 11 12 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

3.0 State of Play: Contextual Factors Influencing Sport-For- Development in Fiji

This section presents an overview of contextual factors influencing sport-for-development in Fiji. These factors provide the overarching background for program implementation.

The contextual factors surrounding development programs can facilitate, or inhibit, the progression of sport-for-development activities, and in turn, the outcomes hoped for (Minikin, 2009). These factors are presented first because of the potential influence they have over program implementation and evolution.

This section is broken down into the following subsections:

1. Macro Level Factors: The broad contextual factors affecting sport and , which the NRL has little to no control over; 2. Meso Levels Factors: The factors present in the direct operating environment of the NRL and League for Life, which the NRL may have some opportunities to influence and moderate; and 3. Micro Level Factors: The internal operating factors impacting on the effectiveness of the NRL and the program.

3.1 Macro Level Factors – Broad Context

• Socio-cultural: Attitudes towards women and domestic violence issues, respect in general (towards self and others) and a high rate of non-communicable disease (NCDs) are key contextual challenges that are present in Fiji. The death rate from NCDs in Fiji is around 80% (World Health Organisation, 2014). The key risk factors that increase vulnerability to NCDs include, physical inactivity, tobacco use, unhealthy diet and alcohol consumption. In Fiji there are two distinct demographic groups, consisting of Indo- and Indigenous Fijians, which presents unique language and cultural barriers for the program. • Education: There are several factors that are pertinent in the educational context, including: –– Low levels of English literacy, which presents a challenge for development officers who are encouraged to deliver programs in English; –– Student disengagement is a prevailing issue, which creates difficulties in regard to reaching out to local children and encouraging them to attend school; –– Large school class sizes are challenging for program staff and create issues with delivering engaging, participative experiences for students; and –– There are limited physical resources available in schools to deliver both classroom and rugby- based activities. • Politics: The Australian government and Fijian government are key partners of League for Life, which has had an influence on aspects of the program and continues to influence program priorities. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 13

• Sport: is the most popular form of rugby in Fiji, which presents challenges for a Rugby League-based program. The popularity of Rugby League is increasing, however strong code affiliations still exist in local communities. Additionally, there is a lack of suitable and safe playing facilities, which creates logistical problems for program delivery and the wider growth of grass-root sport. • Geography: Issues related to the geographic spread of schools, weather conditions and public transport make it difficult for program staff to access some school locations and operate program activities in rural areas.

3.2 Meso Level Factors – Operating Environment

• Local Rugby League Stakeholders: The relationship between the NRL and the local stewards of Rugby League, the Fijian National Rugby League (FNRL) has been challenging. When the program was first introduced in Fiji, there was confusion over its specific objectives and the impact this would have on FNRL. This made communication and trust prevalent issues at the start of the partnership. • Teacher Engagement: The wider operational environment for teachers generates issues with program engagement and delivery. This does not apply to all teachers, however it does present a problem for continued program delivery because of the central role ascribed to teachers in maintaining the program. Reasons for lack of engagement include: –– Lack of confidence/time/ideas to prepare and implement aspects of their teacher training; –– Lack of follow up and mentoring to support teachers in developing post-program training; and –– Limited professional development opportunities for teaching practices. • Local Capacity for Junior Sport Development: A lack of capacity for junior sport development is a compounding factor in wider rugby league participation structures. There is still a limited focus on foundational skill development for juniors (e.g. 6-12 years) and there is a lack of financial and human resources to develop these areas. It was highlighted that the FNRL has struggled to attribute adequate resources and time to developing the grass-root capacity of junior-level rugby league. • Facilities: The quality of school playgrounds and playing fields was highlighted as a constraining factor to program delivery, which either restricted the amount of space available to play on or created injury hazards.

3.3 Micro Level – Internal Operations

• Educational Resources: Connected with a lack of physical resources, it was highlighted that there are inadequate resources available in schools to deliver in-classroom sessions effectively. • Sporting Equipment: There was a strong consensus that equipment is limited; with large class sizes there is limited equipment available to accommodate all of the children. • Program adaptability and flexibility: It was asserted that it is important to ensure the program is adaptable and tailored to different demographic populations in Fiji so the aims are as targeted and relevant as possible. In Fiji, the program is attempting to help bring together Indo-Fijian and Indigenous Fijians. Traditionally, Indo-Fijian groups participate in football and Indigenous Fijians participate in rugby. The program aims to break down such binaries in Fiji and provide rugby league opportunities for all. 14 Centre for Sport and Social Impact Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 15

4.0 Pacific Outreach Program Progress and Stakeholder Ideas for Future Development

This section presents findings that relate to the progress achieved in Fiji since the inception of the Pacific Outreach Program and associated activities in this location. It also details key recommendations for program evolution and development.

4.1 Progress Achieved

There has been much progress across a number of different areas, including: program growth, social, sporting and educational outcomes, staff training/development, and with various stakeholder relationships. This section will be split up in the following way:

• Program aims and stakeholder engagement. • Program outputs in terms of training (staff and school teachers), delivery of sporting opportunities in schools and development of media/communication strategies. • The outcome areas (as they relate to the program aims) including, social and behavioural impacts, educational impacts and the development of the NRL’s profile and reputation.

