Recent media reports highlight Australia’s lowest Paralympic medal ranking in 36 years, raising questions about available funding and the broader implications for Brisbane 2032. While these discussions have focused primarily on elite athletes, there is an urgent need to shift the conversation towards community-based programs that support long-term participation and pathways in sports for people living with disabilities. 

Leading sports, recreation, and rehabilitation provider for people with disability, Sporting Wheelies, advocates for investment into grassroots sporting programs that provide ongoing opportunities for people with disabilities to engage in sports. These programs encourage people of all ages and abilities to participate both socially and competitively, creating a foundation for future Paralympic success, while also delivering vital social, health, and wellness benefits. 

Dane Cross, Chief Operating Officer of Sporting Wheelies, expressed his support for the Paris 2024 Paralympians and called for more comprehensive investment in sports for people with disabilities. 

“We are immensely proud of all the athletes who represented Australia at the Paralympics and would like to congratulate them all in their incredible dedication and hard work towards their sports, as we celebrate their success. It was exciting to see former Sporting Wheelies athletes among the competitors excelling on the world stage. Their achievements highlight the importance of investing in programs that support athletes from grassroots to elite level. 

“As we look ahead to Brisbane 2032, now is the time to invest and ensure we are providing access to sport for people of all ages and abilities. It’s not just about winning medals, but about fostering an inclusive sporting culture where every Australian with a disability has the opportunity to engage in sport – whether for competition, health, or social connection. 

“Over the last decade we’ve seen funding directed towards mainstream sporting organisations to develop and deliver programs for people with disabilities. Some sports are doing it well, others not so much. Unfortunately, we’re now seeing the results of this. The need for specialised, disability-led, community-driven programs, like those we offer at Sporting Wheelies, cannot be overlooked. 

“We are calling for investment from all levels of Government to ensure people with disability are provided opportunities across Australia to start their sporting journey.  We can’t rely on one-off initiatives or elite-focused funding alone. Grassroots, community programs are where lifelong athletes are born, where skills are nurtured, and where the love for sport grows. Every gold medallist has to start somewhere,” says Dane. 

Dane also highlights the programs offered by Sporting Wheelies in Queensland, including the Para Squad for Kids and Teens, Wheelchair Fundamentals to learn the basics of using a sport wheelchair and playing various sports. These then lead into social sport and competition-level programs like Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, and Para Powerlifting, which all help people with disabilities build their skills and confidence in sports. 

“We have the talent here in Queensland and across Australia, but we need to ensure that there is long-term support in place. A collaborative approach across all states, governing bodies and sporting codes is essential in developing the next generation of Paralympic athletes, as well as ensuring everyone can participate in sport, regardless of their goals. 

“Governing bodies and sporting codes must invite organisations like Sporting Wheelies to the table in the planning stages. We have the experience, expertise and, importantly, connection with the disability community to deliver the results,” Dane says. 

Sporting Wheelies has recently launched the ‘Get Games Ready’ initiative, which aims to increase sport and recreation participation among people with disabilities to meet the 500,000 national participation goal by 2032. 

With a focus on Queensland, Sporting Wheelies will collaborate with sporting clubs and organisations to make their venues and programs more inclusive, along with providing Disability Sport and Recreation Officers across Queensland to deliver adaptive and para-sport participation opportunities – from introductory recreation programs, through to competition level sports, before referring into high-performance pathways. 

‘Get Games Ready’ also includes educational programs in schools and specialised training and support for businesses to improve access and inclusion for all residents and visitors to Queensland, helping Brisbane 2032 to be the most accessible and inclusive Games ever delivered. 

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.

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