As NDIS's Partner in the Community, APM has teamed up with National Rugby League Northern Territory to give people in Darwin a chance to try Wheelchair Rugby League.
A series of try out sessions are being held in Marrara indoor stadium for people with or without disability to join in the sport.
The first event saw people try Wheelchair Rugby League with NSW team coach for the Wheelchair Rugby League Brett Clark flying in to join the game.
Speaking to the Northern Territory News, APM team leader for community capacity building Kathleen Cole said there wasn’t enough sport for people with disability.
“Sport is such an important part of our health and wellbeing here, Territorians really love their sport,” Ms Cole said.
“We talked to sporting clubs and they were saying that we would love to have more people involved but we don’t engage enough with people with disabilities.
“So we’re acting as a conduit between the groups to get some engagement.”
APM delivers the NDIS Local Area Coordination services in Darwin. As part of the service, Local Area Coordinators (LACs) help people with disability, NDIS participants, families and carers to identify and access the support they need.
They also work with community organisations and businesses to be more inclusive and support people with disability.
APM and the NDIS have a series of inclusive sporting events for families in the community to take part in. The next event will be wheelchair basketball on 18 April.
For more information email apm.ccbdarwin@ndis.gov.au or call 1800 276 522.
From the Northern Territory News.
Game on for disabled
Sport plan to bridge divide
A disability services company has challenged Territory sporting bodies to make more activities accessible for people with disabilities.
APM team leader for community capacity building Kathleen Cole said plenty of Territorians impacted by disability would love to play sport but there wasn’t enough.
“Sport is such an important part of our health and wellbeing here, Territorians really love their sport,” Ms Cole said.
“We talked to sporting clubs and they were saying that we would love to have more people involved but we don’t engage enough with people with disabilities.
“So we’re acting as a conduit between the groups to get some engagement.”
NRL NT has already come on board to get involved with the partnership between APM and the NDIS.
NSW team coach for the Wheelchair Rugby League Brett Clark flew to Darwin yesterday to share his passion with the NT at a try out session in Marrara indoor stadium.
“The whole idea is to get awareness out there for wheelchair rugby league, as an inclusive sport and as an alternative to rugby league,” Mr Clark said.
“You do not have to be disabled to play this sport, hence being inclusive. We want people to come and give it a go, teach them some of the skills, see what the interest is like and hopefully build up an opportunity for people to do this regularly.”
“The fact that it’s one of the only sports that is 100 per cent inclusive, means you can have parents who are able to play with their kids who have disabilities and so on.”
Darwin wheelchair access advocate Paul “Macca” McKenzie said initiatives like this helped people in wheelchairs to get out and be involved in the community.
“There are enough people that want to get involved, it is for able bodied people too,” Mr McKenzie said.
“So it’s mixing families together – for someone like myself I can turn up with my family, I’m not here to play, but I’m here to support.”