Albany students have a kick at Centennial Park with All Abilities Football WA

More than 70 students from Spencer Park and Albany education centres enjoyed a day of footy fun on Thursday thanks to an inclusive AFL carnival hosted by All Abilities Football WA.

All Abilities Football inclusion specialist Rob Geersen said the Centennial Park carnival was a great opportunity to get children of any ability on the field.

“We’ve come down to Albany to basically give the opportunity for children from education support schools across the region living with disability to play football, and they’ve come together at the carnival just to get out, have some fun and experience something I think that many of us take for granted, but for the kids living with disability is not so easy,” he said.

Mr Geersen said the schools carnival was aimed at opening families’ eyes to the possibility of getting their kids into regular football.

“Traditionally in times past, there haven’t been these options, and children with disability were being segregated from community and opportunities,” he said.

“We want to break down those barriers, and it’s important for the community to embrace it as well, it’s a two way street.

“These families that are local here, they all deserve the same opportunities to make those decisions for their kids, to be part of it.

“It’s a tough life for many families, but just to get that opportunity to engage, I think it’s priceless.”

“We’ve had kids down here at the carnivals that have never experienced football before, we’ve got kids today using mobility devices, walkers and wheelchairs.

“I saw a young lady today, she uses a walking frame and she kicked a goal, and the smile on her face when she achieved that was massive.

“That is the best thing about today, it’s all the smiles from the kids and the fact that they feel they’ve achieved something, and they have, they have achieved something.”

All Abilities Football runs the statewide program Star Kick, which creates an environment for children of all abilities to play AFL.