About Sporting Wheelies
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Our Purpose
We make active lives possible.
Vision
Every Queenslander with a disability will have opportunities to live a more active and healthy life.
Mission
Engage, empower and develop people with a disability to live a more healthy, active and fulfilled life of their choosing.
History
Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association has its origins in the 1960s as a small sports club within the Paraplegic Welfare Association in Queensland. Sport for people with spinal cord injuries was gaining in popularity as a result of the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, and the ‘Queensland Sports and Social Club for the Disabled’ played an active role in promoting disability sport and raising funds for Queensland athletes selected for national and international competitions.
In 1977, the club became a registered charity in its own right as the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Sport Association of Queensland and by the following year, the Association had extended its programs and services to include people with physical disabilities other than spinal cord injuries, including people with vision impairment. The decision was made to change to the current name to reflect the Association’s broader mission and capitalise on the popular term ‘sporting wheelies’ to describe wheelchair athletes.
Today, we are widely recognised as a leader in the field of sport and healthy activity for people with a disability by national bodies such as Sport Australia and Paralympics Australia.
Our Board of Directors and CEO
Amanda Mather CEO
Sporting Wheelies CEO Amanda Mather has a glowing history of helping Australians. With a career in healthcare spanning over 25 years, she is passionate about creating a positive community for everybody. Amanda brings to Sporting Wheelies a background in the government, commercial and healthcare sectors. Taking on roles from public relations, marketing, and change management to planning, policy and product development, Amanda brings her experience to improving the opportunities for people with disabilities.
Meet our Board​
Anna Littleboy (Chair)
As the new Chair of our organisation, Anna brings with her extensive experience, having contributed to numerous boards, advisory committees, working parties and expert panels. As CSIRO’s Research Director, Anna is an experienced leader, specialising in strategy, foresight and risk for the resource sector. Having lived experience of disability within the workplace, Anna understands the duty of care within organisations.
Sandie Angus
Sitting on numerous Boards in the disability and sporting sectors, Sandie provides extensive experience to the Board. Sandie displays strong leadership qualities, being part of multiple mentoring programs. Having experience with legal, governance and risk management, Sandie is a valuable member to the Board.
Gary Linton
As a professional CEO/Managing Director with over 30 years’ experience successfully managing and growing a diverse range of companies in Professional Services and System Integration, Gary provides a wealth of knowledge to the Board. Gary is a founder and Managing Director of Linton Howard, Non-Executive Director/Chairman of companies in the education, IT, financial services and construction sectors, providing invaluable experience to the Board.
Andrew Weeden
Focusing on financial oversight, risk, compliance and strategic issues and initiatives, Andrew has a vast array of experience working on Boards. Andrew has national and international experience in the IT, technology, professional services, financial services and resource sectors. With over 25 years’ experience at PwC, Andrew provides broad knowledge of potential issues in commercial and finance areas.
Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson is a Company Director, Barrister & Professional Mediator with strong interests in Business, Entrepreneurship & Social Capital. Michael sits on multiple advisory Boards across a range of sectors and is Executive Director of Kokoda Capital, a Private Advisory Business. Michael’s undergraduate studies were in Arts & Law , University of Queensland and he holds Dual Masters’ Degrees in public policy, political science & international relations. He is a graduate of the University of Cambridge & has also studied at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Vu Tran
Vu is a co-founder of Australian education technology company Go1 as well as a non-executive director at PeopleIN, Australia’s largest ASX-listed talent solutions company. A graduate of Bond University, Vu is also a medical doctor and practicing general practitioner, who trained at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and is a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Michael Dobbie-Bridges PLY
Experienced Senior Advisor with a demonstrated history of achieving outcomes in the government administration industry. Skilled in Government, Communications, Strategy, Policy and Stakeholder engagement.
Annual Report
Find out more about Sporting Wheelies and our achievements
Membership
Sporting Wheelies is a membership organisation. Association membership is open to everyone – people with a disability, family members, friends, supporters and volunteers. Everyone is welcome!
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Join our Team
As a widely recognised leader in the field of sport and healthy activity for people with a disability by bodies such as Queensland Academy of Sport and Paralympics Australia, we offer a range of exciting career opportunities. Learn more about the diverse range of roles on offer within the Sporting Wheelies team.
Work with Us: A company with vision
At Sporting Wheelies, we are united by a vision: that Queenslanders with a disability will have opportunities to live a more active and healthy life.
Working together with our clients and members we support people with a disability from the bedside to the courtside by building inclusive community clubhouses that enhance lives through access to advocacy, rehabilitation, health and fitness, sport, and active recreation and social opportunities.
We are at our best when our team is as diverse and passionate as the communities in which we operate.
At Sporting Wheelies, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace.
Work with Us: Our Culture & Values
At Sporting Wheelies, we pride ourselves as an inclusive workplace. We are a team first, and we accept the values, strengths, and differences we all bring to the workplace.
We encourage everyone in the Sporting Wheelies community to work collaboratively and share new ideas and innovations to help grow our organisation and each other.
