Building Inclusive Sport Clubs 2023
The Building Inclusive Sport Clubs program aims to support community sport organisations to embed sustainable inclusive practices and programs to better support people with disabilities to access sport.
The program is facilitated by women leaders who have lived experiences of disability and sport and will enable clubs the opportunity to discuss best practice and champion one another towards more inclusive and accessible practices.
During the eight months, the focus is on clubs implementing a new practice/program targeted to people with disability.
The five program locations include Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.
The program is delivered by Victoria University in partnership with Disability Sports Australia through funding from the Australian Government.
Reimagining Disability Employment and Volunteering Sport Forums
In-Person Forums
These forums will focuses on learning through lived experience and best practice for engaging people with disability through:
Creating welcoming environments.
Reimagining opportunities and pathways for people with disability to be employed and volunteer in sports.
Recruitment and retention strategies for people with disability.
Sharing available resources that can increase organisations capacity and knowledge.
An online forum to celebrate the successful inclusive disability practices in sport
To showcase the success clubs had through this program, Victoria University and Disability Sports Australia will be running an online forum for any club to attend and hear the first hand experience.
Benefits of attending
Learn how to confidently implement inclusive practices in your organisation.
Understand how to negotiate program challenges.
Connect with like-minded people and learn from women leaders with disabilities in sport.
Grow opportunities for people with disabilities in your organisation.
Who can Attend
Any person who is interested in creating a more inclusive sporting club, organisation or community for people living with disability.
How to attend
All forums are online. See dates and times below and ensure to register today, as registration is essential.
Recent Case Study Examples:
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The Fremantle Cockburn Hockey Club (FCHC) has embarked on an ambitious journey to weave inclusivity into the very fabric of its operations. The club has created innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to ensure every member, regardless of ability, feels valued and supported.
Key Initiatives
Flyer and Communications:
• FCHC reimagined their communication materials to better convey the club's inclusivity. Flyers were redesigned, making the club's inclusive events and award nights more accessible.
• Visual resources for “coming to hockey” and “what you need for hockey” were created and sent to players coming to play for the first time. Visual resources for within hockey sessions have also been created.
• An adapted visual menu is being developed for the kiosk, enabling players with communication difficulties to make their selections effortlessly.
Inclusive Communication: The clubhouse has become a canvas showcasing the club's diversity. Images reflecting the members' diversity are displayed, fostering a welcoming environment where all players, especially children, feel represented and included.
Funding and Resources: A grant from Hockey WA has enabled the enhancement of inclusive programs and FCHC are planning to acquire adaptive equipment for their players. FCHC have created quiet areas with sensory resources like fiddle toys.
Social Media Engagement: FCHC's adept use of social media has played a crucial role in engaging the community. Future content aims to integrate stories of children with diverse abilities into the broader club narrative. FCHC is working with Hockey WA and Hockey Australia to develop media and educational content for increased visibility.
Community Engagement and Infrastructure: The committee, featuring a diverse group of professionals, has proposed improved physical access to the club including modifying carpark access to improve ramps and kerbs, the usability of doors, and ensuring universal access.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions
• FCHC is receiving support from local organisation WADSA to support volunteers and provide ideas for adaptations.
• The FCHC committee’s collaboration extends to on-ground assessments, with plans for a walkthrough to identify further accessibility improvements.
• The club is preparing for a follow-up session next year to continue this momentum, indicating a sustained commitment to inclusivity.
These strides towards inclusivity not only enhance the club's ethos but also reinforce the message that hockey is a sport for everyone, where every player can find a place to call home.
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Enhancing Accessibility
Integrating people with disabilities into sports promotes diversity and inclusiveness, enriching the community and the sport. For the RNB Croquet Club, this aligns with their goals of community engagement and expanding membership. Inclusive sports opportunities enhance the physical and mental well-being of individuals with disability and ensure that everyone has the chance to enjoy the benefits of sporting activities.
Effective Practices
1. Venue Selection: Selecting venues with potential clubhouses ensures that people with disabilities can enjoy the sport regardless of the weather. Identifying shared spaces e.g., basketball courts and lawn bowls expands the options for inclusive play.
2. Community Engagement: The club’s initiative to set up a stall at the local market with live demonstrations and gameplay was a strategic move that has sparked community member interest, including those with disabilities.
