ONE ON ONE WITH JAY LARKINS.

Paralympic Sports first got given worldwide exposure and recognition back in 1960 when Rome hosted the very first Summer Paralympic Games. Since then a number of Athletes (of all disabilities) have etched their name in to the history books as Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal winners. Although their are many Sports out there which cater for people with a disability, many of the organisers who volunteer their time and support go unnoticed by the greater public. Australian of the Year nominee Jay Larkins has actively been involved with the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program (a program he started) since 2006 and today coaches over 100 children who have a disability. Inside the Box FC caught up with Jay during this festive season to talk more about this program and what it means for people with a disability.

1.  How did the idea of helping out the disabled youth of Australia first start and what was the Genesis of it all?

In 2005 my youngest son Jarrod, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, was invited by the Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Association Queensland to attend The Festival of Football to represent Queensland to compete against NSW in what was promoted as a Cerebral Palsy 7aside Football event. This event was only available to people affected by a physical disability, specifically Cerebral Palsy or Brain Impairment. These participants were qualified to compete in the Paralympic sport of what was then known as CP 7aside football.

I will always remember arriving at Perry Park, the home of Queensland Football at the time, expecting to see lots of other children of Jarrod's age ready to participate in this event. I was soon brought back to reality when a guy, who I considered to be much more affected by CP than Jarrod, introduced himself & handed me a second hand basketball singlet for my son to wear. On inquiring where all the other kids were he explained this was the Queensland Team & Jarrod, who had just turned 11, had to play with the adults.

Having been heavily involved with football for many years I thought that being in a representative team and playing at the home of football would mean all the athletes would be treated as elite athletes. Boy was I in for a fright!  They set up a field at the back of one of the goals on the main field, erected 2 plastic goals and that’s where my son became involved with what is now known as Paralympic Football.

At the end of this event I didn't feel the athletes who participated were taken seriously and thought it was time for someone to make an effort to improve the sport for future years. The following week I wrote to Sporting Wheelies offering my services as the CP 7-a-side Football coach in Brisbane. In 2006 I became the Queensland CP 7-a-side Football coach on behalf of Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Association Queensland and that is how this great adventure began.

2.  When you first started this passion, were there any prior opportunities or avenues for Australians of any disability to participate or to be included in everyday Extra Curricular or Non Extra Curricular activities?

When I originally became involved with Paralympic Football it wasn't what one would call a passion I was just a guy who loved football & wanted my son to have the best opportunity to participate in the sport.  I didn't know anything about any of the other sports that were available to those affected by Cerebral Palsy or any disability and to be honest I didn't think about it.  I have always believed that any person of any ability has the right to participate in a sport of their choice.

At this time I didn't ever think of programs within schools & sports clubs as I just thought it would be normal practice to include all who wished to participate. It wasn't until I started the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program (initially called the CP 7-a-side Football Program) at the Westside Football Club grounds  that I found out how completely excluded  those affected by a disability really were. For about four years not many people came to join our program. I believe that this was because most of the parents of children with a physical disability had already tried to join their local clubs and had been told that their children could not participate so they didn’t think there was anywhere they could take their children to participate in football.  To this day many parents are still faced with this discriminatory attitude from many areas involved with football. It was during this period that I realized how lucky we were as a family to be involved with a Football Club like The Westside Football Club and the Grovely State School as they always included Jarrod and our family the same as anyone else.

3.  When did the Paralympic Football Program start and how long has it been around for?

Were there any challenges in the beginning or has it been popular since the start?

The CP 7-a-side Football Program started at The Westside Football Club in the North West Brisbane suburb of Grovely in early 2006. With the assistance of Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Association notifications were sent out to all the Sporting Wheelies members to inform them that a football program was now available. I will always remember my excitement leading up to the day we launched the CP 7-a-side Football Program. I couldn't wait for all the people to arrive and was very sad and extremely disappointment when only 2 other people attended to join my son to have a kick of a football.  Both athletes who turned up were adults, were far more severely affected and were not at the level of ability that Jarrod was.   However, on this day that I learnt about the determination and attitude that those affected by a disability have and it really hit home, to this day I consider it one of the biggest lessons in my life. It was also the day I realised that football should be available to any person of any ability.