We are proud of the successes we achieve through innovation, challenges, and change and we adopt a simple yet lean structure, while maintaining a solution focused mindset.Â
We truly believe we are able to flourish as a result of the way we treat the people we interact with – kindness, empathy and respect are key ingredients in how we interact with each other, our clients and volunteers.
Work with Us: Employee Rewards & Recognition
At Sporting Wheelies, we strive to build a workplace where you feel inspired, encouraged, and determined to deepen your unique sense of purpose.
We believe Sporting Wheelies is a pretty magical place where amazing people do remarkable things such as walk for the first time or relearn to walk after an injury. We recognise that our people are at the centre of making these moments happen. For this we want to ensure our staff are looked after with some awesome work perks.
Some of the benefits we currently offer our employees include:
- Salary packaging – This is one of the biggest benefits that come with the job. Salary Sacrificing allows you to increase your income by paying for certain expenses using pre-tax dollars including home mortgage, child care, school fees and credit card payments.
- Staff in-service days
- Engagement survey participation
- Regular townhall meetings to stay informed
- Microsoft Teams – internal networking
- Access to Employee Assistance Program providing confidential support for employees and their family members in areas such as family, legal, relationship, career, nutrition, and finance.
- Flexible Working Arrangements
- Use of the onsite gym after work hours
Applying for a Role
At Sporting Wheelies every day is an opportunity to contribute to changing someone’s life.
We have a strong focus on fostering an environment of equality and empowerment and promote positivity and cooperation. Whether you are an accredited exercise physiologist, personal trainer, sports officer, skilled support staff or game changer, there is a role for you at Sporting Wheelies.
If you are a candidate seeking an opportunity with Sporting Wheelies, then check out our open vacancies.
Don’t see a role we are advertising that is for you? Register your interest by emailing ourhr@sportingwheelies.org.au with your up-to-date resume and cover letter.
Job Application Support
If you have a Language or Cultural special consideration, a disability or impairment or use assistive technology, please contact us, so that we can help you complete and submit your application. You can ask someone to support you through the application and interview process.
We would like to give every potential applicant an equal opportunity to be considered for the role.
Current Opportunities
Corporate and Community Coordinator
Townsville
This position will be responsible for assisting in the day-to-day coordination, administration and project support for Sporting Wheelies Corporate Partnerships including the Raising the Bar school program within Townsville. A particular focus of this role will be the collection and collation of information and deliverables for partnership agreements and reports, facilitating relationships between corporate partners and Sporting Wheelies centres throughout Townsville and planning/coordinating meetings and events.
To be successful, you will have:Â
- Experience planning and coordinating meetings and events including event management, communications, promotions and liaison with key stakeholders
- Strong organisational and project coordination skills
- Demonstrated high level initiative and problem-solving capability
- Passion for Sport and Recreation, Health and Fitness and working with people with a disability
- Demonstrated ability to model a positive and inclusive environment engaging all people and interacting with a range of clientele with diverse backgrounds
- Energetic and strong personal drive and ambition
- Ability to successfully encourage an inclusive, collaborative and team-focused workplace
- Excellent active listening and negotiation skills
- Demonstrated understanding of current disability issues and the NDIS
- Demonstrated skills and/or lived experience in communicating with people with disabilities
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Accredited Exercise Physiologist
We are expanding our team and looking for an Accredited Exercise Physiologist to join our highly regarded Health and Fitness Centre based in Albion, Brisbane.
The role
This position will provide specialist advanced therapy and related fitness services to clients, with a wide variety of disabilities including spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, and other neuromuscular conditions. Make your mark on this exciting role working with other health professionals ensuring the progression of client goals.
To be successful, you will:
- Be an excellent communicator who works collaboratively with other health professionals as required.
- Passionate about working with people with a disability.
- Have strong attention to detail, completing clinical and administrative documentation and reports in a timely manner.
- Be confident in providing supervision, mentoring and education support to university clinical placement students as required.
- High level customer service skills, including the ability to identify and support client needs, encourage client participation, and manage client expectations with a mature, sensitive, empathetic and positive manner.
- Excellent active listening and negotiation skills.
- Experience working in a rehabilitation, fitness, health or community-based setting.
- Ability to be involved in work of a highly physical nature.
- Proven clinical experience delivering rehabilitation/exercise sessions for people with a range of disabilities. Experience working with people with neurological conditions highly regarded.
- Demonstrated understanding and adherence to the principles underpinning person centred care, and the rights and responsibilities of people with a disability.
If you are interested, please contact Grace Lines from Our HR team at grace@ourhrteam.com.au
Raising the Bar
Casual positions available for our new Raising the Bar Program.
We are seeking to employ at least 25 Queenslanders living with a disability as Game Changers to create awareness and empowerment amongst the community.
Location: Various locations throughout Queensland.
For more information and a copy of the position description, please contact Raising the Bar, on (07) 3253 3333 today.
Student Placements
Sporting Wheelies actively supports Queensland Universities programs in research and training undergraduate students. In the past year students from 6 Universities have received valuable practical experience at Sporting Wheelies.