4.1.1 PROGRAM AIMS Aims The program receives funding from DFAT Innovation funding, corporate support and the NRL and is delivered in Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Fiji, however it is apparent that these nations have different requirements and unique challenges. Therefore, the aims of the League for Life program in Fiji are reflective of the most pertinent socio-cultural issues, which is a key strength of the NRL’s approach to ensure the programs are as targeted and beneficial as possible. In Fiji, the wider aims focus on health, lifestyle, gender equity (domestic violence), providing equal opportunities for Indo-Fijians and Indigenous Fijians, education and capacity building of rugby league in regards to organisational management and the overarching sport structure. The relevance of these aims is highlighted below:

“I think that the exercise is one of the really important aspects of anyone’s physical development, in terms of health. Children need to exercise a lot. They need to be cautious of how they look after themselves so that they are mentally, physically, and emotionally fit to be carrying out duties at the school” (Local School Principal)

In Fiji, there is more focus on the development of junior-level participation pathways and building the capacity of FNRL compared to other program locations. 16 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

Stakeholder Engagement Since the program was introduced in Fiji, NRL has established and cultivated key stakeholder relationships. Emphasis has been placed on community outreach and engaging with external organisations to deliver and embed messages of the program. Partnerships to build the reputation, visibility and public profile of NRL in Fiji have also been founded. Fundamental relationships and areas of progress are outlined below:

• Community outreach and engagement, including teachers and parents – The NRL brand and the synergy elicited in local communities is a pertinent aspect of the program. In Fiji, there are a wide-variety of external sports programs that operate in the school context. Therefore, it is important to develop the profile of the NRL and the League for Life program in this type of competitive environment. The program has built a positive and strong profile with education- providers and local communities, which has increased program demand. “It was very exciting for the children. Especially, in this school the students mostly do not participate in sports. But we are so privileged with NRL and the basics and the skills they’ve been implementing to the children” (Local School Teacher)

• Fiji Sports Commission – The NRL are working in partnership with the Fiji Sports Commission to deliver girl’s and women’s programs in the local community. The NRL team has provided resources and organisational/training expertise to support the implementation of outreach events and participation opportunities for women. A representative from the sports commission highlighted the work between the two: “We didn’t want a competition base to the community. We want women and children to take part, but mostly for fun and games. The NRL team got involved mostly on my programs and that is a network that we have built, an on going program for NRL and the sports commission team” (Fiji Sports Commission Representative)

• FNRL – The NRL has developed its working relationship with FNRL. Initially, the NRL’s presence created tensions concerning the specific purpose of the program and how this would impact FNRL on a competitive organisational level. These early tensions are exemplified below: “To be very honest, when we started, it was not as healthy as it looks now. There was a lot of misconception, there was some instances where we don’t trust each other simply because we started off on the wrong foot. No one was transparent, I think, enough to say, ‘we are here to help you’ and all that” (FNRL Representative)

“One of the biggest challenge has been probably trying to get everyone from the club then to the board to understand what our role is. Everyone thought we’re here just to steal players. People perceived us very differently at the start” (NRL staff)

• However, as the NRL has worked more closely with FNRL and been able to relay the key objectives of the program, communication has improved and a mutual level of respect and trust has been established. Subsequently, there is now greater cooperation to achieve shared rugby league goals, particularly because League for Life operates at a junior level. “That relationship has improved. Everything is about relationships, so fortunately, we have good NRL leadership, with good people skills. The people in charge now have blended well with our culture. We seem to see the things the same” (FNRL Representative)

• There are some continuing concerns related to the objectives of the FNRL and the NRL. The FNRL is focused on building capacity, participation, elite-level pathways and being an independent organisation. Therefore, there are long-term priorities that need to be clarified to ensure the NRL can work productively with FNRL in the context of the program and continued capacity building. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 17

“Right now, we would like to see how best NRL would be able to fit into the objectives of FNRL. There is going to be argument on who owns the sport. I know that the Australians will always say that, ‘it’s our sport’, but I’m sure if we sit down and if you want a sport to be a global sport, and a world sport, NRL needs to develop national federations to become independent, and be sustainable, and be able to field in their own local players in the World Cup Championships” (FNRL Representative)

• The NRL remains committed to working with the FNRL to assist with developing grass-root participation in junior schools and accreditation systems for coaches and officials. • Department of Education – The relationship between the NRL and the Government-led education department in Fiji has been established positively. The Department of Education is accepting and supportive of the program because of the predominant focus on education- orientated messaging, rather than just being a sports program. Furthermore, the sessions delivered by League for Life are cohesive with the national school curriculum, which facilitates engagement from schools and provides an opportunity for higher-level coaching. “They’re accepting that as well. We’ve been really accepted compared to the other sports because we actually offer that education part where the other sports are just coming in and just want to kick the footy” (NRL Staff)

“It’s never easy dealing with the sports commission, the education department or the health department. They’ve really been receptive of what we’ve tried to do” (NRL Staff)

• Women’s crisis centre – A partnership with the women’s crisis centre in Fiji has been formulated, which has a specific focus on gender-based violence and a goal of training a number of male advocates from different regions that will actively speak up about these issues and help to educate people in the wider community. “Now we’re just going to train our staff and then what we’re going to go round to the regions and bring them a voice about it. We’re going to use the local residents’ voice, but we’re going to make sure they’re the right voice as well. Hypothetically there are 3 or 4 boys I could use. They’ll come in, we’ll talk about violence against women, it’s not right, and all of those associated messages” (NRL staff)

“That’s a massive thing for us, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre that’s the first time ever they’ve signed with anyone, so that’s a major thing” (NRL staff)

• Digicel sponsorship – The NRL in Fiji is has partnered with Digicel as part of a wider Pacific agreement. Each Pacific in-country NRL team is responsible for liaising with Digicel to organise the investment, relative to ongoing programming and events. The sponsorship provides a significant investment to assist the NRL with delivering program activities and provides outreach opportunities into local communities. Digicel are able to increase their brand awareness and affiliate their brand with the pertinent social messages that are embedded in program philosophies. The specific details and challenges of this partnership will be explored in subsequent sections of the report. “We provide them help with tents and we put branding around a field, or wherever they are. There was only one that I could get up to and I loved it. It was brilliant. We had about four tents, we had sail banners, and the turnout was good. There were small kids, there were middle kids, and there were big kids. They loved all the things that were given, and it all had Digicel branding in it and everything” (Digicel Representative) 18 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

