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Reflective Journal
Reflective Journal
One of our course assignments was to complete five reflective journal entries throughout our time in Australia. Rather than simply documenting each day's activities, these reflections encouraged us to think critically about our experiences, connect them to course concepts, and deepen our understanding through further research and engagement with relevant sources. The goal was to reflect on how the people, places, and lessons we encountered shaped our perspectives on sport, culture, leadership, and social change.
Reflection 1
5/22/26
Coming into this trip, I was very unaware about the level of importance culture plays in the daily life of Australian citizens. Right after touching down in Melbourne, I was immersed in the cultural landscape that set the stage for what I will continue to learn, and also introduced how diverse the culture of Aboriginal Australians truly is. With artwork spanning over 40,000 years, there is a rich cultural history that shapes the behaviors of the people today. On day number two in Australia, I felt a deep connection to the culture when visiting Basketball Australia and taking part in the smoking ceremony. It was interesting to take part in a sacred experience that involved the burning of eucalyptus to cleanse oneself from evil spirits. The thing that made this practice truly special was how every single person of Basketball Australia took time out of their morning to participate in this practice. I was amazed at how a simple and short ceremony could feel so welcoming and unifying.
After taking part in the cultural ceremony, I was able to start to see how important sports is to the First Nations people and how they use the sport to express themselves. Famous Australian basketball player Patty Mills said “it goes far beyond basketball and for us it’s always (about) giving back… being able to understand where we come from, where we see the future, living in the present and who we represent” (Nagy 10). While working with the Koorie Academy, this idea that Mills states was very apparent to me. Even the youth wearing the flag of the Kullin Nation to represent their people of the past, present, and future demonstrated how connected they are to their origin. In the Reflections of Aboriginal Former Youth Sports Participants reading, it stated how participants said sport helped break down stereotypes and barriers surrounding their culture (Fitch 27). I thought of this when hearing Ricky Baldwin talk about the incarceration rate of Aboriginal Australians, and he was able to advocate for this inequality through our shared interest in basketball.
Overall, the first few cultural experiences I have had the pleasure of taking part in thus far have opened my eyes to the importance of Aboriginal Australians in their cultural expression, especially through sports like basketball.
Reflection 2
5/25/26
Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to explore the landscape of Australia, specifically areas strongly influenced by Aboriginal culture, in greater depth. I have realized this: the people’s culture isn’t just defined by their territorial boundaries, but by factors that intertwine with each other to create a diversified population of people.
The most fascinating aspect I have learned thus far about Aboriginal Australian culture is the idea of Dreaming. This idea is so complex yet simple at the same time; it is the interaction of past, present, and future to create tribal structures, knowledge, and Country. Merv Penrith, an inhabitant of Wallaga Lake in New South Wales says the concept is “our identity as people. It is the understanding of what we have around us” (Flood 138). This quote resonated with me, and became extremely apparent when exploring the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. I was fascinated to see the effects that Cyclone Tracy had on the community of Darwin. I experienced the effects first hand through the listening demonstration of a didgeridoo resembling the events of the cyclone. I stood still in place feeling the notes vibrate through my body, and right as I thought I knew what was coming next, it abruptly changed and created something new. Listening allowed me to be present in the past and reflect on the resilience of the community. The importance of the Dreaming is self-evident in this piece, presenting the powerful message of “listen deeply. Remember. Reflect.” Through activities in the museum and other local Darwin experiences, I first handily witnessed the idea of Dreaming.
While exploring different markets and streets, it became clear to me that the population is very diverse in Darwin between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. Although living and interacting in the same area, division is felt. The one thing that I have witnessed bridge the gap between these differences is basketball. At the Parap Village Markets, I saw two people wearing Chicago Bulls jerseys and at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, a local was making drinks sporting a Golden State Warriors jersey. My observations emphasized to me that sport can be used as a tool for connection despite differences. Also at the Parap Village Markets, I saw a 10 year old girl dressed in a full Australian basketball uniform. This is extremely important now, because despite the efforts of National Sorry Day, Aboriginal children are being separated from their families and communities at rates higher than the Stolen Generations. Children are experiencing an identity crisis and need self expression, so they use basketball as an identity marker, viewing the NBA and basketball in the United States as a means for hope among injustice. This allows children to strive for something greater, although we know the complexity of the reality. The United States has its own complicated past of Civil Rights, and even at UVA, with the university not removing Confederate plaques on the Rotunda until 2017.
