Vegemite and Jatz, snags and Bunnings, and Hamish and Andy – some Aussie icons are even better when they’re paired together.
And that’s true for My Plan Manager and Special Olympics Australia. The organisations recently launched their first-ever partnership, which aims to develop Special Olympics Australia’s suite of sports programs for people with intellectual disability, developmental delay and autism.
Importantly, the collaboration will also support athletes and their families to navigate the complexities of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding.
At the partnership launch event, My Plan Manager Chief Executive Officer, Jane Kittel, spoke of the connection between the two organisations.
“My Plan Manager’s purpose is creating a fair and inclusive Australia where everyone has the right to achieve their potential, and that’s perfectly aligned with Special Olympics Australia who place inclusivity front and centre of everything they do,” said Jane.
“We want to back organisations that really make a difference and give back to the communities where we have a presence.”
Making a difference is synonymous with the work of Special Olympics Australia.
With clubs and programs in every state and territory across the nation, the organisation provides a place of belonging and a sense of community for thousands of people with disability and their families – plus coaches, officials and volunteers.
“Special Olympics runs training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities at every level in every state, with major events throughout the year,” said Special Olympics Australia Chief Executive Officer, Pierre Comis.
“We put our athletes on the world stage every four years in the World Games. But more importantly, we give them opportunities every single week to come together and train, and to compete at a local level through everything from weekly club competitions to our state, national, Asia Pacific and World Games in both summer and winter sports.”
One of these athletes is Madi, who – along with her teammates – helped launch the partnership between My Plan Manager and Special Olympics Australia at an event in My Plan Manager’s corporate headquarters.
At the age of nine, Madi was hit by a car when she was leaving a playground. She was lucky to survive.
Reflecting on the accident, she said:
“Since then, I have had to learn how to do everything again – walk, talk, swallow, read, live.
Before my accident, I was a mad athlete. Any sport was great, but basketball was my real love.
I’ve been lucky to find basketball again with Special Olympics Australia, but my physical and intellectual challenges make it so much harder for me to achieve my best.
In 2022, I went to Tasmania to play basketball for South Australia at the Special Olympics Australia National Games. I was so proud to compete and represent my state.”
Following the National Games in Tasmania, Madi competed at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. She and her teammates secured a bronze medal in the last seconds of a nail-biting, overtime match against Kazakhstan.
More importantly than bringing home a medal, Madi brought home joy.
She said playing basketball with Special Olympics Australia “makes me feel better about myself”.
According to Pierre, Special Olympics Australia is an organisation that has grown into a movement and a strong and powerful way for participating athletes to demonstrate their capabilities to everyone in the country, and indeed the world.
“We use sport as the vehicle, but we have so many different programs that allow us to achieve our goals,” said Pierre.
Special Olympics Australia’s programs include Young Athletes for children with and without disability aged two to eight, Inclusive Sport in Schools for educators, and an Inclusive Sport Academy for budding coaches.
As for My Plan Manager, athletes (and their supporters!) can expect to see our team members cheering from the side lines and providing NDIS plan management education at one of the many ‘Healthy Community Hubs’ that are open at state and national games.
Together, My Plan Manager and Special Olympics Australia are partners in inclusion.
