Students at Iramoo Primary School who participated in the Wyndham City-facilitated program Sport4All, met 2020 Paralympian Alexandra Viney last week (Thursday 9 November).
Ms Viney, a rower who was a member of the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four team that competed in the 2020 Paralympics, shared her story with the students to ‘start conversations and highlight potential opportunities for people with impairments and disabilities in sport’.
Ms Viney, a promising young rower, acquired a disability at 18 years following a serious car accident.
Eight years later, after achieving a successful career as a sport scientist and strength and conditioning coach she was introduced to rowing as a para-athlete. Hard work, dedication and a love of rowing led Ms Viney to quickly achieve international success.
Wyndham Mayor, Councillor Susan McIntyre said Iramoo Primary School has been working through the Sport4All program, aiming to be more inclusive and increase opportunities for students with disability to participate in sport.
“The Grade 3s and 6s who participated in the program will build their awareness that all disabilities are different and that everyone can get involved in sport if activities are adapted,” she said.
“Students took part in games such as Goal Ball and Seated Volleyball, which provided an experience of how sport could be adapted for people with disability.”
Wyndham City’s Active City portfolio holder Cr Peter Maynard said Sport4All is a collaboration between the Australian Government, Sport Australia and Get Skilled Access, which is a Disability-Owned Business Enterprise, managed and run by people with disability and people with lived experience of disability.
“Sport4All’s purpose is to provide people with disability the opportunity to participate in club and school sports when, where and how they choose,” he said.
For more information regarding activities and clubs for people with disability in Wyndham visit: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/activedisability