Reflection 3
5/27/26
While visiting Hoops4Health at the beginning of this week, I was able to see the impact that basketball and the efforts of the people have on the Aboriginal community, especially the youth. It was also evident that the sport has been used in positive ways to achieve unity through common purpose.
During the Hoops4Health presentation given on Monday by Timmy Duggan, I learned how they use basketball as a way of re-empowering youth who have faced intergenerational trauma. Since this has been deeply rooted in history, it is a topic that is hard to combat. Despite efforts from the government to apologize like National Sorry Day, the Aboriginal communities of Australia are still being affected. I found it very insightful that the coaches at Hoops4Health prioritize growth and leadership over creating superstars, because it fosters a safe environment. Practices of calmness circles and deeply connecting with their players have allowed for personal success beyond athletic talent. Hearing about and later seeing how they re-empower the youth was inspiring. In Wade Davies’ chapter one of his book, he noted how sports create unity because they give people opportunities to gather and share excitement (Davies 44-45). I saw this firsthand at Hoops4Health, as children and adults came from many different backgrounds and faced different challenges, yet they can all connect on a deeper level under a shared interest, in this case, basketball. I saw how the simple actions of shooting around and giving a teammate a high five had the ability to bridge the gap between differences and unite together.
Another aspect of Hoops4Health that stood out to me was how they advocate for mental health. One of the reasons I started playing basketball and other sports was as an outlet for my mental health struggles. Seeing how Hoops4Health uses the sport as a tool for advocacy is truly inspiring to me. For this community especially, the topic is extremely relevant, as suicide rates and mental health issues from intergenerational trauma are extremely high. They use a model called “Flightpath Coaching," which focuses on building resilience and regulating emotions to avoid negative mental states. Hoops4Health isn’t just training kids in the sport of basketball, they are providing a safe place for growth. In the United States, something similar stuck out to me, called the Warrior Movement. This movement was started by the Kootenai people of Montana, whose purpose was to combat suicide, defeat hopelessness, and fight for each other through basketball (Davies 17-18). Both of these movements are interesting, because they take something as simple as the sport of basketball and use it as a way to uplift communities and help people heal together.
Working with Hoops4Health has shown me how people can use sport in many different ways to create unity and re-empower each other. It is encouraging to see people uniting under a shared interest like basketball, despite historical barriers and current challenges.
Reflection 4
5/31/26
The ability to experience the lives of the Tiwi peoples has greatly expanded my understanding of how their lives have been affected in the past and continue to face adversity, particularly in relation to the Stolen Generation.
In the reading by Michael O’Loughlin, he explains the “Stolen Generation refers to the countless number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families under government policy and direction… Further justification used by the government of the day was that it was believed that ‘Pure Blood’ Aboriginal people would die out and that the ‘Mixed Blood’ children would be able to assimilate into society much easier" (O’Loughlin). This is utterly disturbing, and seen all throughout the world both in the past and present. After watching Like My Brother, I was able to see how sport can help bridge cultural divides and bring people together, despite the past of the Stolen Generation. The women who went on to play in the AFLW faced significant challenges that placed them at a disadvantage compared with many other athletes, especially white women. They didn’t have as many resources, and everything was very minimal compared to the big cities. Despite these barriers, they achieved success through their resilience, determination, and pride in their culture. Reaching the highest level of Australian football allowed them not only to pursue their dreams but also to represent the Tiwi people on a national stage. Football gave them a sense of purpose and provided a powerful platform to share their culture and identity with others.
Another aspect that stood out to me was the attitude that “girls are not as much fun to watch.” Although this belief is unfounded, it created additional barriers for young women seeking recognition and support in their sport. Despite the challenge, they overcame and used AFLW as a way to advocate for women breaking into a male dominated field. This is particularly powerful because similar conversations are occurring around the world, including in the United States, where women continue to challenge stereotypes and demonstrate that they deserve equal opportunities and recognition in sport. When on the Tiwi Islands, I saw this playing out, when we passed a school with children playing with a footy. It gave me hope to see little girls and boys coming together and uniting under the common interest of football.
