I’m a bit of a sports nut. I enjoy watching and playing as much sport as humanly possible, and spend most of my time running around after a white ball, attempting to hit it with a stick. In my free time, I coach the same sport.
Now, as Halberg’s newest Wellington Regional Advisor, I have the opportunity to combine that passion for sport with my desire to create more opportunities for physically disabled young people to be involved in physical activity, sport and recreation. Most importantly, my role is about creating opportunities for those moments of joy that sport can bring.
My passion for inclusion comes from my own experience. As a teenager, I injured my back while playing hockey, suffering two slipped discs in my lower back. For around two years, I dealt with significant pain and was unable to participate in sport or event take part in PE classes.
Being excluded from my sport was incredibly diffcult, especially when all I wanted to do was participate. Although I became less involved as a player, I started coaching to stay connected to sport. That experience fuelled my passion for maximising participation and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to be involved.
I continued coaching throughout high school before studying a Bachelor of Sport Development and Coaching at the University of Waikato. While at university, I became involved with Hockey Without Limits, an inclusive hockey programme in the Waikato. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in sport. When I joined Wellington Hockey, I was eager to establish something similar and successfully launched Hockey Without Limits in the region.
So, when the opportunity arose to join Halberg, I jumped at the chance to help create even more opportunities for people to experience sport and the moments of joy that have meant so much throughout my own journey.
Although I’ve only been in my role for a few months, there have already been plenty of highlights. I’ve enjoyed being involved in the Halberg Youth Council Hui and the Play Your Way All Abilities event across Porirua, Kāpati and Lower Hutt. One moment that particularly stands out was the Adaptive Snow Sports Festival, where I spent time with Viktoriya from Dunedin, who had never skied before. Watching her confidence grow from starting with one ski to completing a full run down the magic carpet was incredible. We even ventured up the gondola to take in the view, perhaps next year she’ll be ready to tackle one of the bigger slopes!
Getting to know the Wellington community has been another highlight. From Kāpati to Wairarapa, I’ve met incredible people who are working tirelessly to make sport and recreation possible for everyone. Their dedication, creativity and passion have reinforced just how powerful sport can be in bringing people together and creating positive change.
As part of CoachMate Month, we’re celebrating the coaches, teachers and facilitators who help create inclusive sporting experiences. For me, an inclusive coach is someone who creates opportunities for everyone to participate, regardless of their ability, experience or background. They are adaptable, open-minded and focused on making sure all participants feel welcome, valued and able to contribute.
Supporting coaches is a big part of that. In New Zealand, many coaches generously volunteer their time alongside work, family and other commitments. They don’t always have the time or resources to develop a session from scratch or work out how to adapt an activity for everyone in front of them. Giving coaches the confidence, knowledge and tools to make those adjustments can make a real difference.
That’s where I see CoachMate as a fantastic resource. The activities are simple, engaging and inclusive, while the short video demonstrations make them easy to understand and apply in real world setting.
For coaches who are new to supporting someone with a physical disability, my biggest piece of advice is different, so take the time to understand what they enjoy, what their goals are and what support they need. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – you don’t need to have all the answers on day one. Small adjustments to communication, and confidence and enjoyment are just as important as skill development.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about what we can achieve across the Wellington region. I’m incredibly grateful for the strong foundation Emma Phelps created through her work on inclusion training and collaboration with events, and I’m looking forward to building on that momentum and continuing to strengthen inclusion across the region.
Ultimately, I want to help create a region where inclusive sport and recreation become the norm rather than the exception.
If I could leave coaches with one message this CoachMate Month, it would be this:
You don’t need to be an inclusion expert to be an inclusive coach. Being willing to listen, learn and make small adjustments goes a long way.