4.1.2 OUTPUTS NRL Staff Training The training and development of NRL staff was a priority from the inception of the program because all of the deliverers were drawn from in-country. Therefore all in-country staff have been significantly up skilled since the start of the program. There are ongoing training sessions, workshops, and ‘on the job’ learning opportunities for all staff. Furthermore, the Fijian NRL team expressed their desire to continue building their professional and personal capacity. Training has been provided in the following areas: First aid, iPad use/surveys, administration, game-sense delivery, monitoring and evaluation processes, program planning/management and conflict resolution. The key development outcomes that have been highlighted during this reporting period are discussed below:

• Personal development and empowerment – Being involved with the NRL in Fiji has enabled staff members to develop both personally and in a professional capacity. Transferable skills have been developed that are applicable across a wide-variety of contexts. One of the key outcomes that emerged is the improvement of time management and organisational skill. This is imperative to help build the reputation of the NRL and ensure program activities are implemented efficiently. “For us, from the start, we usually come late. For the time being we are actually improving, if we came late we have to send a message we are late, just to let them know. So far that works, really been great” (NRL Staff)

• The training opportunities provided by the NRL, social interactions and the development of new networks and relationships are all contributing factors to overall skill and capacity building. Additionally, some NRL team members are part of the Fijian National team set-up and the knowledge they have gained since becoming part of program delivery is directly applicable to their experiences as elite athletes. Indicative comments are provided below: “For me, changed my ability to talk to many people and in front of many people, because I’m shy and have poor English” (NRL Staff)

“No drinking, no smoking yeah. Also help us in our training. We’ve learnt many things from here; how to train, the food that we should eat, we should not eat” (NRL Staff)

• Professional development – The training and learning opportunities provided via the program have allowed staff to build their professional capacity. Areas of professional capacity building include time management, event organisation, program delivery, administration, liaising with education stakeholders and coaching young children. Indicative comments are provided below: “Our community where we come from rugby league has not been a popular sport. We’ve learned many things from this so we’ve gone to our community with the knowledge we’ve gained and shared” (NRL Staff)

“With kids actually, how to control them and how to manage them and the thing is I get more knowledge from them, by being around them. I just get more knowledge, and they’re lovely kids” (NRL Staff)

• Program staff also highlighted that valuable peer-to-peer learning has been stimulated by their involvement with the program. NRL staff members have different levels of rugby league knowledge and experience so they have been able to learn about various aspects of the game from each other. “He’s [NRL staff] in the national team so he’s been helping us and also by helping him we’re gaining more knowledge of the game ourselves” (NRL Staff) Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 19

• Community role models – NRL staff reflected on being role models for people in local communities, which motivates them to set a good example and showcase the values of League for Life by living a healthy, active lifestyle. This also encourages them to act as leaders and take on more responsibility by reinforcing key social messages. “Also to have been a role model when we go to schools with the Fiji NRL team and helping in this game so when we meet them in town or when they are with their parents they usually come and greet us” (NRL Staff)

“Actually being part of the program makes me a better person. I think if I go anywhere, like to clubs or bars if there’s a kid coming into town and they see me, I will give a big example to them, so I think more before I act” (NRL staff)

Teacher Training The training provided by NRL in Fiji is an important professional development opportunity. Furthermore, the training is offered to teachers that are not necessarily sport specialists, which creates an even greater scope for development and skill-related outcomes. The sessions address the social messaging of the program, alongside the practical skills and drills that are used. Therefore, it is a platform to reinforce the messages of League for Life and to aid in wider teacher development. It was widely recognised that exposure to this training and the program assists with developing expertise, particularly because rugby league is not always part of the school curriculum.

“We are not trained in all fields. They are basically general teachers. They are trained more in the academic side of the children, the mental development. When we have teams and all, like it was here, it really helps the teachers in the other aspects of the growth of the children. Because the expertise is there, we really appreciate it” (Local School Principal)

Media and Communication In Fiji, the NRL has attempted to build its presence in the region and association with League for Life by: 1) working with local stakeholders in the community to diffuse program messages; 2) communicating with different institutions (i.e. Government education department, FNRL); 3) starting to use social media channels, including having an active presence on Facebook; and 4) partnering with branded sponsors to increase visibility. The NRL in Fiji also has a dedicated media officer that works in partnership with FNRL to write good news stories and articles for the Fiji Times, which get published once a week. This helps to raise the visibility of the program with the wider public and keep local communities updated about relevant outcomes and events.

“Okay every Tuesday I write the insert for Fiji Times, that’s our newspaper. So I write stories for them, throughout the week I write stories, do interviews, and all the field-work” (FNRL Media Representative)

Evolution of League for Life program The program has been delivered into a range of schools in this reporting phase. In Fiji, the program has evolved to meet the specific needs of the population. Therefore, League for Life concentrates on health and lifestyle in a more prominent way. Additionally, and specific to the Fijian context, there is focus on engaging with the Indo-Fijian and Indigenous Fijian communities in appropriate and tailored ways because of distinct cultural differences.

