Alice Jordan-Baird (Gorton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to honour Emily Attard, a Caroline Springs local and the founder and managing director of Specialist Hoops, a truly transformative basketball program operating across several locations in Melbourne's western suburbs. What began in 2017, when Emily was only 16 years old, has grown eight years later into a vibrant community that bridges the gap in inclusion for people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

As a young referee, Emily witnessed firsthand the barriers faced by children with disability—unable to play a full game due to a lack of inclusive opportunities and facing pushback on playing while wearing noise-cancelling headphones. Motivated by what she witnessed and a game she loved, she founded Specialist Hoops to create a safe space not just for children but for adults, too, to play sport, to belong and to grow. But, more importantly, Specialist Hoops has matured into a community, a place where participants can develop skills but also friendships, self-confidence and a strong sense of belonging. Emily's vision doesn't stop at inclusion for its own sake. She's created pathways for higher performance too, with some Specialist Hoops players now training weekly for state level tryouts and others now in mainstream basketball teams.

What Emily has built is a powerful example of grassroots leadership, identifying a need, building a solution and growing something that matters deeply. Her work ensures that no-one is left behind not just in sport but in community. I congratulate Emily Attard, her team, her volunteers and the Specialist Hoops community for eight years of dedication, growth and genuine inclusion.

Today I would also like to recognise the Westvale Men's Shed in Kings Park for its inspiring commitment to community inclusion not just for men but for women too. While the shed offers traditional social and woodworking sessions for men, every Tuesday they run a women's shed woodworking program free of charge. Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to one of their sessions. This isn't a typical class. It's a skills exchange where women learn to use tools, develop skills, work on DIY projects and build confidence alongside experienced volunteers. Through this program, the shed creates a welcoming, non-threatening space for women to connect, create and grow. Each of the women were keen to share their current and past projects, ranging from wood-turned bowls, hardwood pens, upcycled items rescued from local hard-rubbish collections, restored furniture and so much more. One of the women told me how much this community has supported her mental health since the passing of her husband. With guidance from the shed, she was able to create a wooden urn for her husband. This meant so much to her family and helped her process her grief in a different way.

Westvale's model shows how community sheds can evolve, preserving their core mission of supporting men's wellbeing while also extending genuine opportunity and belonging to women. This inclusive, grassroots leadership strengthens our community in real, practical ways and it's something worth celebrating and supporting. Well done, Westvale Men's Shed.