Building Disability Inclusion Through Community Learning in Mundaring

Situation

Sport4All and the Shire of Mundaring identified a growing appetite from local clubs and schools to better understand disability inclusion in sport, but many organisations were unsure where to begin.

For some, inclusion felt overwhelming or tied to assumptions about major cost, infrastructure upgrades or specialist expertise. Others simply wanted practical guidance and the opportunity to learn from people already taking steps within their own community.

To support this, Sport4All and the Shire delivered their first community workshop on 6 May 2026, bringing together schools, sporting clubs and local leaders for a practical learning session centred on real-world inclusion.

The workshop was hosted at a local football club in the Perth Hills and focused on completing the Sport4All learning modules while creating space for open discussion, shared experiences and local problem solving.

Challenge

Like many community sporting environments, the session faced an unexpected accessibility challenge on the day.

Due to nearby construction works, the main accessway into the pavilion was temporarily blocked. Rather than cancelling or allowing the issue to disrupt participation, organisers and attendees worked together to identify a safe alternative entry point so everyone could still access the venue and complete the session.

While simple, the moment reflected an important principle behind disability inclusion in sport:

Inclusion is not only about infrastructure. It is also about mindset, adaptability and a willingness to work collaboratively when barriers arise.

The workshop itself also highlighted another common challenge across community sport – many clubs want to be more inclusive but lack confidence in knowing what practical first steps look like.

Solution

The workshop was intentionally designed to feel practical, community-led and approachable.

Participants completed Sport4All online learning modules together while discussing topics such as:

What makes a club genuinely inclusive
Common participation barriers in community sport
Practical ways to adapt environments and communication
How clubs can begin strengthening inclusion without needing major resources

One of the strongest outcomes from the session was the peer learning that took place between clubs and schools.

Rather than relying solely on formal presentations, attendees openly shared experiences, challenges and strategies from their own environments. This created a more grounded and realistic conversation around inclusion, helping participants understand that progress often begins with small, achievable actions.

The session also reinforced that inclusion is not a separate initiative sitting outside sport – it is part of how clubs welcome, communicate with and support their communities every day.

Results

The workshop brought together:

14 representatives from local schools and sporting clubs
Community leaders from across the Shire of Mundaring
Organisations at different stages of their inclusion journey

Importantly, all participants progressed through the Sport4All learning modules and moved into the Action Plan stage, helping shift inclusion conversations into practical next steps.

The workshop also strengthened local connections between clubs, schools and community organisations, creating a stronger foundation for future collaboration across the region.

Impact

The first Sport4All community workshop demonstrated that there is strong interest across Mundaring to continue building more inclusive sporting environments.

It also showed that meaningful disability inclusion in sport does not always begin with large-scale projects or major investment.

Sometimes, it begins with:

Clubs learning together
Communities adapting in real time
Local leaders asking questions
Organisations being open to doing things differently

With additional workshops and community engagement planned throughout the year, Sport4All and the Shire of Mundaring are continuing to build local capability and confidence around inclusive sport across the Perth Hills.

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