Students at St Joseph’s Primary School, Malvern experienced the fun of accessible sport at Sport4All’s Para-Sports Day, while also learning important values of inclusion.
Sport4All is a pilot program funded by the Australian Government to support mainstream clubs and schools build awareness around disability inclusion.
As one of the five LGAs partnered with Get Skilled Access (developer of Sport4All), the City of Stonnington helps local clubs and schools with welcoming and including people with disability.
Stonnington previously hosted a week-long series of inclusive sport and activities to mark International Day of People with Disability in December 2021, with a highlight being the inclusive sport Come and Try Day.
The Para-Sports Day was headlined by para-alpine skier and 2018 Winter Paralympian Jonty O’Callaghan, who was born with cerebral palsy affecting his right side. This hasn’t stopped him hitting speeds upwards of 120kph on the snow as he competes at the Paralympic Games, World Championships, and other events across the globe.
Through the day’s various games, children from grades 3 to 6 learned how sports can be adapted to include people with disability.
“Sport4All’s purpose is to support people with disability to participate in sport when, where, and how they choose,” explained City of Stonnington Disability Inclusion Program Officer, Jeremy O’Sullivan.
“Inclusion is everyone’s responsibility and Para-Sport come and try days, like St Joseph’s Primary’s, gives students the opportunity to walk in the shoes of their peers with disability and understand how adapting rules, equipment, and the environment can include everyone.”
Mahla Davies, a teacher from St. Joseph’s Primary School shared the positive feedback from staff, students, and parents.
“The Sport4All incursion was a valuable opportunity for students to experience for themselves diversity in sport and begin the building blocks of disability inclusion awareness.”
“The students, staff and parent body provided overwhelming feedback in regard to the program and what it represented. “
You can find out more information on the Sport4All program on the Active Stonnington website.
