Rainbow Roos kids kicking goals through community support program

SOCCER coach and youth advocate Brad Ambridge knows first-hand how difficult it can be for children with a disability to find their place in community sport.

When his autistic son Grayson struggled to participate in organised soccer, the Northern Rivers father decided to create the environment his family couldn’t find.

That idea has since grown into Rainbow Roos, an inclusive soccer program supporting around 350 children across the region and providing a pathway for families who often feel excluded from traditional sport.

The program was recognised as a finalist in last year’s Kismet Awards for Health and Disability Services, with nominations now open for the 2026 awards.

Ambridge has been nominated for and won local and national awards since his program started in 2024.

He continues to be a driving force in the inclusion space, with Rainbow Roos becoming a lifeline for children facing barriers due to disability, neurodiversity, social challenges or financial hardship.

“I thought from a sport perspective no one was looking after a lot of these kids who are neurodiverse or have a disability,” he said.

“If it takes four weeks to get them on the field, so be it. That’s the kind of thing we can work on little by little.”

 

The program has expanded into more than 30 weekly sessions catering for children aged 2 to 16 through BabyRoos, MiniRoos and BigRoos programs, as well as NDIS-funded groups, private sessions and holiday camps.

For one of Rainbow Roos’ earliest participants, Louie, the program has been life changing.

His mother, Aleena Lavis, said when he first joined the program two years ago, simply stepping onto the field was a challenge.

“He was very overwhelmed. He would literally run away and hide behind the tree every week or get angry and frustrated,” she said.

“But Brad was patient, calm and inclusive. He just kept turning up and doing what he does.”

Ambridge worked with Louie through one-on-one sessions before gradually introducing him to group activities, helping him build the confidence to participate alongside other children.

That confidence eventually helped Louie take the next step into community sport, joining Tintenbar Soccer Club.

Lavis said she was amazed by his attitude before his first competitive game.

“I was like, ‘Do you know what you’re doing?’ and he said, ‘It’s fine Mum, I know what to do, Brad has shown me,'” she said.

“He absolutely adores Brad and everything he does.”

For more information about the awards visit kismet.healthcare/awards