It was highlighted that a lack of education about health and wellbeing is still a key issue in Fiji, which has to occur before any behavioural or attitudinal change. Therefore, the aims of the program are highly valuable and important in targeting primary school children and providing this messaging as early as possible. 20 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

“If I have to tackle one, if I have to tackle the primary school from kindergarten up to high school, it would be nutrition. Then after nutrition it comes smoking. Everybody eats and youth start to coming to habit of substance abuse and smoking when they come at least into high school because of peer pressure” (Ministry of Health Representative)

“I think because of the passion that the Indigenous community have, they play sports to be a healthy sports person, you have to have a healthy lifestyle. Some people have this myth, they can smoke and they see themselves healthy if they play sports and smoke. They think that because of the training all those substances come out” (Ministry of Health Representative)

Delivery of sporting opportunities Program activities provide rugby league sporting opportunities to a variety of groups in Fiji that might not otherwise have the platform to participate. The groups that benefit in particular are school-aged children, girls and women via outreach events, disabled individuals and by being an inclusive program there is no discrepancy between different cultural groups. Women face a wide range of barriers to rugby participation in Fiji; League for Life actively targets women, which challenges existing social attitudes and provides a unique channel for their involvement.

“I suppose, for that sport it’s very unusual coming together [girls and boys]. For the other sports, is only played by the girls and rugby is played by the boys alone. But, for this coming out together they enjoy themselves” (Local School Teacher)

It also emerged during the data collection period that in school contexts often rugby league is not offered as a curriculum option. This is related to teachers’ experience of the game and the heightened risk of injury in a contact-style sport. Therefore, the carefully controlled program lead by experienced and well-trained DOs is a unique offering in Fiji. Children are provided with certificates after completion of the program, which was perceived as a rare, but important, source of recognition to demonstrate individual achievements in school PE/sport.

“I take year eight. I collected their certificates for participation and I’m keeping it in the file. So as they are moving up, they are going to take their file, so that’s the reason why I kept it so I can put it in their folder and they can take it to their next school. That is an achievement in sports for them because they don’t have any other record for sport” (Local School Teacher)

Progress in Development of Rugby League (RL) Capacity in Fiji Contributing to the development of organisational and management capacity of RL in Fiji is partly related to the relationship between the NRL and the FNRL. This relationship is slowly developing, but it has taken time to build trust and mutual ground between the organisations, which has previously been outlined in this report.

The NRL in Fiji has contributed to the capacity building of FNRL in two key ways. 1) The NRL program targets junior-aged children in schools, which is a key area for ongoing grass-root development. Currently, the FNRL does not run any programs with this age group. 2) The NRL has worked to establish an accreditation system for coaches and officials. This ensures that all coaches and officials that are part of FNRL and NRL programming have been recognised and trained to a certain standard.

“The NRL have been involved with the primary school, which is a very important segment. If you look at our teams, they’re mainly Rugby Union players playing Rugby League. There is no primary school Rugby League and the NRL is helping a lot in that area” (FNRL Representative) Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 21

“Accreditation is very important. The NRL have been going, not only doing it for our local participating coaches in the field, but also going to universities. I think it’s a very good area to build capacity from because they are the ones who are going to be out there with our children, and be able to deliver the correct coaching curriculum to our young children. We need good coaches, not just any coach (FNRL Representative)

The NRL’s program is currently facilitating an increase in female participation in schools and through female only event days, which is imperative for developing a female participation pathway in the long-term. Furthermore, with the recruitment of female LDOs and DOs the program is providing opportunities for women in non-playing RL roles and building capacity in this context.

4.1.3 OUTCOMES NOTE: It should be noted that social and behavioural impacts/outcomes attributable to the League for Life program require a longer-term period for evaluation as they relate to social and behavioural change. It is likely that it will take several more years before it can be determined if these interventions have had a sustained impact on the individuals involved. Findings presented in this report should be interpreted accordingly.

Social and Behavioural Messaging The social messaging delivered through the program and the long-term reinforcement of these messages is key to exposing children to alternative sources of knowledge and understanding. It has been highlighted by a wide-variety of stakeholders that the messaging supported by NRL in Fiji is pertinent for the nation’s wider socio-cultural context. All NRL staff talked passionately about what the program stands for and the underpinning social philosophies it promotes, and attempts to embed within school communities.

The key social messages delivered through the program are:

• Health and wellbeing. The messaging around healthy diet and lifestyle is important in Fiji. The education delivered during the program focuses on teaching children about the important of physical activity, what constitutes a healthy diet and ways they can maintain healthy lifestyles. “I think that this program has been very important for our children, in terms of their physical development, in terms of their mental development, their attitude and general wellbeing. For our students they come from very poor family backgrounds. The setting that they come from, the context, they don’t have a lot of support from their parents. They depend so much on schools, in terms of their holistic development. I thought that this program was very instrumental, it was very important in their lives” (Local School Teacher)

• Gender equity. Promoting the inclusion of girls and respect for their involvement is fundamental to the program. The messages are delivered during League for Life programming and through outreach activities that facilitate opportunities for local women to play rugby league, which generates exposure for the sport. Creating female role models in the community by employing female LDOs and DOs also helps to reinforce explicitly delivered messages. Raising awareness of domestic violence as a social issue in Fiji is also a key aspect of the program and connects with values associated with gender equity. Challenging domestic violence and raising awareness of the issue with children at a young age is, potentially, an effective intervention strategy. “This program was different in terms of what it allowed participants to do. In Fiji, this sport does not involve the ladies. In our school, both genders had equal participation and that was great. Rugby league is a sport that usually, in Fiji, is known and understood better by men. I thought by 22 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

introducing this program in the school, you’d also be reaching out to the ladies and say to them, there is no exception. Anyone can take part” (Local School Teacher)

“No it’s good. We really enjoyed the skill sets so it’s broken down really nicely and if it was only focused towards the girls or to the boys it wouldn’t have worked so both genders felt included” (Local School Teacher)

