Imagine a world where there are no barriers to participate in your community and where you can have a kick and play footy with your team.
Imagine a world where your disability doesn’t matter. Where you will feel the same as everyone else when you step out on the field and have the same opportunities to kick a goal and celebrate your achievement.
FIDA (Football Integration Development Association) has been at the forefront of creating an inclusive community where people with an intellectual disability can actively participate in Australian Rules football without barriers. Over the past three decades, FIDA has worked to promote equality and provide opportunities for people with an intellectual disability to enjoy the sport on the same level as their peers.
It all began in 1989 when a simple footy clinic evolved into a fully-fledged league where athletes with an intellectual disability could participate on equal terms. The initial competition, starting in 1991, featured six teams, and over time expanded to include clubs from both metropolitan and rural areas of Victoria, allowing for greater involvement and representation from all corners of the state.
Today, the FIDA league boasts a thriving community of over 800 players actively engaged in the sport. With 30 clubs situated throughout metropolitan and country Victoria, the opportunities to participate in Australian Rules football have been made accessible to individuals with intellectual disability across the state. As a result, players are empowered to approach the field with confidence, secure in the knowledge that they will be treated equitably and provided equal opportunities to play the game they love and celebrate their achievements, just like any other athlete.
The FIDA Difference – Footy is for everyone
FIDA is more than a football league. We are a charitable entity dedicated to advancing social welfare, education, and health within the intellectual disability community through Australian Rules football. We value each person’s contribution and strive to create programs that foster greater participation. Through our efforts, we provide a sense of purpose, joy, and belonging to individuals who might not otherwise have the chance to participate. Together, we are building a community of inclusion, where everyone’s potential can shine on and off the field.
FIDA is a charitable incorporated entity and holds an ACNC deductible gift recipient status.
Statement of Purpose
The Football Integration Development Association Incorporated – F. I. D. A. Inc. is a non-profit organisation whose purposes are to:-
1. Initiate access for persons with an intellectual disability to the game of Australian Rules Football.
2. Develop, manage and promote a football competition relevant to the skill level of persons with an intellectual disability
3. Create necessary skills and confidence in the participants so that integration processes can develop.
4. Encourage existing generic community groups to include persons with an intellectual disability into their clubs.
5. Promote integration to sport providers to encourage a receptive environment which will accommodate the needs of people with intellectual disability.
6. Liaise and co-operate with all organisations that have comparable objectives.
7. Consult with the AFL and relevant councils, individuals and organisations for people with disabilities regarding the competition’s progress.