3. Promotional Strategies: The club sought council-approved promotional methods, such as community events and social media campaigns, to increase visibility and awareness of programs they offer to people with disabilities.
Addressing Challenges
• Historical Resistance: The club’s persistence in finding council-approved methods for promotion demonstrated resilience in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles.
External Connections
• National Bodies: The club reached out to Croquet Australia for support and guidance and shared their local initiatives that have gained national attention.
• Local Collaborations: Connections with the Rye Community House and other local and state organisations were sought for cooperation and provided meeting spaces, funding, and increased exposure.
Resources That Helped
1. Information Compilation: Gathering recent news articles and relevant information to share with Croquet Australia helped in establishing formal communication and collaboration.
2. Community Collaboration: Initiating contact with local organisations provided avenues for support and involvement to enable accessible programs for people with disabilities.
Conclusion
The RNB Croquet Club’s efforts to include people with disabilities in their sport have showcased a commitment to creating an inclusive and dynamic environment. By adopting innovative approaches to engagement, overcoming challenges with creativity and determination, and building external partnerships, the club has set a precedent for growth and increased visibility within the Rye community. With a comprehensive strategy in place, the RNB Croquet Club is on a promising path to making croquet a more inclusive and cherished sport in the community.
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Expanding Visibility and Participation
Specialist Hoops Inc. has initiated a strategic approach to enhance visibility and increase participation in their basketball program. Recognising the importance of community engagement and inclusive sports opportunities, the organisation is taking active steps to invite and involve a broader demographic into its basketball fold.
Key Discussions and Initiatives:
Come and Try Days: These events are crucial for increasing visibility and participation. They act an entry point for potential participants to experience the sport in an inclusive, non-pressured environment.
Partnership with Basketball Victoria: Specialist Hoops Inc collaborates with it state body to leverage resources and networks in order to attract a wider audience.
Outreach to Wheelchair Basketball Clubs: Connecting to other wheelchair basketball clubs has created a supportive network that fosters growth and shared learning opportunities.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions: Visibility Initiatives: Specialist Hoops Inc is actively exploring avenues to enhance the program’s profile, including social media campaigns and community events.
Engagement Strategies: Expanding from the 'come and try' events are plans to host regular sessions and tournaments to maintain engagement and attract new participants.
Community Collaboration:
Building relationships with local organizations and sports clubs is a strategic move to increase membership and create an integrated sports community.
This program involves the following:
In-Person Workshops
Participants will first attend one in-person workshop of their choice.
Facilitators
Meet the facilitators from each state below.
QLD:
Katie Kelly OAM PLY (BA, MBus) - is a two times Paralympian (2016, 2020), and Australian Paralympic Gold Medallist as she won Australia’s first medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympics in Paratriathlon in the vision impaired class. She has also won two World Championships (2015, 2017) and was the first female para-triathlete to win Triathlon Australia's female athlete of the year award. Katie founded Sport Access Foundation in 2017, a registered listed charity. Sport Access Foundation provides sporting grants to improve access for Australian children with a disability to play sport. Katie retired from high performance sport after her final race at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and is now focussed on a career in Diversity and Inclusion in the corporate and community sectors.
Elle Steele is a 5-time Australian swimming representative, Paralympian, Gold medalist, and TEDx speaker. Elle is also the National Project Manager of BISC and a motivational speaker. Born with a disability called Arthrogryposis, Elle’s life experiences have given her insights that assist her in also working with disability organisations in advocacy and strategy planning. Her past disability advocacy work has included ANZ, Merri-Bek Council, The Victorian Institute of Sport, The Surf Coast Shire, AFDO, and WorkSafe.
ACT:
Brandie O’Connor - From 2010 to 2015 Brandie represented Australia as a para cyclist at national and world events. Brandie is a former world record holder and a Commonwealth Games medallist. In 2016, Brandie joined the Vikings Cycling Club Committee as the Women’s Development Officer and represented the club on the Cycling ACT Women’s Development Sub-Committee. In 2017, Brandie initiated the first ever ACT interclub Women’s Road Development Program to improve women’s participation at club racing. She designed the governance process to support its successful operation for a further two years and coaching of 60 women. Brandie also collaborated with senior coaches to design and deliver the programs. Brandie is passionate about person-centred universal design in sport and recreation. Brandie has more than 20 years’ experience advocating for universal design in the workplace for people who are vision impaired. Brandie’s current studies in Sport and Exercise Science (Clinical Exercise Physiology) is positioning Brandie to uplift the inclusiveness of disabled working professionals in the sport and exercise field.