• Furthermore, at an organisational level having female managers and LDOs promotes gender equity from the top of the NRL and challenges wider thinking about women in these types of role. This ensures that perceptions of women in society are contested at all levels, not just in the classroom or on the sports field. • Social inclusion. The program is an effective tool for promoting inclusive sports participation and ensuring equal opportunities for all, including disabled individuals. NRL team members adjust sessions to meet the needs of all children and demonstrate to teachers, parents and the wider community that such accommodations can be made. Furthermore, the program targets Indo- Fijians and Indigenous Fijian groups, which promotes rugby league for all demographic groups and ensures there are no divides. “The last time we went to do the wellbeing program, this Indo-Fijian guy we asked him ‘what do you want to be when you grow up? He goes ‘I want to be a rugby league player’. He was an Indo- Fijian guy so it is helping change what that community thinks” (NRL Staff)

• Respect. The League for Life program focuses on delivering different messages associated with respect, including both respect for self and respect for others. These are key points that are important within wider communities and feed into issues associated with gender equity. Social and Behavioural Impacts There are some initial social and behavioural impacts emerging from the program since it was first introduced in Fiji. To assess and understand long-term social change requires an extended period of data collection and engagement with children’s parents, teachers and local community members. However, the significant aspects apparent from discussions with a range of stakeholders are outlined below:

• Healthier lifestyle patterns – NRL staff and program stakeholders stated that the children had exhibited a greater engagement with physical activity after exposure to the program. Furthermore, they were more aware of what healthier lifestyle choices are in regards to eating, drinking and physical activity. “I think that the exercise is one of the really important aspects of anyone’s physical development, in terms of health. Children need exercise a lot. They need to be cautious of how they look after themselves. We know for a fact that healthy play and healthy thinking can contribute a lot to good development in terms of performance and good achievements in the classroom. Therefore this program has had a very positive impact on the children and they understand the importance of this now” (Local School Teacher)

• Interactional patterns between boys and girls – It was widely commented that girls and boys participating together, particularly in the context of rugby league, is rare. As previously outlined the messaging around gender equity and respect is imperative for improving the perception of women in society and challenging issues such as domestic violence. It was highlighted that the girls enjoyed playing with the boys during sessions and the boys were increasingly respectful of their participation. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 23

“We’re not really allowed to play with the boys when it comes to rugby. It’s one of our school rules. When it comes to the program we are so happy because we get to tackle the boys” (Local School Student)”

“The girl’s really enjoyed the classes. They were out on the attack, they were really good. They were better at it than the boys were” (Local School Teacher)

Furthermore, it was highlighted that in certain villages women are restricted from competing in rugby league because of conservative views about appropriate clothing for women. League for Life programming is contesting such views at the grass-root level to make the sport more inclusive and acceptable for women of all ages.

“The women have to compete in a field that is away from the village. Because when they are in the village women are not allowed to wear shorts. They still have to wear long dress code. That may be a challenge for women who want to play rugby league but the program challenges that” (Ministry of Health Representative)

• Children’s enjoyment and confidence – It was widely highlighted by program participants and stakeholders that children enjoyed the program and it helped to increase their confidence, not just in a rugby context, but also in the classroom. “Every Tuesday they just look forward. The children were so happy. Sometimes I stand from my desk to look at the children having so much fun. The way they arranged the children and the different stations on the field with the children moved around it was wonderful. It was good that the children enjoyed it. They were learning” (Local School Teacher)

“Well, to me the NRL the children enjoy it. According to the children, they really enjoy themselves and the NRL program is a good program for physical education. It’s a good program that energizes children and boosts their self-esteem coming out with high morale and also in an education context” (Local School Teacher)

Education It emerged that programming is assisting with education-related outcomes in several key ways by increasing the number of children attending school and also helping to improve their engagement with classroom-based activities. This has been observed by development officers and by classroom teachers. Out of thirteen surveys administered to development officers, ten stated they had seen ‘positive change’ or ‘a lot of positive change’ in students’ classroom engagement and school attendance. Indicative comments are also provided below:

“Engagement with the school improved every week. Teachers saw how the children loved participating in the program and how engaging our class programs are, which increased their interest in wanting us to come do more” (NRL Staff)

“Before they will talk while you are talking but now they listen and pay attention” (NRL Staff)

“When we first approached the school about the programs, there didn’t seem to be much interest. Until the programs had commenced each week, the head teacher would always be outside to come and take photos of the children and inform us that she is looking forward to the next visit. As the weeks progressed, the behaviour of the children also progressed, which made the officers job to coach more manageable” (NRL Staff) 24 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

Inclusive Program Delivery One of the most important outcomes of the program is the inclusion of all children in the activities, both inside and outside the classroom. In the context of conservative views about women’s participation in rugby league, it is an important aspect to program delivery and helps to challenge traditional thinking about ‘appropriate’ sports for women. As previously discussed, this a prominent issue in Fiji and such views contribute to problems associated with domestic violence and the ‘expected’ roles women will uptake in society. Furthermore, the program promotes rugby league to Indo-Fijian communities to facilitate their future involvement.

“For Fijians it is basically hard to see women there [playing rugby league]. When we have this program, not only will they see rugby or NRL coming in they always think that only men can take part. When we did our program and we see this rotation and how anyone can be involved, interest just grew” (Sports Commission Representative)

NRL profile and synergy The profile of NRL in Fiji has developed and evolved since the program was first established. There is growing demand for the program and the NRL has created a good reputation in the local community. Local stakeholders and program participants have affirmed this. Education providers were very positive about the management, organisation and quality of the program, which has been very beneficial for the overall school curriculum.

“The team were very well organised. They consulted me. They’re logging through phones and emails. They never gave us surprise visits. That’s all well planned. We scheduled everything well so that there was no disturbance to other curriculum aspect of the school” (Local School Teacher)

“What I like about the NRL program from the start is that they had their timetable. We knew exactly what the children would be doing every week. When I took it up at a staff meeting, when the teachers saw it they thought it was wonderful because our PE was planned for the week” (Local School Principal) Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 25

4.2 Enabling Factors

There were several enabling factors that emerged, which have been pertinent to help foster the program and build the presence of the NRL in Fiji.

