19 December, 2025 - Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability

A footballer with a blurred face kicks the ball mid‑air on a sunny oval, with one leg extended high and a wooden boundary fence and trees softly out of focus in the background.

AFL Victoria has announced a new partnership with Leisure Networks, AFL Barwon and the Football Integration Development Association (FIDA) to create the first dedicated junior-to-youth pathway in Australian Rules football for boys and girls aged 10–17 with an intellectual disability.

The initiative aims to close a long-standing gap in the football landscape by offering structured opportunities beyond mainstream competitions, helping young players develop their skills and confidence in an inclusive environment.

Beginning in 2026, Leisure Networks will deliver school-based programs in Special Development Schools across Victoria, leading to inter-school gala days that encourage participation and connection. Insights from these activities will inform the launch of community-based inclusion competitions in 2027, coordinated by AFL Barwon and FIDA.

Together, these organisations are building a supported pathway from Auskick through to inclusive youth football, ensuring that all young people, regardless of ability, have the chance to play, belong, and thrive in the game they love.

With more than 5.5 million Australians living with disability, early education plays a vital role in shaping how young people understand inclusion and accessibility. Yet, many schools still lack consistent access to disability awareness programs that build empathy and understanding.

Sporting Wheelies is addressing this gap through ‘Raising the Bar’, an in-school program led by people with disability, known as ‘Game Changers’, who share their personal experiences and teach inclusive language through adaptive sports demonstrations.

Brisbane local and Game Changer, Jacob Lake, says helping students see disability as “just one part of who we are” has been life-changing for both the participants and himself.

Sporting Wheelies’ 2025 Christmas Appeal supports the expansion of this program, ensuring more classrooms across Queensland can benefit from disability education grounded in empathy and lived experience.