The City of Wanneroo has partnered with a national disability inclusion program in an effort to improve participation in grassroots sport for people living with disability.
Through Sport4All, inclusion coach Dani Pickett is now working alongside the City's Community Facilities Operations team.
Founded through former Australian of the Year and Paralympic gold medallist Dylan Alcott's Get Skilled Access, Sport4All aims to equip club coaches, volunteers and school staff with the skills and resources to promote inclusive practices that encourage participation from people of all abilities, cultures and identities.
The organisation also provides local clubs with tailored accessibility assessments, training and information on available grants to support inclusive practices.
The city's partnership with Sport4All is intended to help ensure local sports clubs are as welcoming, accessible and inclusive as possible.
Drawing on her personal experience as a parent of two children with disability, Dani Pickett brings an extensive background in sports coaching, administration and program development to the role. Her son Bailey plays for the Wanneroo Football Club's Integrated All Abilities Team, which she also manages.
Ms Pickett hopes to see more people living with a disability taking part in local sport.
"For some members of our community, there are barriers that make participation more challenging. My role is about working with clubs to break down those barriers and ensure everyone feels welcome," Ms Pickett said.
"Choice is powerful. It is important we can all choose how to be involved, how to feel included, how to be ourselves and feel the same as everyone around you."
Ms Pickett's work will also extend into local schools, where she will offer guidance, resources and practical support.
Recent Sport4All figures show that, despite 75 per cent expressing a desire to do so, only 14 per cent of adults with disability in Australia take part in sport-related activities once a week. About 30,500 people in Wanneroo are currently living with some form of disability.
According to Wanneroo mayor Linda Aitken, the city is committed to building a more connected and inclusive community.
"Sport has always brought communities together, while supporting mental health, physical wellbeing, confidence and social connection," Ms Aitken said.
"By supporting our clubs and schools to be more inclusive places, we are strengthening our community and ensuring more people can experience the social, physical and emotional benefits of participation."
For more details on the program, visit wanneroo.wa.gov.au or sport4all.com.au.