Good structures and organisation What emerged strongly from this evaluation are the positive reactions schools and teachers have had to the program. These stakeholders commended League for Life and the efficient way it was organised and managed. In Fiji, there is strong competition from other sports to deliver external school programs; therefore, it is imperative to build good rapport with local school communities.

“The team were great, they were very supportive, very understanding. They knew the children well, considering their stage and what they’re able to do and what they’re not able to do. I thought they did a marvellous job” (Local School Principal).

Links with school curriculum The strong synergy League for Life had with the school curriculum also emerged as a factor that was desirable for schools and enabled the program to establish these connections. Schools do not commonly offer rugby league opportunities because of injury risks and a lack of knowledge about the way the game is played. Therefore, the program fulfils a gap and the education aspects of the program are a unique offering.

“The main thing I want to say is that the program has been helping children a lot. There are other types of programs that children benefit from, but because of the tight learning curriculum that we have in the school and because of the lack of expertise that is there amongst teachers we are not trained in all fields but because the expertise is there with this program, we really appreciate it” (Local school teacher). 26 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

4.3 Areas for Development

The review of League for Life programming and associated activities provided all stakeholders an important opportunity to provide feedback on ways it could be developed and improved moving forward. The suggestions covered the breadth of the program and some of these ideas offer solutions to challenges and ways to foster greater program impact. These will now be outlined and have been grouped thematically according to the overarching area of focus.

4.3.1 NRL STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING It was highlighted that it is important to continue to invest in human resources to progress and develop current program staff members. Since program delivery started in Fiji the NRL have invested in training staff and providing ongoing professional development opportunities. However, there were some areas highlighted by program staff for future development opportunities:

• Management and leadership development. It was highlighted that it could be beneficial to offer more training on leadership and developing at a managerial level to understand wider sport politics and processes. This would create a more holistic training experience, rather than just focusing on specific skills or knowledge. “I have gone through the referee’s course and the coaching courses, but still I don’t think that is enough for me. I definitely need more knowledge of the game and that comes on my part, too. I need to do my own research. But I’m more on the politics side of it, I think so I need a bit more training in that” (NRL Staff)

• Continued and ongoing professional development opportunities. It was suggested that aside from various accreditation-style courses, ongoing development opportunities to build capacity would be beneficial. This includes attending conferences/workshops, learning in an Australian context and having access to external training that could be relevant. “A bit more personal development for all those here (NRL) because they have not had experience overseas, and I know again that budgets are limited but I think these would be really important opportunities” (NRL Staff)

• Administration. General training in administration and associated processes was also proposed, particularly as the program expands and the complexity around management and record keeping becomes more complex. “Administration, that for me would be a big help” (NRL Staff)

In general it was acknowledged that the NRL needs to continue building the capacity of staff in-country to ensure that there are clear pathways for development and succession routes. This includes recognising the talents of current employees and nurturing them. For a development program funded by the Australian government, with a clear focus on up skilling local communities, this is an important factor. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 27

4.3.2 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT It was recognised that there is a need for broader stakeholder engagement to embed the program in local communities, attempt to secure the longevity of League for Life and develop the work that has already been conducted.

Digicel sponsorship The sponsorship from Digicel is a relatively new partnership that requires further work to ensure it is a success for both Digicel and the NRL across the Pacific. Several areas for potential development and improvement emerged from the participant interviews that are unique to the Fijian context, these are:

• Clarity over branding – Vodafone currently sponsors the FNRL and it was highlighted that when the FNRL and NRL are partnering to deliver outreach activities it can create confusion over how to brand the event. It was suggested that there needs to be an increased level of clarity over when the Digicel branding can be used and for what age-groups because the League for Life activities are focused on primary school children. “We’re sort of stuck in this nexus between an outreach program at a very young level and what Digicel really values and is used to, which is something a bit more substantial. That’s where we seem to have a bit of an issue” (Digicel representative)

• Delivery of mass-participation activities – It was acknowledged that more mass participation events that focus on girls and disabled children would be an effective way to increase people’s awareness of the Digicel and NRL connection, subsequently raising the profile of both. Furthermore, it was noted that targeting specific outreach groups would also help to differentiate the Digicel-NRL partnership and highlight the wider market it is working with. “Just probably more Gala Days or something, where you have the competition, that’s when the parents come. That’s where we would probably put a sales tent or something” (Digicel representative)

• Sharing content and materials – It was highlighted that the NRL could provide Digicel with good news stories and drawings that emerge from the NRL’s work, and monitoring and evaluation processes. This would be a valuable way to demonstrate the impact of the sponsorship and children’s increasing brand awareness. Furthermore, it was suggested that the NRL could share any promotion materials and media coverage in relation to the partnership, which Digicel could then utilise. “I think just because I suspect NRL will have a strong PR function, maybe they have it outsourced, I’m not sure, but there’s a lot of stuff going on in Australia. If they could just allocate 3 percent, 2 percent, to stuff in the Pacific, that would be really helpful. That would help us keep the candle, keep it burning here, then we complement it with our own stuff. We could publish that on our own Facebook page, for example” (Digicel representative)

“If we’ve got a story and a picture, with some Fijian connection that was relevant for here, linking in our names somehow, I don’t know how, but I’d like to maybe see a little bit more of that because we need to get a bit more value from it, from the overall thing for Fiji. That would be my request back into NRL, to see how they can support us with that” (Digicel representative)

• The sponsorship was negotiated as part of a wider Pacific partnership with Digicel. It emerged from this evaluation that it would be beneficial to have more clarity and direction from the NRL over how to deliver on this in Fiji, specific to the in-country context. 28 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

Parent and teacher engagement The engagement of parents and teachers is a factor that requires continual management and negotiation to ensure the program can continue building its reputation and the NRL can develop a positive profile in Fiji. Maintaining good communication with schools, liaising with the Education Department to fulfil accreditation requirements, managing expectations and actively reaching out to these populations were asserted as key ways to build upon, and develop these stakeholder relationships. Development officers highlighted the need to encourage teachers to participate with students to secure their interest and engagement.