Taking part in Tiwi experiences has furthered my knowledge on how people use sports to create change and create community, especially when there is historical trauma like the Stolen Generation. Despite generational trauma, different cultural backgrounds, and diverse perspectives, people are coming together and transcending cultural and social barriers that have been created.
Reflection 5
6/5/26
Everything on this trip was very inspiring, but I was super touched and impacted when hearing about the Hoops4Wealth program in Alice Springs. Through basketball, this program gives ex-convicts the opportunity to learn about how to manage their finances when entering the free world with a side of basketball. This concept was also really special because I had been learning about the impacts of Intergenerational Trauma on youth, but not the older population who are often locked up because of its impacts.
As stated in Sport, Educational Engagement and Positive Youth Development, sports have been proven to reduce harmful behaviors like alcohol abuse, drugs, violence, crimes, and delinquency (Fitch 28). Although this is mainly stressed in the development of youth, implementing sports to different groups could also benefit behavior. By using basketball, Hoops4Wealth provides a learning opportunity for prisoners who have entered the free world, but also uses basketball to teach these tactics. As a community that is often overlooked, I was so happy to see people devoting their lives to aid to those who need a fresh start. I witnessed this when I got to play with some of the guys involved in the program. While playing, I saw the power that sport has to bring communities together and change patterns of behavior. The guys were shy at first, but as soon as we got to playing, they really opened up. I played with people, not convicts. I, along with my peers, didn’t see them for their charges and their histories, but for their character and future. Luke, Gordon, and Lazurus were so amazing, and just by playing 5v5, we broke that barrier that is often created between people with difficult pasts and other civilians. Something that also stood out to me was how when we were playing, Gordon looked tired, so I asked him if he was doing alright. He said how he smokes too much, but playing basketball encourages him to stop so he can perform better. I saw how he wants to reduce harmful behaviors because of the role that basketball plays for him.
People in the United States and children all over the world that dream of being a professional player often just see basketball for its competitive side. By working with this group of people, I realized that sports can provide deeper meanings for different people. Specifically, some of these guys don’t know what to live for after being locked up for so many years, but basketball gives them a way to express themselves and as a way to emotionally regulate. They cheer for each other, laugh, and relate to others.
As a group that is often overlooked, it was special to see their passion and desire connected to basketball. Working with this group and learning about what they do has shown me that basketball and sports in general doesn’t have to just be used for competitive purposes, but also as a tool for social change, personal connection, and re-empowerment from past trauma and situations.
Art Object Analysis
Art Object Analysis
Art is deeply significant in Aboriginal Australian culture and was a major theme throughout our course. As part of one of our assignments, we were asked to select an art piece that resonated with us and write a reflection on its meaning. The assignment encouraged us to think critically about the cultural stories, traditions, and values represented in the artwork while connecting it to our own experiences and the broader themes of our time in Australia.
5/29/26
The piece of art that I connected with the most was an untitled work by Emma Murphy, painted in 2019 for the Darwin Street Art Festival on Austin Lane, Darwin City. In this painting, Murphy integrates birds with human figures, placing feathers and vibrant colors over the eyes of four women. Each woman and bird is unique, masking the identity of a different person while symbolizing their individual connections to Country. She uses the color of the bird's feathers like green, blue, black, and white along with light blue, yellow, and orange to make the art visually striking.
What drew me to this piece was its vivid use of color and the inclusion of birds. Since arriving in Australia, I have been very interested in the wildlife, especially the birds. The animals are very important to Australian Aboriginal culture, as they are the different species that live in Country and coexist alongside humans. Country itself is central to Aboriginal Australian identity, representing a spiritual connection to the past, present, and future. In The Essential Introduction to Aboriginal Art (25 Facts) Interpretive Resource by Andrews, Belle, Cumpston, and Maupin, they explain Country is how communities keep an ongoing relationship with their relatives and the natural environment (Andrews 10). Through this piece created by Murphy, it is clear that she is trying to illustrate the deep relationship between people and the natural environment.
