Through The RopesPrevention. Intervention.

Who we help / Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Strong in culture. Strong in community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the oldest continuing cultures on Earth, and a young and growing population. Sport, and boxing in particular, has a proud history in community. Through The Ropes wants to support community-led programmes, not replace them.

By the numbers

The numbers, and the progress.

The picture

Closing the Gap: where things stand.

Progress in work and school Employed, 2016: 51.0%; Employed, 2021: 55.7%; Year 12 or equivalent, 2016: 63.2%; Year 12 or equivalent, 2021: 68.1%. Employed, 2016 51.0% Employed, 2021 55.7% Year 12 or equivalent, 2016 63.2% Year 12 or equivalent, 2021 68.1%
Closing the Gap: employment (aged 25 to 64) is on track; Year 12 or equivalent (aged 20 to 24) is improving. 2016 compared with 2021. Source: Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 8, employment; Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 5, Year 12 or equivalent
A target going the wrong way 2019 baseline: 1,925; 2025: 2,500. 2019 baseline 1,925 2025 2,500
Closing the Gap Target 10: adult imprisonment rate per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. The target is a fall of at least 15% by 2031; the trend is worsening. Source: Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 10, adults in prison

Behind the numbers

The gap is not about people. It is about systems.

Through The Ropes acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, train and work, and pays respect to Elders past and present.

Strength comes first. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are the oldest continuing cultures on Earth, and culture is a source of strength: in the national social survey, 63% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were regularly involved in cultural events. Closing the Gap targets for preschool enrolment and employment are met or on track.

Other targets are not. Adult imprisonment and suicide rates are worsening. These gaps come from colonisation, dispossession and systems that have not worked for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They are not about culture or ability.

Governments have agreed that community-controlled services achieve better results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. That is why we will only work in partnership with community.

About our words: we say Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, or First Nations, following Reconciliation Australia's guidance, and we will use the names local communities prefer.

How Through The Ropes can help

Led by community. Backed by us.

Partnership first

We will only run cohorts with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and local Elders, on their terms, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mentors wherever possible.

Culture at the centre

Cultural safety training for every coach and mentor. Programmes shaped by community, not dropped in.

Building on a proud history

Boxing has long been a source of pride and belonging in many communities. We want to add to that story.

Pathways that last

Links into community-controlled services, employment and sport, so the support continues after week ten.

Potential for impact

What the evidence says.

Honest about what we know. Through The Ropes is not an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. The Closing the Gap agreement says outcomes improve when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people share decision-making, and we agree. Any programme we run with community would be measured in ways community decides.

What we will measure with every cohort, and publish:

  • Who starts, who finishes, and why people leave early
  • Wellbeing and mood at week 1, week 10 and three months later, using a standard validated scale
  • Fitness and attendance: sessions completed out of thirty
  • Next steps at three and six months: work, study, training, sport, housing
  • Outcomes that community chooses, reported back to community first

Are you an Aboriginal community organisation?

We would like to listen first. Let's talk about whether and how we can support what you're already doing.

Talk partnershipRefer someone

Sources

  1. ABS, Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (30 June 2021)
  2. Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 3, early childhood education
  3. Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 5, Year 12 or equivalent
  4. Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 8, employment
  5. Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 10, adults in prison
  6. Productivity Commission, Closing the Gap dashboard: Target 16, languages
  7. National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Priority Reform Two (community-controlled sector)
  8. ABS, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2014-15: culture
  9. Reconciliation Australia, Demonstrating inclusive and respectful language
  10. SBS News (2020), How a humble boxing program united Redfern's Aboriginal youth and police
  11. Jugl, Bender and Losel (2023), Do sports programs prevent crime and reduce reoffending? Journal of Quantitative Criminology
  12. Raposa et al. (2019), The Effects of Youth Mentoring Programs: A Meta-analysis, Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Figures are the latest published at the time of writing (October 2026). Back to Who we help.