“Teachers should participate as well, as this will help the development of Rugby League for the school” (NRL Staff)

“We should encourage the teachers to participate with the students” (NRL Staff)

It was also highlighted that there are difficulties with accessing disability schools to deliver the program because of competition from other sports. This demonstrates the challenges that are present and the need to secure teacher and school buy-in by getting in touch with the right contacts on the ground.

“There’s only six disability schools in the whole area. The problem we’ve had is to get into them. It’s every sport, part of their default funding, everyone’s got to do inclusion and it’s so hard to get in at the moment” (NRL Staff)

Wider community engagement The NRL in Fiji have partnered with several different community organisations to reach out to local people and reinforce key messages. There were suggestions made for further development and potential future consideration, which are outlined below:

Additional messaging – A number of suggestions were made for areas the program could focus messaging on, which are connected with different socio-demographic groups. This included teenage pregnancy, drinking alcohol and smoking, which are pertinent issues in Fijian societies. Additionally, it was highlighted that children need to be made aware of the importance of having regular health checks as a preventative mechanism.

“Then after nutrition it comes smoking. Everybody eats and youth start to come into the habit of substance abuse and smoking when they come at least into high school because of peer pressure. Smoking is also another mystery encounter” (Ministry of Health representative)

“For girls, I would recommend addressing teenage pregnancy through sports is also another area that we need to think about and do better” (Ministry of Health representative)

“What we also need to be more focused on in using sports is encouraging people to access to health services. Don’t wait until that you are sick then you come to the hospital” (Ministry of Health representative)

Appropriate role models – Securing the right role models in the community was also raised as an important factor when delivering development messaging to ensure these issues are communicated effectively.

“If they preach then they have to practice what we preach. If they advocate on smoking they themselves are supposed to be a non-smoker, a non-alcoholic drinker, that is very important” (Ministry of Health representative) Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 29

Sport Stakeholders Even though Fiji NRL has improved its relationship with FNRL, there were key governance and capacity-building areas that were flagged as requiring further development. Coach and referee education and accreditation programs were asserted as two fundamental capacity building activities that are required to help improve the quality and sustainability of local rugby league.

“The main thing we’ve got to really focus on is the coach education and also the referees education, it’s a major thing we need to get ready. We’ll also set up a referees association, which is a great thing that we set up. We’ve also got to set up the coaching panel” (NRL Staff)

It was also suggested that it is important to maintain clarity in-country about the role of NRL and FNRL, particularly with more partnership activities planned.

4.3.3 PROGRAM RESOURCES Program staff identified the following physical resources that would be beneficial for the program moving forward, these are outlined below:

• Program resources – It was highlighted that more sport and program resources would be beneficial to ensure there is enough sport equipment and educational material for schools and all outreach activities. • Transport logistics – Currently, there is one car in Fiji that is shared by the NRL team. It was asserted that this is problematic when there is a clash of meetings and appointments. Furthermore, this restricts the programming that can be delivered because of the reliance on one, shared vehicle. “Transport is a limitation. We probably should have got two cars, rather than one, but that has been a hassle. Now we have got about 8 stuff with us. That has made a big problem, going back and forth from schools” (NRL Staff)

4.3.4 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Stakeholders identified several areas of the program that could be developed and improved upon, which are outlined below:

• Program adaptability – A flexible approach to program messages and tailoring these to particular youth populations was suggested as a potentially effective way to target the most pressing issues for different groups. This connects with the idea of providing additional messaging for different social groups that exist in Fiji around issues such as domestic violence, drinking alcohol and smoking. • Expansion to rural locations – There are logistical and geographical challenges that create difficulties for program expansion, however it was highlighted that the program needs to grow to continue the momentum that has been generated “It’s the same people, same amount of numbers. Why try something else, make it bigger. Not just the numbers, but make it bigger and reach more people in different areas. We need to plan like a good program” (NRL Staff)

• Links for additional information and communication – Providing extra resources about where to access follow-up information was suggested as a way to ensure that children are fully aware of all the services available and where expert advice can be found, if required. 30 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

“Helplines if they do want any more information, you know, the only mode of communication they can do with us is Facebook. If there was an actual information pack behind it, after it, I think that would also help” (NRL Staff)

• Inclusion – It was asserted that more community outreach events for disabled children, or engaging them with the programming in some way would be beneficial. Continuing to work with disabled schools and attempting to develop valuable networks in this space are fundamental ways to improve work in this area. • Contact time – Development officers highlighted it could be beneficial to allocate more time to interacting with students and teachers in schools to develop these relationships and to keep building the reputation of the NRL in Fiji.

