A NEW Auskick centre catering for eager all-abilities footballers is set to open in Warrnambool.
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AFL Western District confirmed the region's first all-abilities Auskick centre would launch in 2021 to cater predominantly for Merri River School students.
Aidan Nicolson, a physical education teacher at the school, was one of the key minds behind the idea with AFL Western District's football development manager, Alicia Drew, also helping.
"The idea of the Auskick came about when we finished the footy oval at the school and thought 'what is a good way to utilise it as much as possible?'," Nicolson said.
"We figured that getting some kids to do an activity where they've seen it in on TV or the kids presenting hats to the AFL players and know what Auskick is but haven't had the opportunity to get involved.
"It's just another way we can get our students involved in Auskick and as much sport as we can."
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Nicolson said he and Drew realised they were on the same wave length with creating the centre.
"It was kind of funny because I had the idea for a little while and I messaged her and she said that she was literally over the summer time sitting there thinking 'how we can get kids with disabilities more involved' and then my email came across her desk.," he said.
"I needed her to help get us kick-started and she was looking for someone like me that was able to get her kick-started and as a teacher at Merri River School I have access to all those students."
Nicolson said the centre would be specifically catered for the school's students but it was also open to anyone who wanted to get involved.
"Open it to as many people as we can but largely we are looking at students with disabilities and 100 per cent of our population at the school has disabilities but there is also kids in mainstream schools that have disabilities that can get involved in our centre," he said.
"It is also open to local kids and not just purely for kids with disabilities but we are going to cater for them and be a little bit better than other Auskick centres are able to.
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"We are hoping that brothers and sisters of our students will come along as well as it is equally as important for our students to have access to mainstream students and for them to have access and interaction to kids with disability. We are hoping to get a bit of a mix.
"We are hoping the parents will get involved and come along and help coach.
"That is one of the mottos of Auskick. It is to get families involved and parents involved in actually running the centre. Hoping to see a lot of mums and dads out there too. All the help we can would be fantastic."
The new Auskick centre is set to start in term two with registrations expected to open next week.
"We have had some great assistance from Midfield Meats, who have put a lot of money to pay our students' registration," Nicolson said of the support they had received.
"Our kids have some barriers to being able to participate. It's not only their physical and intellectual disabilities but also financially.
"Sometimes luxuries like Auskick aren't in the budget or on the radar for some of our parents so we looked around to see who would help us out and Midfield put their hand up."
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