It wasn't until the end of 2006 when the then Vice President of the Westside Football Club, Stewart Upton and another coach from Westside, John Edwards offered their assistance that the program started to progress. Stewart and John started to bring their families along and even though they didn't have anyone affected by a disability they all joined in and suddenly we had more people attending.  From those early days of the program we have slowly progressed both in membership, supporters and sponsors until today where we are now considered the largest regional Paralympic football program available to those of a different ability anywhere in Australia

I believe that this progress was made possible through the inclusion of all disabilities of any ability from within the community.  In 2011 a young lad named Alex, with Down's syndrome joined the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program.  This was the start of our transition to being a fully inclusive football program meaning we catered for people with both a physical and intellectual disabilities. At this time we were also catering for members with vision impairment, hearing impairment and amputees. We also have children who are dealing with cancer and another family whose children have been receiving blood transfusions every week for the last ten years!

There have always been challenges and there always will be so long as we continue to take anybody with any disability of any ability into our program.  The challenges in developing and adapting the program to suit the individual is one of continual learning and one I gain immense satisfaction from. Nothing makes me happier or gives me greater joy than to see the smile on the face of someone who achieves something they never thought they would, like the child who takes their first steps away from a wheelchair or the looks on their parents’ faces when they realise just what is possible for their child.

Also, none of this would have been possible without the time, dedication and passion from the many valued volunteers that participate.  This program would not be what it is today without their assistance. We now have occupational Therapists, Australian Paralympic footballers, past and current Brisbane Roar Women's League and Matilda players involved with Brooke Spence being the inaugural ambassador of the Program.

4.  Before you started these programs like the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program did it concern you how ostracized the disabled youth of Australia were from the rest of their peers when it came to participation in Sports?

It wasn't until my son was in need of assistance that I started to research what was available for him to participate in. To be honest I hadn't even heard of Sporting Wheelies or of any other area that made sport available to those with a disability. From experience I have learnt if you don't have a reason to know about these areas then you aren't interested. I don't mean that in a bad way I'm just saying that it's not until you need to access services that you discover that there are not any available.

Jarrod has always been very lucky with the support he has received through his schooling and the Westside Football Club.  Sadly, I can say that I don’t feel this is normal practice from all areas.

Many areas within the education and sporting systems do not encourage those with a disability to participate in normal sporting activities, for example: A person in a wheelchair is not invited to play football with the rest of the students/athletes in a school or club.  The attitude is you're in a wheelchair you can't kick a football.   Happily I have been able to demonstrate that a person in a wheelchair can be included in any game of sport, it just needs the person controlling the game to adapt the game so that everybody who wants to participate can,  no matter what their ability.

5. You mentioned a short time ago of another Inclusive program possibly being established on the Gold Coast.  What are your hopes and aspirations for that and what are some of the activities participants can enjoy at this particular program?

I have always aspired to have an Inclusive Football Program on the Gold Coast because of the distance many participants from the there have had to travel to attend the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program since its inception in 2006. That is why I researched the option of having a regular Inclusive Football Program operating from a Football Club in that area. After looking at many clubs I approached The Musgrave Football Club in Labrador at the northern end of the Gold Coast. I selected this club because I felt it had the family environment and the passion required to operate a successful Inclusive Football Program within their community.

The Musgrave Football Club has now been offering a very successful fully Inclusive Football Program to the Gold Coast community for 12 months and I can only see it becoming more successful in the future.

With the assistance of many of their Club members volunteering this club offers full training in the sport of football to those of all Disabilities and of any Ability.  I committed myself and the BPFP coaching team to support this program for a period of 2 years to assist them and to show how this wonderful game can be adapted so that all can participate. It is a credit to the administration, coaches and members of this wonderful Football Club that this program is so successful and I must mention they completed this without any Government funding. I am looking forward with enthusiasm to being involved with the Musgrave Football Club's Inclusive Football Program during the 2014 season.

It is also my ambition that another Inclusive Football Program will begin at the Southern end of the Gold Coast therefore giving everyone from within that community an opportunity to be involved with an Inclusive Football Program.