A second theme that is found in the artwork is the idea of totemism. This creates a special identity for a singular person that links them with the importance of Country. In The Original Australians: Story of the Aboriginal People, it states how “totems act as symbols in a belief system linking the human, natural and supernatural worlds” (Flood 136). At first, I thought that one whole community shared a totem but later learned that a totem could represent one person. When watching the documentary Like My Brother, I thought it was special how each one of the Tiwi girls playing Aussie Rules Football had their own totem. Even while traveling to Melbourne to pursue their dreams, their totems helped them remain connected to their community and culture. This connection to the environment provided comfort and helped them overcome the challenges they faced while away from home.
The part of the artwork that stands out to me most is the one woman whose identity is associated with the Red Tailed Cockatoo. When visiting Charles Darwin University, I talked with a Larrakia Elder named Auntie B, and asked her about totems. She told me that her totem was the Red Tailed Cockatoo, and the spirits along with the bird will watch over me back in the United States. I was deeply touched that she shared such an important connection to Country with me. What made the moment even more meaningful was that, as I was leaving the university, I saw a Red Tailed Cockatoo fly into a nearby tree and remain there watching over me. It felt incredibly moving to experience something so spiritually significant and personal.
For the artist Emma Murphy, I think this piece established a deeper connection with the Darwin community by embracing multiple identities and perspectives. The artwork also combines elements of her Norwegian heritage, particularly ideas of Viking warrior women, with aspects of Aboriginal Australian totemism (Murphy). Together, these influences create a work that reflects both cultural diversity and belonging within the Darwin community.
Overall, this piece incorporates many aspects of Aboriginal Australian culture; the ideas of totemism, Country, wildlife, and representations of the diverse communities in Australia are all integrated into this piece. It encourages viewers to better understand Aboriginal Australian history, as well as discrimination and barriers these communities have faced and continue to face. Public art like this allows both residents and visitors in Darwin to engage with these cultural ideas and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich history and traditions of Aboriginal Australians, which are too often overlooked or unrecognized.
Portion of Art highlighting Red Tailed Cockatoo
Other part of artwork on Austin Lane
Red Tailed Cockatoo seen at Charles Darwin University
Sport and Social Change Analysis
Sport and Social Change Analysis
Throughout our course, we discussed a wide range of examples of sport being used as a vehicle for social change. These examples ranged from star athletes from marginalized communities becoming national heroes, to sport serving as a tool for cultural diplomacy and international exchange, to grassroots programs that use athletics to strengthen communities and promote social cohesion. This assignment challenged us to reflect on these different examples and consider how sport can create meaningful social change on both local and global scales.
6/4/26
Over the past 2.5 weeks, I have seen firsthand how sport can be used as a vehicle for social change. By playing with youth to ex-convicts, talking with local Aboriginal Elders, and hearing from Hoops4Health employees, I have been able to see how basketball and all sports is more than just a competitive game. In the future, I think that sports will continue to be used as a tool for social improvement.
Through my observations and hands-on experiences, I witnessed how sports are a leading factor to community-building. An instance that stood out to me was when I played with people from Australia or watched different people play together as a team. The need for teamwork and coordination breaks down that barrier between cultural and historical differences. Participants of sports quoted in Sport, Educational Engagement and Positive Youth Development, said how the practice of sports with other people helped break down stereotypes and barriers, along with creating a sense of equality and belonging (Fitch 27). I experienced this firsthand when I had the opportunity to play basketball with ex-convicts in Alice Springs. There was a sense of fear among the group when we were first introduced to the guys, but that boundary was broken as soon as we broke out into 5v5 teams. It was very special to me to have Luke on my team, who was smiling and high fived me after every assist I gave him. There was a deeper sense of connection, as working toward a common goal as a team united us together. In the United States, this was seen with the first African-American MLB player Jackie Robinson, who overcame challenges and united together with his team. Some may have had preconceived notions about him, but being his teammate allowed them to see him on a personal level and as a human being, rather than someone with an “inferior” racial background. Throughout history and in the present day, sport is being used to build community, especially between people that come from different backgrounds.
