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The Swans Nest – another first for Swans

Wednesday, July 10, 2019 - 2:58 PM

Swan Districts Football Club launched another first for WA football at its NAIDOC home game last Saturday – the club’s Swans Nest.

The Swans Nest is a sensory tent providing a safe quiet place for kids and families that may experience sensory overload during the club’s WAFL home games. The Swans Nest will be at all of the club’s remaining 2019 home games at Steel Blue Oval, Bassendean and also the 2020 season. It’s located near the very popular Swans Play Zone. 

“Our Swans Play Zone and match day activities provide many free fun games, activities and competitions for kids. At times some kids and families find this a little overwhelming and may need a place to decompress for a little while before immersing themselves back in all the action”, says Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dennis.

“Our friendly Swans Nest staff will invite families to quietly explore the sensory resources we have available, so they can rest and reset before returning to all the free fun and games of a Swans home game day”.

There are two remaining Swan Districts WAFL home games in the 2019 season. The first, on Saturday 3rd August is a men’s WAFL and women’s WAFLW double header. The day will commence with an Integrated football game between Willetton and High Wycombe Amateur Football Clubs at 9am followed by a Youth men’s game between Upper Swan Gold and Bassendean White Junior Football Clubs at 10.30am. The WAFLW League game against Claremont will then start at 12.15pm, followed by the WAFL League game against West Coast at 2.15pm.

The last WAFL home game is the Father Daughter Day against Peel Thunder at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday 17th August. All fathers are encouraged to bring their daughters and receive a free sausage sizzle and soft drink or slushie. It’s free entry for children under 16 at all WAFL games.

The Swans Nest is an extension of the club’s broader disability community outreach strategy. This includes:

  • Creating a safe and welcoming place at Steel Blue Oval for people with disability to visit and be a part of.
  • Delivering inclusive community outreach programs with our local schools. In 2019, this included Cyril Jackson Secondary College support centre and Durham Rd school.
  • Creating work opportunities for people with disability, and
  • Creating opportunities for Integrated football teams to play on a big stage at Steel Blue Oval before our WAFL home games.