Our Founder, Katie Kelly OAM, who has a deaf-blind condition known as Usher's Syndrome, won gold in the Paratriathlon at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and is seeking to qualify for her second Paralympics in Paratriathlon the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. She established the Sport Access Foundation (SAF) in 2017 to help ensure sport is accessible for all young Australians living with a disability, and to help them achieve their sporting goals.
"Access to the right facilities and equipment is a game-changer for young Australians living with a disability and the sporting clubs who support them. This year we received over 110 applications and we are delighted to be awarding $20,000 in grants to help young athletes with a disability, to enjoy their sport and have the opportunity to compete at the highest level."
The foundation has an ongoing partnership with the ASX listed steel company BlueScope.
"It’s so inspiring to see young para-athletes working toward their individual goals. BlueScope is delighted to continue its support as a foundation partner and we congratulate this year’s group of grant recipients."
Harvey Norman have teamed up with Sport Access Foundation to ensure more young Aussies living with a disability have a helping hand to join a local sporting club. The funds will be used to help pay for registration fees, carer cost, extra coaching, team uniforms or travel to participate in the sport.
"We’re so proud to be an official partner of the 2019 Sport Access Foundation grant program. We have supported Katie Kelly OAM (SAF Founder) in her Paralympic journey and we share with her, her vision to ensure every young Australian living with a disability has the opportunity to be a member of a sporting Club."
Sport: Inline Speed Skating Age: 10 From: Walkley Heights, SA Disability: Autism
Sport: Athletics Age: 11 From: Wallan, VIC Disability: Acquired Brain Injury
Sport: Triathlon + Athletics Age: 9 From: Inala, QLD Disability: Paraplegic
Age: 14 Sport: Swimming From: Joslin, SA Disability: Cerebral Palsy
Sport: Cheerleading Age: 10 From: Ngunnawal, ACT Disability: Cerebral Palsy
Sport: Athletics Age: 12 From: Kingsley, WA Disability: Cerebral Palsy
Sport: Weightlifting Age: 13 From: Moama, NSW Disability: Hearing impairment + Intellectual disability
Sport: Equestrian Age: 12 From: Woodend, VIC Disability: Intellectual Disability + Autism
Sport: Athletics Age: 11 From: Ringwood, VIC Disability: Born with Bilateral Talipes
Sport: Cheerleading Age: 10 From: Boronia, VIC Disability: Sensory Progressing Disorder
This grant is to help our future Paralympians with the additional cost incurred when competing at the highest level. This grant is for costs relating to new and upgraded equipment, to compete in an international competition in their sport, to access additional coaching support and to assist with travel costs (particularly where additional cost to travel with equipment or a carer/guide is required).
Sport: Wheelchair Basketball Age: 16 From: Leopold, VIC Disability: Paralysed from Neck down / Transverse Myelitis
Mitchel is part of the 2019 U/23 Australia wheelchair basketball squad. At the age of 6 months of age Mitchell was paralysed from the neck down from a condition called Transverse Myelitis.
“The grant will be used to purchase a wheel bag that can allow me to safely transport my wheels, axles and spare parts/tools during flights to National or International tournaments. I am looking to representing Australia in Japan 2019 and Canberra in 2019 and 2020 so the funding will help me to access these tournaments.”
Achievements: 2019 Vic DSR Sportsperson of the Year; 2019 U23 Australian WC Basketball Squad; 2019 Vic U23 WC Basketball team at KCC National Championship.
Sport: Boccia Age: 16 From: Dunedoo, NSW Disability: Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Jamieson was born with spinal muscular atrophy, has never been able to walk and has been in a wheelchair her whole life.
“I live over 6 hours from Sydney where I train 3-4 days each week so the grant will assist with travel expenses, accommodation costs, fuel, carer costs plus coaching costs plus costs for overseas competitions.”
Achievements: Jamieson won Bronze Medal in Hong Kong World Open Boccia BC3 pairs (youngest player representing Australia) and is aiming for 2020 Tokyo Paralympic gold medal in BC3 pairs.
The SAF Equipment Grant will assist developing athletes to go the next level in their sport by providing support to upgrade their equipment or to access modified equipment.