Renae Domaschenz - Renae is a 2020 Toyko Paralympian and world champion high performance coach in the sport of Rowing. A strong role model for women in sport – she was awarded a place on the 2022 AIS Women Athlete Accelerate Program and 2020 AIS Women in Sport Leadership Talent Program funded by the Australian Government’s office for Women. Currently, providing leadership, facilitation and specialist advice for KPMG’s Policy, Economics and Public Impact Team, Renae is also an experienced medical and life sciences leader who has led and delivered several complex multi-disciplinary and multi-institutionalised projects with industry domestically and worldwide.
TAS:
Katherine Reed - At 19 Katherine Reed broke her back, leaving her a paraplegic. This opened up the world of wheelchair basketball, which Katherine threw herself into for the next 5 years. Katherine began playing locally in my hometown of Launceston, then soon travelling to play regional competitions in Victoria. Katherine spent 5 seasons playing with the Victorian team in the Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League (first Dandenong, then later Kilsyth). Katherine was also part of the Australian women’s shadow squad in the lead-up to London Paralympics, and the Australian under-23 women’s team that travelled to Canada in 2011. Katherine facilitate’s many school groups, doing talks about spinal cord injury and/or wheelchair basketball clinics. Some of these have been through Paraquad, and many have been organised privately. Katherine always enjoys helping those around her find ways to involve those with disabilities and to provide for opportunities for those with disabilities in her local community.
Marcelle Kersenboom - Marcelle believes there is a real need for education when it comes to the inclusion of those with more “hidden” disabilities. Marcelle draws on my own personal experiences when running theatre workshops for children with disability. In these workshops, the children deal with sensory impairment, and Marcelle starts every session with a calming activity such as mindfulness activities, and or soft music and by sitting on the ground with lights dimmed or blinds drawn. This allows the children to relax into the environment. Marcelle also works at Giant Steps, an independent school for children with autism. Marcelle often takes the children to the school gym or the outside exercise equipment, through these practices, Marcelle sees how they help give much-needed respite and time out from all the concentration needed for the class work. In the gym there were tricycles, mats, a mini trampoline, scooters, balls and much more.
VIC:
Jessi Hopper - is currently completing a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Disability and Inclusion at Deakin University. Jessi, being new to a life with disability has taken it in her stride and is now an aspiring Paralympian for Boccia, competing in State and National competitions in the last 12 months. Jessi is a confident and personable speaker, with insights on lived experience, including the transition from life without disability to life with disability.
Melissa Hale - is a highly accomplished professional with a proven ability to deliver excellence in authentic and inclusive leadership, disability inclusion and stakeholder engagement. Melissa is currently the Head of Women’s Cricket Australia and a Cricket Victoria Ambassador. Melissa’s role as Community Ambassador representing Deaf and hard of hearing cricket players and facilitate the creation pathways for Deaf and hard of hearing men, women and children to participate both in mainstream cricket clubs and to provide opportunities for them to participate in their state, national and international Deaf cricket competitions.
WA:
Taishar Ovens - is a hardworking and passionate individual with international experience representing Australia at the Paralympic Games in Wheelchair Basketball. Taishar has a strong knowledge of clients and individuals with disabilities, where she shares her expertise through her work at CoAct VisAbility. Taishar is passionate about promoting inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with disabilities and is excited about the opportunity to work with Disability Sports Australia to create and deliver programs for clients and the community.
Kerrie Duff - Kerrie is a Paralympian, Bronze medalist in the 400m Freestyle at the 1984 Games held in the UK. Kerrie currently holds a Cert IV in TAE (including the LLN unit) and a Masters in Human Rights from Curtin University. She is committed to working towards equity in sport, and life in general, for people with disability and have long standing personal and professional experience in advocacy. Kerrie currently works in team building a private niche company that works with community groups/ corporates/ organisations/ schools to develop their team building skills.
Delivery Partners
Program Partners
Thank you to the Program Partners for assisting with this project in each State and Territory
