Stop discriminating against athletes with disabilities: Save the Pararoos

The issue

It’s unbelievable - We’ve just found out Australia’s national Paralympic Soccer team, have had their funding slashed to nothing. $0.00!

The Pararoos - the Paralympic version of the Socceroos - are proudly ranked 10th in the world. Playing for the team is a dream for thousands of kids with cerebral palsy, brain injuries – a dream cruelly ended the same week we’re celebrating the game we love.

The ASC must reverse this decision and save the Pararoos. It’s discrimination. Other Australian teams, and other sports are getting huge amounts of funding, in fact, overall funding to able-bodied sports is increasing this year!

We only need $175,000 a year to run a couple of training camps and get to an international tournament - even that’s running on the smell of an oily rag but it’s enough to keep the team alive - now they’ve cut it all. It’s gutting.

We need the ASC and the Sports Minister to give us a shot here.  It’s discrimination to pour huge amounts of money into able-bodied sports and kill off paralympic ones.

Sport is a fantastic vehicle for young kids with varying forms of brain injury and cerebral palsy, to build their confidence, to learn social skills. At time where football is becoming more and more popular, now those kids won't have a Pararoos squad to aim for.

Please help by signing the petition demanding the ASC #SavethePararoos.

avatar of the starter
Paul Rushworth-BrownPetition starterPaul holds a Level 3 NCAS Coaching Certificate and an internationally recognised AFC B Licence. Paul has been a coach educator for Football Federation Australia, a NSW State Coach and a professional football player in the Canadian National Soccer League. Paul also has a Masters in Physical Education and Sport, a Bachelor or Human Movement and a Graduate Diploma of Education. In 2002 Paul was awarded the Neil Donahue University Medal for Human Movement Studies by Charles Sturt University, and was nominated for Coach of the Year by the Western District Sports Association. As Head Coach of the Australian Paralympic team Paul was successful in guiding the squad to success in a number of World Championships and more recently a silver medal at the Dream Asia Tournament in UAE

81,760

The issue

It’s unbelievable - We’ve just found out Australia’s national Paralympic Soccer team, have had their funding slashed to nothing. $0.00!

The Pararoos - the Paralympic version of the Socceroos - are proudly ranked 10th in the world. Playing for the team is a dream for thousands of kids with cerebral palsy, brain injuries – a dream cruelly ended the same week we’re celebrating the game we love.

The ASC must reverse this decision and save the Pararoos. It’s discrimination. Other Australian teams, and other sports are getting huge amounts of funding, in fact, overall funding to able-bodied sports is increasing this year!

We only need $175,000 a year to run a couple of training camps and get to an international tournament - even that’s running on the smell of an oily rag but it’s enough to keep the team alive - now they’ve cut it all. It’s gutting.

We need the ASC and the Sports Minister to give us a shot here.  It’s discrimination to pour huge amounts of money into able-bodied sports and kill off paralympic ones.

Sport is a fantastic vehicle for young kids with varying forms of brain injury and cerebral palsy, to build their confidence, to learn social skills. At time where football is becoming more and more popular, now those kids won't have a Pararoos squad to aim for.

Please help by signing the petition demanding the ASC #SavethePararoos.

avatar of the starter
Paul Rushworth-BrownPetition starterPaul holds a Level 3 NCAS Coaching Certificate and an internationally recognised AFC B Licence. Paul has been a coach educator for Football Federation Australia, a NSW State Coach and a professional football player in the Canadian National Soccer League. Paul also has a Masters in Physical Education and Sport, a Bachelor or Human Movement and a Graduate Diploma of Education. In 2002 Paul was awarded the Neil Donahue University Medal for Human Movement Studies by Charles Sturt University, and was nominated for Coach of the Year by the Western District Sports Association. As Head Coach of the Australian Paralympic team Paul was successful in guiding the squad to success in a number of World Championships and more recently a silver medal at the Dream Asia Tournament in UAE

The Decision Makers

Football Federation Australia
Hi there, this is Mark Bresciano from the Socceroos and I would like to provide you with an update on the Pararoos. As you know, in late 2014, the Australian Sports Commission decided to cut funding to our national Paralympic football team, the Pararoos. That means no more training camps, no more tournaments, and no chance of competing at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Just like the Socceroos have done for me, the Pararoos provided a pathway for elite athletes to achieve their goals. But for these athletes, it is more than that. The Pararoos make it possible for footballers with a disability to pull on the green and gold jerseys live their footballing dream and enhance their quality of life. I have always believed that football is the one and only world game. It is the game that should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of race, gender or physical ability. I am determined to see the Pararoos succeed. That is why I am proud to be an Ambassador for the Pararoos and get behind this truly great Australian team. Since the Australian Sports Commission’s announcement, FFA has been working behind the scenes to find a way to keep the Pararoos alive and provide a long term, sustainable program. Today, FFA announced that the Pararoos have established a partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation to raise money through tax deductible donations to help ensure they remain a part of the global football landscape. By donating just $5 to the Pararoos, you can join with football fans from around the country to help ensure the Pararoos ongoing survival and help many more aspiring footballers with disability continue to achieve their dreams. The Pararoos will now travel to London to compete at the 2015 CPIRSA World Championships in June, and will have an opportunity to begin their journey towards the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Together we can now ensure the Pararoos have the same chance of realising their dreams as other Australian athletes. You can find out more and donate here – www.asf.org.au/project/go-pararoos Thank you for your support on behalf of the Pararoos. #GoPararoos Mark Bresciano
Bernie Ripoll
Bernie Ripoll
Federal Shadow Minister for Sport
Australian Sports Commission
Australian Sports Commission
Frank Lowy
Frank Lowy
Football Federation Australia
Petter Dutton
Petter Dutton
Federal Minister for Sport
Petition updates