Two Sunshine Coast medical experts are helping Indigenous athletes follow their sporting dreams by assisting their recovery from injuries.
The latest patient they will be helping is a Sydney Swans development player who recently suffered a shoulder injury requiring surgery.
The Sporting Chance Foundation was created by orthopaedic surgeon Daevyd Rodda, who is founder of the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group, and physiotherapist Andrew Duff, who is a partner at Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy.
Since being created in 2018 the Birtinya-based foundation has contributed to the surgical intervention and rehabilitation of more than 20 young Indigenous athletes across Australia.
Mr Duff said the charity was about keeping the elite athletes engaged with sport.
“Sporting Chance Foundation was created with the vision of young Indigenous Australians inspiring their communities through the positivity of engagement in sports,” he said.
“More often than not, an injury on the sports field can be a fork in the road for so many. Without private health cover, the financial implications often mean significant delays in access to care as they go onto waiting lists in the public health system.
“Sporting Chance Foundation endeavours to act as a circuit-breaker in these scenarios and connect young indigenous Australians to the care needed when they need it most.”
Swans Academy invitee Kaani Slockee, 17, initially dislocated his shoulder skateboarding three years ago, then again at an AFL Indigenous camp in March.
The Coodjingburra-Bundjalung (northern NSW) teen, who lives in the Illawarra region, said he felt fortunate that the Sporting Chance Foundation would help him reach his goals.
“It means I have a chance of showing my full potential as an AFL player without having the lingering thought and worry that my shoulder will re-dislocate,” he said.
“I have been invited to train with the Swans Academy at the end of the year.
“My goals are to reach my full potential and get selected in the Swans AFL draft.”
Mr Duff said the foundation’s ultimate goal was to create change within the athletes’ communities.
“The foundation is centred around the power of potential for an individual and the impact they can have on others,” he said.
“With further development of supporter relationships, our vision moving forward is to maximise foundation resources to continue to engage, support and empower young Indigenous Australians on their journeys back to the sporting field and as leaders in their communities.”
He paid tribute to those who had helped the foundation to help the young athletes.
“The success of the foundation would not be possible if not for the generosity of those specialists, hospitals, physiotherapists and other key backers who play critical roles in the foundation’s ability to provide a package of care at no cost for the recipients of the foundation,” Mr Duff said.
“In particular we would like to acknowledge the committee members Mel Jacobson and Dr Anthony Murray, as well as orthopaedic device company Medacta and Ramsay Health Care on the Sunshine Coast for their considerable contributions.”
To be eligible, athletes must be Indigenous and aged from 15 to 25; be or have been registered with a sporting club within the past six months; have a new musculoskeletal injury that requires surgery; be passionate about their sport, staying on the field and are ambassadors for their community; and not have access to private health care or the means to pay for private orthopaedic care.
For more about the foundation and how you can provide support visit Sporting Chance Foundation.
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