The Final Quarter - Racism in Sport

The Final Quarter is a documentary about Adam Goodes, an Indigenous Australian Football League (AFL) player, that uses archival footage to explore the controversy surrounding his career. The film highlights issues of racism in Australian sport and society and offers an opportunity to reconsider what happened both on and off the football field. The lessons provided by Cool Australia are designed to support teachers in exploring the topic of racism in Australian sport, through the lens of The Final Quarter documentary. The lessons promote emotional safety and cultural awareness and are recommended to be used after watching the full film. Students will explore the key factors in building inclusive and safe communities, learn about respectful communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, and reflect on their own relationships with various communities. Teachers are advised to use discretion when deciding whether to show the film and to communicate with parents and guardians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students before playing the film and/or engaging with the teaching and learning resources.

You're an expert on your class and students. Creating a supportive and caring learning environment is what you do every day and is key to the successful delivery of these resources. Some ways you can support your students when teaching with these resources include

• promoting a sense of belonging and respect in your classroom at the onset of all lessons to establish an environment that will nurture and support the psychological needs of all students

• offering emotional support in a sensitive manner to the whole class as well as individuals identified as at-risk as a priority

• being especially mindful of and sensitive to students with a history of racism, bullying, mental health challenges, family and/or cultural dislocation and members of any minority groups.