Program provides opportunities for people living with disabilities to participate in sporting competitions

THE decision to host the Commonwealth Games in Regional Victoria is something that will leave a lasting legacy.

So often we see large metropolitan cities awarded major events and hosting rights for sporting competitions, and those living in the regions are the ones who miss out.

In that respect it is easy to raise the topic of inclusion and accessibility in sport.

While it is true that regional towns are not generally afforded the same opportunities as bigger cities, the same can be said of people living with disabilities compared to able-bodied athletes.

The Commonwealth Games now runs its para events simultaneously with competitions for able-bodied athletes, which is a great step to recognising all competitors as equals.

At a local level, it is so vital for us to provide equal opportunities for people living with a disability to participate in sporting competitions.

It is why the trailblazing Sport4All program is such a wonderful service offered by the City of Greater Geelong.

Sport4All is commissioned by the federal government and has been designed by Get Skilled Access, the enterprise founded by 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott.

Its purpose is to provide people with disability the opportunity to participate in club and school sports, and allow them to choose when, where and how they will be involved.

Sport4All is a simple online programme combining an interactive website providing sporting clubs and schools with resources, training and support to boost participation and inclusive culture for people with disability.

The program is self-paced, easy to digest and one of the best features is that it comes at no cost to participating organisations.

The city is presently working on an inclusive sports hub website, which will be a central location for all disability sports and programs that are run in the Geelong community.

It is often the case that people with disability do not have the same means to access information as other members of the community, so the objective is to have a one stop shop for all disability sports in the Geelong region advertised on a website that is user-friendly and easily accessible.

I would strongly encourage all sporting organisations and/or schools that have a desire to become more inclusive and a willingness to open its doors to a wide section of the community looking for more opportunities to play sport to get involved with this program.

We know what Dylan Alcott has done in his sporting career, but I am convinced there are so many more great sporting stories about people with disability that are yet to be told, and I hope that proving the platform for those people to begin their sporting journeys is motivation to register for the program.

For those clubs and organisations interested in Sport4All, contact the City’s Sport4All Program Coordinator and Inclusion Coach, Travis Zimmer ([email protected]).

Geelong Awards for People with Disability

There are so many amazing people in our region with a disability doing wonderful things and I am proud that Council has partnered with genU to once again hold the Geelong Awards for People with Disability.

Now in its seventh year – and in its third year delivered by Council – these awards are an important part of the work Council does to build an accessible and inclusive community.

Our Access and Inclusion Action Plan 2018–22 aims to create a more accessible community for everyone and the Geelong Awards for People with Disability celebrates the achievements of people living with a disability in our region.

Nominations for the awards are open in the below categories:

• Achievement Award – recognising someone who has achieved a significant milestone or success in any area
• Leadership and Advocacy Award – recognising someone who has led or advocated for others to achieve a considerable outcome or advancement
• Volunteering Award – recognising someone who has demonstrated exceptional commitment or made a substantial contribution towards empowering and developing others in a voluntary capacity.

Nominations will remain open until Friday, September 2, and the award ceremony will be held on Friday, December 2.

To find out more information on each award category, nominee eligibility, selection criteria or to put in a nomination, head to geelongaustralia.com.au/disabilityawards

Cr Anthony Aitken

Windermere Ward, City of Greater Geelong