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Wheelchair Basketball
Did you know that the Wide Bay Burnett has more wheelchair basketballers per capita than any other region in Australia?
Just 7 years ago, there were no programs in the region.
You may be wondering why locals have taken to wheelchair basketball so quickly.
We asked Michael Oxley from Sports Support Services, who introduced Wheelchair Basketball back in 2019, to explain. Michael said there were few opportunities for people with a disability to play team sports. While this has improved since the introduction of the NDIS, the popularity of wheelchair basketball has exploded. It is great fun to play, and the wheelchair basketball community is a big family and very inclusive.
In fact, Reverse Inclusion plays a big part in wheelchair basketball. You are welcome with or without a disability. Family members can play on the same team side by side. The wheelchair is not a barrier. It transforms into a quality piece of sporting equipment. First-time players are encouraged to attend, and there are opportunities for social, club representative, state, and national pathways.
The region currently boasts four Queensland representative athletes, two Australian athletes, and a national-level official. We are also proud to have an international-level coach.
The wheelchair basketball programs around the region include:
• Maryborough, where the Fraser Coasters train and play on a Monday night from 4pm-8pm;
• Bundaberg, where the Rum City Rollers train on a Thursday night from 4pm-5pm at the PCYC;
• Murgon, where the South Burnett Spinners train every second Saturday from 10am-12noon
• Hervey Bay, with a new program starting soon when the Bendigo Bank Stadium opens at the Fraser Coast Sports Precinct.
For more information about wheelchair basketball in the region or to discover how Sports Support Services can help NDIS participants get active and involved in Sport and Recreation, please contact Michael Oxley on 0477296267.
Chitchat Newspaper – May 2026