The University of Wollongong’s UniActive has partnered with Flagstaff Group to host an Inclusive Sports Taster Event to unite people of all abilities to celebrate collaboration and inclusivity.
Members of the local community and university students will come together on Thursday, March 26, at UniActive’s Sports Hub for recreational sport sessions including wheelchair basketball, soccer, basketball, netball and oztag.
Five sporting organisations from across the region will take part in the day – the Wollongong Roller Hawks, Illawarra District Netball Association, Basketball Illawarra, One Agency and Wests Illawarra.
Flagstaff Group’s initiative We Belong addresses the social inclusion obstacles for people with disability by partnering with community organisations to develop programs and provide support across arts, culture, sport and recreation.
We Belong project officer and organiser of the Inclusive Sports-Taster Rebecca Lachlan said sport is a great way to unify the local community and highlight the importance of inclusivity.
“We all have a common ground with sport, we all like to have a bit of fun and get out there and do something different. I think it will be ideally great having the uni students mingling with people from Flagstaff,” Ms Lachlan said.
“It will give them a chance to see that there’s not that many things that are actually different and we get to bring something to the community that’s not really been done on the large scale with all different sports involved. We just want to have everyone involved.”
Luke Meharg, a person with disability, will attend and said it is more than just a sports event, it’s an opportunity to be included in the wider community and meet new people.
“Inclusive sport means everyone can play the game. It’s important because everyone can come together and I get to meet people and make friends,” Mr Meharg said.
Ms Lachlan said the event is a meaningful step toward creating a campus and community where everyone belongs. By bringing together people of all abilities, the event breaks down barriers, fosters social connection and reinforces that sport can be a powerful tool for inclusion.