I have also learned how sport can positively impact society, on both a local and expansive scale. Having the ability to travel around the country/continent of Australia has shown me how important basketball and sports like the AFL are to promoting awareness and providing healing to Aboriginal Australian communities. One way that Aboriginal Australian communities showcase their cultural history and impact society on a local level is through art. According to The Essential Introduction to Aboriginal Art (25 Facts) Interpretive Resource, works are used to convey stories of the past, connection to Country, and importance of ancestors (Andrews 10). All of the art holds a purpose, and communicates to members of a community what is important. What was inspiring to me was how Hoops4Health incorporated this importance of art into their identity; their uniforms directly represented their mission of relate, regulate, and re-empower, through the forever burning fire pattern of resilience. On a more expansive scale, sports have influenced athletes young and old to promote something bigger than the sport. One way this is seen is through Hoops4Health’s initiative to advocate for the negative effects of smoking. They are able to use their platform and shared interests of basketball to go to remote communities all throughout Australia and educate those who are unaware of the risks. On a worldwide level, Aboriginal Australian athletes like Patty Mills use their platform to inspire Aboriginal youth and show what is possible through hard work and perseverance despite barriers. Sport positively impacts society, as it can nationally provide awareness to different cultures and locally celebrate and advocate for cultural history.
In a U.S. context, sport should be used as a way to create social change on a global level. The U.S. is a diverse country that has the power to connect communities together all around the world. A program that I find particularly interesting is the NFL Global Markets Program. As a sport that is predominantly in the U.S., the NFL has the power to reach different countries and unite people together in new ways, different from ancient sports. NFL Managing Director and Head of International Gerrit Meier said “the league-wide commitment to the Global Markets Program is helping to accelerate fandom of our league, clubs and players around the world, deepening our international footprint and bringing our game closer to fans globally" (NFL). This is just the first step to expanding a newer game to areas all over the world, allowing for deeper connections. Not only does this have an impact on a global scale, but brings greater cultural awareness to the U.S.
Studying in Australia has shown me that sport is bigger than just a simple competition; it brings communities together and creates awareness for different social issues. In the future, I plan to use what I have learned to promote the ability sport has to unify people together from different backgrounds.
Works Cited
Works Cited
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art.” AGSA - the Art Gallery of South Australia, https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/education/resources-educators/resources-educators-ATSIart/.
Andrews, Jilda, et al. “The Essential Introduction to Aboriginal Art (25 Facts) Interpretive Resource.” AGSA - the Art Gallery of South Australia, https://agsa-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/media/dd/files/HTTAA_EDU_Resrce_25_FAQ_FEB2021_SCRN.901b139.pdf.
Australian Human Rights Commission. The History of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Advocating for the Right to Be Heard. Australian Human Rights Commission, https://humanrights.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0030/46965/The_history_of_aboriginal_and_torres_strait_islander_peoples_advocating_for_the_right_to_be_heard_-_ahrc_resoure_4_pdf.pdf.
Davies, Wade. Native Hoops: The Rise of American Indian Basketball, 1895-1970. University Press of Kansas, 2020, pp. 17–46, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv11hpv06.
Fitch, Nicole. “Sport, Educational Engagement and Positive Youth Development: Reflections of Aboriginal Former Youth Sports Participants.” The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, vol. 46, no. 1, Nov. 2016, pp. 23–33, https://doi.org/10.1017/jie.2016.23.
Flood, Josephine. The Original Australians: Story of the Aboriginal People. Allen & Unwin, 2019, pp. 133–200.
Murphy, Emma. “Emma Murphy - About the Artist.” AdobePortfolio, 2026, https://emmamurphystyling.myportfolio.com/welcome.
Nagy, Boti. Patty Mills: Beyond Basketball. 2024, pp. 9–63, 269-303.
NFL. “Global Markets Program Now Active in 22 International Markets.” NFL.Com, 2022, https://www.nfl.com/international/global-markets-program.
O’Loughlin, Michael. “The Stolen Generation.” Australia Museum, 20 June 2022, https://australian.museum/learn/first-nations/stolen-generation/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10182822197&gbraid=0AAAAADj48YkeomIhPkdczr7IVoPk399Bi&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoMXQBhDcARIsAH-eEtvBRW0EgCZdNmAKjajhSRb-FzzS8QickIygEaVkcSrkUb7zKDJ5FIwaAn14EALw_wcB.
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