Almost one million Australians live with disability. Help the Pararoos inspire them to dream big.
The Pararoos are Australia’s only national football team for players with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders including stroke and traumatic brain injury.
Every member of the squad lives with the challenges of disability every day and despite the odds, they keep doing what they love – play our beautiful game.
Their motto? Anything’s Possible.
The Pararoos know they are not alone.
There are almost one million Australians living with disability.
- Every 15 hours, an Australian child is born with Cerebral Palsy.
- Over 700,000 Australians have a brain injury, many of who have daily "activity limitations" and "participation restrictions".
- A brain injury can be caused by an accident or trauma, by a stroke, a brain infection, by alcohol or other drugs or by diseases of the brain like Parkinson's disease. This means, it can happen to anyone.
- As many as two out of every three people acquired their brain injury before they turned 25.
Various disability advocacy groups and medical reports have identified the substantial benefits of involvement in sport for people with disability. These range from social inclusion and self-esteem through to health benefits.
Although Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong disability, and the effects of Acquired Brain Injury or stroke can be permanent, there are many interventions that can help reduce its impact on the body and the individuals’ quality of life. This includes sporting activities.
One of the beauties of sport is that everyone starts at the grassroots level, and knows that a combination of talent, commitment, hard work and dedication can lead to the very top of the sporting pyramid. This pathway to the top has to be available to everyone in the community.
If it is taken away for those suffering from Cerebral Palsy, Acquired Brain Injury or stroke, then hundreds of thousands of Australians will be denied the incentive and inspiration to participate and progress.
The Pararoos know that football has inspired them to beat the odds and dream big.
“After suffering a severe traumatic brain injury and stroke, I was told that I would never walk or talk. I decided to prove to everyone that I could do anything...being selected as a Pararoo representing my country is a dream.” Zac jones, Pararoos Squad (debut 2015)
Zac and the entire Pararoos squad want to inspire the almost one million Australians with similar disabilities to do the same - dream big.
After all, Anything's Possible.
Join the squad and help the Pararoos inspire others to dream big. Donate here.