For Caleb Namatjira-McMillan, football is life. The 19-year-old may be wheelchair-bound, but that hasn’t stopped him from going to his local oval every week to play soccer with his friends.
Most important points:
- The Footy 4 Life program in Alice Springs allows football fans with disabilities to play their favorite game
- The program, the brainchild of Tommy Dutton, is based on encouragement and involvement
- By popular demand, the program will run for 26 weeks per year after a successful six-week trial in 2021
With Category 1 Cerebral Palsy, he needs help with most tasks and will never be able to walk.
But his legal guardian, Anne-Marie Temple, says Caleb won’t be stopped from joining in and having fun.
“The friends he made here he classifies as his closest friends, and these people are now fundamental to his life,” Temple said.
“It allows him to have friends, have mentors and learn skills like footy kicking and hanging out.”
Going to your local oval or sports complex to play sports – or just get some exercise – is a luxury that most Australians can happily take for granted, but for a myriad of reasons not all members of the the society.
However, a unique Northern Territory program caters to anyone and everyone who just wants to get involved.
Tommy Dutton is the Remote Development Manager of the Alice Springs office of the AFL Northern Territory and the founder of the Footy 4 Life Wellbeing Wednesday program.
“I just wanted to have a community program and what we found was that a lot of the clients that came in were mainly from the National Disability Insurance Scheme or people with disabilities, sort of looking at a program to be a part of of, rather than a spectator,” Dutton said.
That’s a feeling that struck a chord with Temple, who recalls when she and Caleb first met Dutton.
“I didn’t really know what the outcome would be, but one thing was certain: Caleb was tired of always being on the sidelines and being left out,” she said.
Fast forward to now and this program is pretty much tailor-made to suit Namatjira-McMillan and others with mixed skills.
“Everyone who comes down there is 100 percent of their choice, whether they help or participate. Encouragement and engagement are so important to feeling validated,” Temple said.
Since May last year, Dutton’s team has been inviting local community members to Anzac Oval to participate in the programme, which uses the sport of Australian Rules Football to improve physical and mental health.
Dutton says the initiative is about reconnecting disengaged community members who are often overlooked or forgotten in the sports and exercise space.
“Every Wednesday we have a wellness program that is really geared towards people with disabilities, to be part of the program, to be part of that social connection that footy brings, as well as kick, laugh, hit the tackle bag and just provides a safe and fun place for everyone,” Dutton said.
Wellbeing Wednesday’s are organized with the help and support of several other organizations, including Alice Springs Town Council, which facilitates room hire, the No More anti-domestic violence initiative, which provides support and healthy meals, as well as Veritable and not-for-profit community-based program provider Life Without Barriers, who have incorporated the session into their daytime program.
Life Without Barriers provides support to families and the disabled, outdoors and aged care and services that assist refugees and asylum seekers.
Daytime program team leader Devine Mizha said it’s all about footy, making friends and of course having fun.
“We all love footy,” Mizha said. “So we’re all here with our day program customers.”
Mizha said his clients, who participate each week, come from a diverse group of the community with mixed skills.
“Some of them are physical, psychological, you name it, intellectual, so we’re just always there to support them in having a normal lifestyle, especially the lifestyle support,” Mizha said.
“That’s what the daytime program is mainly about making sure they lead a normal lifestyle like everyone else and we love it here.”
Day program participant Isaac Trew plays a leading role on Wellbeing Wednesday and is known for his uplifting pep talks.
“Football is good, football is fun, I love being with the people and meeting friends,” said Trew.
“Football is my favorite sport. It’s good, so I like it, so yes, I like it.”
For Dutton, a positive, stimulating activity once a week provides a major social, mental and physical benefit, as well as an opportunity to check in with members of the community.
In addition, watching the participants grow every week makes the work that little bit extra.
“Just to be part of a football program that puts a smile on their faces, engages them and keeps them socially connected, it’s unreal, it’s my favorite day of the week to be honest,” Dutton said.
Temple, who has cared for Namatjira-McMillan since he was six months old, said Wednesday is one of his favorite days of the week.
“Caleb is really looking forward to it. He and many of the other participants often suffer from varying levels of social anxiety, but since they started coming they are cool and calm and enjoy it immensely,” she said.
“People stop them from talking about it on the street and that all helps improve well-being. It’s great.”
After an initial six-week trial that began in 2021, the program now runs for 26 weeks per year.
It is open to everyone and completely free.
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