North Beach Junior Football Club launches first program for deaf and hard of hearing kidsMonday, May 29, 2023 - 7:55 AM

Children between the ages of 5 – 15 who are deaf or hard of hearing can now participate in football through the Starkick football program launching at North Beach Junior Football Club.

Starkick now has over 20 centres across WA supporting children with disability, however this is the West Australian Football Commission’s first community-based Starkick – Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) centre in WA, and only the second in the country, with another centre in Queensland.

Starkick – Deaf and Hard of Hearing has been developed in partnership with Deaf Sports Australia and is a NAB AFL Auskick structured program which engages participants in a range of football focused activities and games, all with the use of Auslan as a core component.

Commencing on Sunday 11 June, North Beach Junior Football Club will run weekly sessions throughout the remainder of the 2023 junior season.

North Beach JFC President, Ron Van Der Sluys said all children should be able to participate in football.

“Football is renowned for bringing communities and families together and at North Beach JFC we don’t want to see anyone missing out on playing this great game,” Van Der Sluys said.

“It’s exciting to be the first club to run the program and I hope the success from this program prompts other clubs to look at ways to encourage football to be played by the whole community.”

Adam Barnes is the club’s inaugural Starkick – Deaf and HoH, program coordinator and is himself also deaf, said the weekly program allows children and their families to come together and have some fun.

“The program runs through the fundamentals of football and includes many fun activities and games, similar to AFL Auskick, we just make sure Auslan is at the core of this program,” he said.

WAFC Executive Manager Game Development and Community Football Troy Kirkham, said the Commission is proud to integrate this program alongside the NAB AFL Auskick program.

“Through Starkick and now Starkick Deaf and Hard of hearing, we are continuing to deliver on our goal to ensure Football is the game for all West Australians” Kirkham said. 

Parents have been very supportive of the program, with one parent saying, “For our child to have his footy coach instruct him using Auslan, has been fantastic”.

For more information or to register for the Starkick – Deaf and hard of hearing program visit - www.starkick.com.au