The Hon Anika Wells MP
Minister for Aged Care
Minister for Sport

Alison Byrnes MP
Member for Cunningham

Wheelchair basketball in the Illawarra has just become more accessible for women and girls as a result of a $50,000 grant for Illawarra Wheelchair Basketball Inc from the Albanese Labor Government. 

Illawarra Wheelchair Basketball Inc was selected to receive funding under Stream 2 of the Australian Government’s $200 million Play Our Way program, which is designed to remove barriers to women and girls participating in sport and physical activity.

IWB will use the money to purchase of three basketball wheelchairs specifically made for and dedicated to female participants, as well as a patient hoist to assist in transferring participants from their day chairs to the basketball wheelchairs.

IWB is just one of the many groups around the nation which will receive Play Our Way funding for participation programs, or new or modified equipment suitable for women and girls across a range of sports and physical activity programs.

More than 660 applications for funding were received. Funding is being offered to initiatives nationwide, with a focus on women and girls who face additional barriers to participation. This includes First Nations women and girls, women and girls with disability or who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Assessment of applications under the facilities stream of the Play Our Way Grant Program to support construction of new and modified sporting facilities, playing areas and spaces, is still in progress.

More information on the Play Our Way Grant Opportunity can be found at https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/play-our-way-program

Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:

“Play Our way is all about creating greater opportunities for women and girls to have an equal chance to get the fun, satisfaction and health benefits sport offers.

“The huge response to this grant opportunity, and the range of great project ideas, show that Australian communities want to be more supportive of women and girls.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes MP:

“It’s fantastic to see Illawarra Wheelchair Basketball Inc promoting sporting equity and diversity in their programs.

“The success of our Wollongong Roller Hawks is a major source of pride in our region, and I can’t wait to see this project foster a new generation of female players in the sport.

“Every person has the right to enjoy sport, in their own way and at the level that suits them.”

Quotes attributable to President of Illawarra Wheelchair Basketball, Geoff Adams:

"We're thrilled to be the recipient of this grant through the Play Our Way program. This money will be used to acquire new sports chairs and a hoist for new and developing female players to use. It is important that we have a selection of chairs for new players that are the right fit for anyone who wants to play the game and these chairs are fully adjustable and can be customised to suit the needs of a player no matter their impairment or body shape."

"Having the right equipment for new players, including female players is essential to ensuring their experience is an enjoyable one and to encourage them to keep coming back."

"I want to thank the federal government, including our local member Alison Byrnes, for helping make our great sport more accessible to more people and our Hub Manager Brian Gardner for applying for this grant and sourcing the equipment."