“How well the Assembly committee, and then the government, deals with Powerchair Football will be a litmus test to determine success in breaking down barriers to sport,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

The opportunity to participate in sport is taken for granted by most Canberrans. For some, such participation means meeting challenges that few sportspeople can imagine.

These challenges are to be addressed by the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Economics, Industry and Recreation. The committee chair, Labor’s Taimus Werner-Gibbings, has a significant leadership task in addressing the “barriers and opportunities for participation in community sports in the ACT”.

Capital Region Powerchair Football tendered the most outstanding of the submissions to date. When it comes to barriers in sport and recreation, the committee’s ability to address the concerns raised by the submission will prove a test of success.

The committee’s terms of reference include “effectiveness of the implementation of the Sport and Recreation Strategy 2023-2028”.

Many of the submissions address issues such as costs, access to sporting fields and swimming facilities. However, the Powerchair Football submission goes to the heart of access and participation.

Powerchair Football addresses the barriers for people with disabilities and the role sport can play in improving their lives. 

“They are forming social connections and skills, learning how to work as a team, learning how to overcome challenges, trust teammates and work together, to belong,” says the Powerchair Football submission.

“They are passionate about the game and learning new strategies. For individuals with limited mobility or reliant on wheelchairs to navigate their community, the game offers them freedom of movement, speed and the sheer joy (and therapeutic effect) of kicking a ball”.

Problems for Powerchair Football have included paying for the chairs, meeting the costs of travel and transporting the chairs when competing, having a suitable venue for playing and storing chairs. Since the establishment in 2018, the sport has had support from parents and friends with significant donations and support provided through the efforts of a number of organisations. including the Rotary Club of Aurora Gungahlin.

It is time for serious support from the ACT government if they are to effectively implement their 2023-2028 Strategy.

However, recruiting new players is also a challenge for Powerchair Football. Presumably, privacy concerns make it difficult to reach appropriate children and young adults in our education system. But surely, the Education Directorate will be able to find a way to assist.

Other submissions raise a range of access issues. John Smith, who is paralysed from polio, has trouble supporting his grandson’s participation in football. He pointed out that “access for wheelchairs at Hawker Playing fields is effectively non-existent”.

A theme flowing through many of the submissions goes well beyond disabilities, challenging the committee to address these in an holistic manner.

One submission (name withheld) suggested: “Studies of the health benefits to society and the cost benefits to the economy of a healthy population is well understood, however barriers such as cost, access, and transport is preventing many Canberrans from participating in as much sport as they would like”.

Concerns about the costs of sporting participation and access to facilities comes through many submissions. Comparisons are made to regional NSW. One submission pointed out that “a term of kids swimming lessons costs around $230 per child. If you have three kids, you are looking around $700 per term”.

Rob Cattanach argued the “ACT government has neglected sporting infrastructure for the last two decades… now every sport fights over them and games get scheduled at ridiculous hours like 10pm start time because of a lack of facilities”.

There are encouraging comments about community attitude to sport and recreation. Karen Bahman is illustrative of many positive comments about the role of sport: “I love that Parkrun is free and open to everyone regardless of age, gender or fitness level. We welcome everyone and encourage people to participate.”

These issues will be addressed by a committee consisting of Labor, Liberal, Greens and both of the independents. Not only do these MLAs have the role of making recommendations on how things can be improved. They have the power to follow up to ensure that their recommendations are implemented.

In the end, how well the Assembly committee, and then the government, deals with Powerchair Football will be a litmus test to determine success in breaking down barriers and increasing access to sport and recreation in the ACT. Submissions close on September 26.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.