4.3.5 HUMAN RESOURCES This section relates to improvements that were suggested in relation to the staffing of NRL in Fiji:

• Additional female staff members – The recruitment of more female staff to the Fijian NRL team was asserted as an area for development to create additional female role models in the community and provide new opportunities for local women. “In terms of change I would definitely push more for a few more female staff probably. Get the women going on a bit more. I would definitely be pushing that with NRL” (NRL Staff)

• Onboarding process – It was discussed that the onboarding process for non-native NRL staff to adjust to new socio-cultural environments could be improved. Providing more information, resources and recommendations were the key factors outlined to make the adjustment period easier. “He [previous Fiji NRL manager] just turned up in the country, he had to find some of the leaders, had to find a car. He had it very, very tough. Probably when I turned up I was lucky because we had the house already. He didn’t have a car. Luckily when I was here in October we actually organised the car so I had a car. That made a lot of difference” (NRL Staff)

• Succession pathways – In order to secure the long-term sustainability of the program it was discussed that continued professional development opportunities need to be offered to program staff and adequate resources should be provided to build the capacity of individuals based in-country. These pathways will provide stability for League for Life in Fiji and ensure the future management and delivery of programming is addressed, rather than relying on a handful of key individuals. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 31

5.0 Summary and Concluding Comments

This evaluation report commenced with a discussion of the wider contextual factors that are present in Fiji, which could impact NRL’s League for Life program. Fiji is a very unique context; there is a requirement that this is fully understood and accounted for when implementing and progressing a development program. The factors operating at the Macro, Meso and Micro level will be briefly outlined below to reinforce the potential effects of these on programming and associated outreach activities:

• At the Macro Level, there are a variety of factors that need to be considered as part of ongoing programming. These are grouped according to socio-cultural, educational, political, sporting and geographic factors. • At the Meso Level, there were some difficulties associated with stakeholder relationships, including the FNRL and the initial challenges present when securing the support of local schools and the Department of Education. Additionally, there is an issue with the existing capacity of junior rugby league, which does not provide ongoing participation opportunities after children have been exposed to the sport in school. • At the Micro level, there were difficulties with the physical resources that are available. It was emphasised that educational, health and sporting resources are required. Furthermore, the importance of ensuring the program is adaptable and flexible for emerging local issues emerged from this reporting phase. Areas of progress and outcomes Since the League for Life program commenced in Fiji, there have been a number of areas of development and specific program outcomes. The NRL has successfully established an operational team and provided opportunities for ongoing capacity building. Key stakeholders have been engaged with and good working relationships have been founded to ensure the program can continue to grow and leverage off these partnerships. The main areas of progress that have emerged during this evaluation phase are:

• Refinement of programs aims to ensure these reflect fundamental socio-cultural issues in Fiji. The aims are strongly targeted at health, wellbeing and raising awareness of domestic violence. • Stakeholder engagement including community groups, teachers, parents, the Fiji Sports Commission, TNRL, the Women’s Crisis Centre, Department of Education and Digicel. • Training provision for staff and teachers; personal and professional development of the NRL Fiji team. • Delivery of sporting opportunities to groups and individuals that might not otherwise have the opportunity, including disabled individuals, girls at school and women in the community. • Social and behavioural messaging with a specific focus on health and wellbeing, gender equity, social inclusion and respect, which are fundamental issues in Fijian society. Furthermore, in the NRL Fiji team women are being given the opportunity to progress into senior managerial roles, which further reinforces the overarching program aims and contest wider societal thinking about ‘appropriate’ roles for women. 32 Centre for Sport and Social Impact

• Social and behavioural outcomes including healthier lifestyle patterns, the interaction between boys and girls in a rugby league context and the inclusion of all in the program to challenge ‘traditional’ thinking about the capabilities and expectations of these groups. • Promotion of rugby league, the program is a catalyst for raising the profile of rugby league in Fiji and shaping the image of the game to ensure it is inclusive and has a good reputation in local communities. The NRL team in Fiji have received positive feedback from schools and teachers in regards to organisation, management and quality of delivery, which assists with stature building. Areas for development There were some key areas for development that were raised by program stakeholders and also NRL staff. These are summarised below:

• Further training of NRL staff and establishing clear development and succession pathways. • Stakeholder engagement, including clarifying specific objectives and ways to move forward with the Digicel sponsorship, engaging with parents, and continuing to build the relationship with the FNRL for ongoing capacity building. • Program resources and the provision of more education resources, sport equipment and follow-up information packs. Securing additional transport options was also raised as an area for improvement because of the difficulties associated with having one vehicle. • Develop the program by focusing more on rural areas and extending the messaging to these locations. Furthermore, it is important to be dynamic about the aims of the program and tailor the messaging to reach different social groups. Overall, the review of NRL programming in Fiji indicates the significant development that has occurred in this region since programming commenced. The overarching aims of the program have been tailored to fit with the unique socio-cultural issues that are present in Fiji. This demonstrates the malleability of the program to react to local needs and ensure it is providing the necessary community support. A wide variety of stakeholder relationships have been established and continue to be strengthened. Partnerships – such as the one with the Women’ Crisis Centre – are crucial to help embed program messaging and highlight what the NRL stands for in Fiji. League for Life promotes rugby league and could be a key tool to help grow the sport in Fiji, alongside delivering outcomes related to the social development aims. Initial attitudinal and behavioural impacts are emerging and highlight the positive changes that are being fostered by League for Life and outreach activities. The NRL team positions offered in-country provide important capacity-building opportunities for the local population and create positive female role models. In order to secure program sustainability it is important to cultivate the key stakeholder relationships, build rugby league capacity across a number of areas (including coaching and officiating), provide professional development opportunities for NRL team members and ensure the program is sufficiently tailored to local community needs and issues. Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 33

References

Coalter, F. (2008). Sport-in-Development: A Monitoring and Evaluation Manual. University of Stirling, United Kingdom, accessed 10 Jan 2014 from: http://assets.sportanddev.org/downloads/10__sport_ in_development__a_monitoring_and_evaluation_manual.pdf

Minikin, B. (2009). A Question of Readiness. France: Université de Poitiers 34 Centre for Sport and Social Impact Pacific Outreach Program – Fiji Program Evaluation Research Report 35 www.latrobe.edu.au/CSSI Copyright La Trobe University | All rights reserved | June 2017