6.  Sporting Wheelies also hold games of Goal ball at Suncorp Stadium on Saturdays for people who are vision impaired how and when did this particular sport start in Brisbane?

Goal ball was introduced to Queensland in 1982 and is a very popular Paralympic Sport. The Goal ball program now operates from the new YMCA facilities at Perry Park in Bowen Hills in Brisbane’s inner north and information regarding this program can be obtained by contacting Sporting Wheelies

7.  Sporting Wheelies is a great initiative for people with a physical disability.  What are your thoughts of the Sporting Wheelies programs and are you involved with the organisation?

Sporting Wheelies and Disabled have many programs available to those with a physical disability or vision impairment. The major sports such as Athletics, Swimming and many others are now the responsibility of those sports governing bodies and I personally believe this is good for the specific sports as I don't feel Sporting Wheelies has the resources to cover all sports.

I have been involved with Sporting Wheelies for many years and have only recently finished my association with this organisation. Sadly a recent restructure of the association and funding problems will not permit as much participation in the sport of Paralympic football for 2014.

8. When did your association with The Brisbane Roar commence and how did this come about?

Many years ago I invited the Operation Manager, Bruce Stalder, to drop in and meet the families and athletes who participated in the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program. Since that day The Brisbane Roar Football Club have given us much needed assistance in the form of advice, equipment and support which we are extremely grateful for.

I have also been involved with the Brisbane Roar community and events area as a volunteer and eventually became employed in a position within these areas. In 2013 after discussions with the Brisbane Roar administration I was offered a position as the Head Coach of their new community football program called the Possibility Program. This program was in line with the already very popular Rapid Fire Programs that are available to able-bodied athletes.

The Possibility Program is made available to the disability community in areas such as Special Education Units and Disability Services to give those with a disability of any ability an opportunity to participate in the sport of football.

9.  Being the Head Coach of the Brisbane Roar Football Club's Possibility Football Program, what are some things that bring you great pride and joy in this role?

To have the honour of representing what I consider the leading 'A 'League Football Club in Australia is fantastic.  I have had many wonderful moments since being involved with this club. From volunteering at games and events to actually filling a role within this club gives me great pride.

Now that I am able to take the Possibility Program Team out into the community for me it's a dream come true. I am so grateful to The Brisbane Roar Football Club for standing up and becoming a leader in providing a football clinic to those with a disability within the community and hope in time that other clubs throughout Australia take notice and follow their example.

With the assistance of a wonderful team of selected coaches I now attend many events throughout the region and I cannot describe the satisfaction we all get when we see people of different abilities' enjoying this game of football that we all love.

10.  There are many different programs for children/adults with a disability to participate in. Tell us a bit more about the Multicap program and how it came to be

During the early stages of promoting the Brisbane Roar Football Club’s Possibility Program I visited the Multicap Disability Services and presented a football clinic to their clients. After discussions Multicap agreed to have the Brisbane Roar Football Club’s Possibility Football Program as a physical activity program every week for 2013.

The Allways Access Football Program was formed at Multicap and this very successful program will hopefully operate well into the future. Within the agreement The Brisbane Roar Football Club Community Manager, Andy Pinches arranged uniforms and memberships and the participants now attend all home games on a regular basis.

11.  What do you feel is the biggest misconception from society when it comes to people with a disability?

I personally feel that many people when they meet someone with a physical disability, especially a severe physical disability, automatically assume that person is also intellectually disabled. A great example this would be; if one were to meet Stephen Hawking and didn't know of this amazing man's ability they would not imagine him being one of the smartest people in the world. However these assumptions are not exclusive to those with a physically disability. Many false assumptions are also made about those with an intellectual disability.  Whilst they may often have difficulty communicating this does not mean they cannot understand, especially if they are given time and treated with patience and respect.

Another example of misconception is that society does not realise that all people of any disability are able to partake in many activities as long as it is adapted to meet their needs.  I believe the object should be to have any person of any ability involved in a specific sport or activity for enjoyment and involvement and not necessarily to become an elite athlete of that sport unless the person excels, then that‘s a bonus.

