Victorian State Titles: Building the future of boccia
The Victorian State Titles made a triumphant return this year, marking a significant milestone for the boccia community after two years of intensive grassroots development. We spoke with Ethan Horan Farrell, Sports Development Coordinator for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania at Boccia Australia, about what this achievement means for athletes, the sport’s growth trajectory, and the young champions who are shaping the future of boccia in Victoria.
What does the return of the Victorian State Titles mean for the boccia community in Victoria?
It means everything. We have worked tirelessly over the past two years to build a boccia community within VIC and hosting a State Titles is the culmination of that effort. Hosting this event, and seeing how large it was, will embed a culture of boccia within VIC. The building of the clubs, getting boccia within the schools – they were the building blocks, if you will — the State Titles is the cement that’ll keep the house steady.
How have athletes responded to the return of the State Titles?
Everybody was stoked. It has made a lot of people happy and spurred people to get into the sport further.
What opportunities does this create for new and emerging players in Victoria?
It gives athletes something to aim for. Beforehand, boccia players in VIC would have to go outside of Victoria to go to the biggest competitions. Now, they are right here. You don’t need to travel. However, something that we noticed early on is that it has made a lot of our community aware of interstate opportunities. It is very possible we see a bigger Boccia VIC representation at various state titles and also at BANT (Nationals).
How do the State Titles fit into the broader development pathway for athletes in Victoria?
State Titles offer athletes a valuable opportunity to gain ranking points. This will help with seeding for BANT but also talent development opportunities. As we saw at VIC State Titles, we have young players who have not had opportunity to compete on such a stage. Now, that they have been given the opportunity to compete at a Boccia Australia sanctioned event, there achievements will be recognised.
Are you seeing growth in participation across VIC, and what’s driving that?
Yes. Participation has grown a lot since 2024, and it will continue to get bigger. In terms of what is driving that, I think it is 1) The sport and how exciting it is once you have played a full game 2) The outstanding setup and opportunities Boccia Australia has to offer athletes. When you look at the calendar for the year, it is incredible how much choice there is, with over 10 tournaments available to play across Australia. Money is obviously a barrier, but that is the case in every para sport.
What has gone into bringing the State Titles back this year?
The main ingredient needed to bring this to life is the community. If the community and its strength didn’t exist, this wouldn’t happen.
What does the future of boccia in Victoria look like from your perspective?
It is going to be massive. Once VIC gets four independent clubs operating, you are going to see a skyrocket in its traction, more so than what we’ve seen already. It is normal to say that these things take time, and it’ll be a while before we see a culture of boccia similar to that of NSW. However, this reality is probably not as far away as people think.
Is there a moment or story from this year’s event that really stood out to you?
For me two of the biggest stories are about our young athletes. Lili, 12, and Ethan, 14, are two of the biggest stories in boccia in Australia over the last 10 years, in my opinion. On another day, Lili could have gotten to the final in State Titles and Ethan won gold in the BC2 category. These stories are so important because these athletes are the future of the game. And they have taken the step up ahead of their peers to show that the future is now.
