Leading on from their recent support of the WA State Teams of the WA All Abilities Football Association (WAAAFA), APM has signed on as an event partner of the 2022 Toyota Wheelchair AFL National Championships.
International human services provider APM supports over 2 million people each year to find employment, improve their health and wellbeing, and participate in their community.
APM services help people with injury, illness or disability, children and older adults, unemployed people, and those facing hardship or harm.
Through this partnership APM is showing their support to this national event delivered by by Disability Sports Australia (DSA) in partnership with the Australian Football League (AFL) where the WAAAFA State Teams will compete for the first time.
This national competition will be held in Victoria from 22 – 25 November 2022, attracting state teams from across the country as well as teams from Australian Defence Force (ADF), Retired Service League (RSL) and the AFL.
Kayo Sports will be streaming all Division 1 matches of the competition from Wednesday 23rd November and the Finals series of both Divisions on Friday, 25th November.
Matches will be streamed free via Kayo Freebies, with fans able to access the coverage via the Kayo Sports app or online via kayosports.com.au/freebies.
Kayo Freebies are free with no credit card details required to register or stream events.
Ayden Shaw General Manager of Programs and Partnerships at Disability Sports Australia said ‘the support from APM will minimise the cost to participants and to elevate the event to showcase Wheelchair AFL as a premier event on the disability sporting calendar.
"We are building strong foundations for this competition and investments like this from APM further emphasise the importance of meaningful participation in the community for people with disability like them we are dedicated to making a positive and lasting social impact enabling better lives".
Group CEO Michael Anghie said "We have seen first-hand the difference being part of a sporting team, competition and the associated community makes to people living with disability through APM’s long-time support of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Inclusive League".
"Supporting events such as the national AFL wheelchair championships will allow more people to participate, be involved in the sport and increase awareness surrounding disability and inclusion".
"Historically wheelchair AFL has been a great outlet for injured and wounded soldiers and Defence personnel and people with a physical disability to continue their rehabilitation through sport – something that APM is closely associated with through their provision of rehabilitation services to the ADF and workplaces throughout Australia".
Wheelchair AFL was created in 2015 providing an adaptive leisure pathway for people with a physical disability to participate and play in an inclusive format.
The game is played between two teams of five, plus interchange players, on a rectangular indoor court divided into thirds with portable goal posts at either end of the court.
Scoring is identical to traditional AFL: six points for a goal, one point for a behind.
This is the latest partnership for APM and sits alongside other inclusive sport sponsorships across Australia.
APM Employment Services is a foundation sponsor of the SANFL Inclusive League helping people with intellectual disability enjoy competitive footy in South Australia.
Earlier this year APM and Hockey Australia also announced a three-year partnership.
APM is shirt sponsor of the Hockeyroos, official partner of the Kookaburras, and Hockey Australia’s partner for disability services.
APM is working with Hockey Australia to bring inclusive sport to people with disability and players of all ability in communities across the country.
2022 Toyota Wheelchair AFL National Championship
Dates: Tuesday 22 November to Friday 25 November.
Venue: Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre 44 Civic Dr, Greensborough VIC 3088
Stay up to date with the competition at the official event website: wheelchairaflchampionship.au.
To get free tickets to the event, please visit the Facebook event.
ABOUT DISABILITY SPORTS AUSTRALIA
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is one of Australia’s nine (9) National Sporting Organisations for people with a disability (NSODs), all of whom share a common purpose to improve the lives of Australians living with a disability using sport as the medium.
At DSA, we aim to connect Australians with disabilities to local active and adaptive opportunities through trusted programs like the National Referral Hub, Activate Inclusion Sports Days, Sports Incubator and Adaption and Inclusion Certification. Learn more: sports.org.au.