12.   Do you believe there is currently enough funding in Queensland for various organisations helping the Disabled young and old of Australia or would you like to see further advancements being made?

This can be a very controversial subject and one must be careful not to upset the many organisations that offer services to those affected by a disability. 

Of course there is not enough funding available; one only needs to ask the many organizations who offer services or people affected by a disability to get the answer to this. All areas are continually fighting for funding to improve their services or an individual is always looking for assistance to fund a requirement.

Hopefully the creating of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will improve this situation in the future.

The cost of equipment such as wheelchairs, shower chairs, walkers and other such equipment should be reduced so all those who require this type of equipment can afford to buy it. Maybe if the companies that supplied certain equipment or services were assisted with funding, then the cost of the equipment or service would become more available to all who required that specific piece of equipment or service. In my opinion one other such possibility may be the introduction of a cap on the pricing of these expensive pieces of equipment, in order to make them more affordable and to stop the companies that make them from taking advantage of the monies available to people through the new NDIS.

I personally believe that programs involved with the disability sector must become self sufficient and not rely on funding. I attempt to assist all programs I am involved with to become responsible for their own programs before they source funding.  We at the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program have never applied for Government funding in our short history. We have been able to supply our program with equipment through support from the community and interested corporate businesses since 2006.  Way back then when we were just a fledgling program we received donations of items such as uniforms from Edwards Engineering, produce to sell at fund raising BBQ's from Trevor at Keperra Meat Centre  right through to the present day where Dalton Hospitality are one of our most loyal and generous supporters. We are also presently in discussions with a major transport company, Toll Logistics, who are already showing their support for the program for 2014. 

13.  What are your long term hopes/inspirations/plans and Dreams for the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program?

It is, and always has been, my dream that the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program will become an example to all sporting areas. That those with a disability of any ability can become involved with any sport, making their sport truly inclusive.  For this to happen however attitudes must change,  not just verbally but meaningfully.  People within sporting areas not currently properly servicing people with a disability need to have a change in attitude. This means someone needs to educate them about what people with a disability are about. That is they are simply people with a different ability that need to be catered to. They need to be accepted and respected and the programs simply need to be modified in order for these people with a different ability to be able to participate. We have proven this is possible with our program and it is another of my dreams that this idea is spread throughout Australia until we are truly all inclusive.

In 2006 I started a football program at a little Football Club called The Westside Football Club in Grovely in  North West Brisbane.  We started with 3 participants and  that program is now one of  the largest, if not the largest, regional disability football programs in Australia and is supported by many from all over the world.

The support and interest shown by one of Australia's most successful A-League clubs The Brisbane Roar Football Club means there is now a community football program made available to those affected by a disability exactly the same as any mainstream program they offer to the community.

Football is now available from many of the Disability Services such as Multicap, Mental Health, Reclink Australia to mention a few.  Special Education Units can now have football activities at their venues the same as is offered to mainstream Schools. Just imagine if every A-League Club in Australia followed their example and made this wonderful game available to all within the community, it would without doubt become the most inclusive sport in the country!

It is not my intentions to turn those with a disability into elite footballers, it is simply my  intention to use football as a tool to assist them to feel part of the community. To participate in a physical activity which in turn I believe will improve both their physical and mental well-being. It is not a privilege for a person affected by a disability to be a member of the community, it is their right.

14.  Have you ever received any official recognition for the work you do with the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program?

Yes. In 2008 and 2010 I received the Top Coach award from the prestigious Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association Queensland Awards. In 2013 I had the honour of winning the Lord Mayor's Australia Day Award for Sport. Also in 2013 I was selected as one of the Queensland Finalists in both National Awards - The Pride of Australia Medal and the Australian of the Year Award for 2014. 

Information regarding The Brisbane Paralympic Football Program can be gained from the very successful Facebook page or by emailing manager bpfp@gmail.com or Jay Larkins: 0411134531

Information regarding The Brisbane Roar Football Club's Possibility Program can be gained from possibility@brisbaneroar.com.au or jlarkins@brisbaneroar.com.au


Interviewed by Alex Stilianos.