Sport: Swimming Age: 13 Club: Logan Vikings Swimming Club From: Shailer Park, QLD Disability: Born without a Right Foot
Recently competed in the Australian Age Championships Adelaide (April 2019). Angela was born without a right foot. The grant will help fund a customised swim leg. Angela said:
“As a part of my swimming training we are required to do 1000m kicks, which is extremely difficult for me having only one foot. A customised prosthetic will enable me to be more competitive.”
Sport: Blind Cricket Age: 15 Club: QLD Blind Cricket From: Westlake, QLD Disability: Born with Bilateral Anopthalmia (no eyes)
In the Australian Blind Cricket Training Squad. Sean was born with Bilateral Anopthalmia (no eyes) so is completely blind. The grant will help to purchase a Bowling Machine. Sean said:
“I have to practice my batting with my father bowling, and he can’t bowl as quick or consistently as I need to face at the national level. I would like to get a bowling machine so I can practice against the pace of bowling required.”
Sport: Wheelchair Basketball Age: 13 Club: Australian Gliders From: Rowville, VIC Disability: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Both Feet
Recently won silver at the IWBF under 25 world championship in Thailand. Teisha said:
“The grant will help upgrade my current wheelchair chair / fund a new one so that I can play to my full potential as I strive for my major goal of Paralympics 2020 and beyond.”
Sport: Para-Equestrian / Dressage Age: 17 Club: Northside Riding Club From: Warriewood, NSW Disability: Acquired Brain Injury / right sided Hemiplegia
“The grant will go towards the purchase of a custom dressage saddle. In dressage it is very important to have a stable and correct seat which will improve my riding significantly and allow me to continue to improve and ultimately reach my long-term goal of being a para-equestrian rider.”
The SAF Equipment Grant will assist developing athletes to go the next level in their sport by providing support to upgrade their equipment or to access modified equipment.
"The PICA Group proudly support an inclusive and diverse workplace, so it makes sense that we promote this more broadly in the community via activities such as SAF Sporting Club grants."
Sport: Equestrian From: Brigadoon, Perth WA
HorsePower strive to maintain a safe and efficient horse-riding program for people with disabilities. The funding will help basic facility maintenance and upgrades such as shelving, replacement of deteriorated items and cleaning products. Of the 75 members at the club, 50 have a disability, 30 of whom are aged 7-17. Marnie Butler, Grants Officer of HorsePower said:
“We provide equine-assisted therapeutic, educational, recreational and sporting activities aimed at expanding the horizons of individuals leading to the enrichment of their lives. Providing a specialised program for such a range of disabilities at a reasonable cost to families requires assistance in the form of volunteers and grants such as this one.”
Sport: Football (Soccer) From: Zetland, NSW
Their focus is football for children with a disability. Ben Folino, Director and Coach from RCFC said:
“Our club auspices the Purple Hearts, a squad of footballers with a disability. The initiative started in 2010 when the club was originally formed. We have players with physical, intellectual and sensory disability. Most would be on the autism spectrum. Out of 200 members, 20 aged between 7-17 have a disability. The funds will provide coaching and engagement activities for the young players.”
The funding can be used for new and upgraded equipment such as marquees, lights, accessible club room and restrooms, accessible technology for club digital, cost to implement programs specifically for children with a disability and / or education of club officials / coaches / volunteers on working with children with a disability.
Sport: BMX + Road Cycling From: Northlakes, QLD
Chelses Munday, Grants Coordinator of Moreton Bay Cycling Club indicated they will provide modified equipment to assist their members who have a disability to take part in both BMX and road cycling.
Sport: Football (Soccer) From: Doyalson, NSW
Kerry Sweetnaem, Club President says the club aims to help children who have disabilities, such as Autism and Down Syndrome and special needs play soccer. The funding will provide modified and specialist equipment as well as assist with registration fees for players and to provide coaching and modified equipment.
Thank you everyone who applied. Be sure to follow us on social media and to signup to our eNewsletter to stay-up-to-date with future grant announcements.
Would you like to make a difference to a child with a disability to enable them to play sport, get active and have fun? Make a donation today that will go towards helping us to provide financial assistance and support to enable children with a physical disability to participate in sporting activities that are otherwise beyond the financial means of that child or their support network.
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