Breaking Barriers through Inclusion with Healthy Active Learning

At Nuku Ora, the wellbeing of tamariki and the role of tākaro (play) in their development is a key priority, especially when it’s inclusive and accessible to everyone. Our Healthy Active Learning team supports schools and kura to enhance the quality of play, sport, and physical education.

Strengthening inclusive education practices is just one part of our broader mahi to create engaging, supportive, and equitable learning environments for all tamariki. Through this work, the team identified a need to better support the inclusion of tamariki with disabilities in physical activity and play.

In response, the team began building a network of people and organisations passionate about inclusion and driving change in this space. As the network expanded, so did the ideas, giving rise to a new initiative centred on sharing knowledge, fostering relationships, and making a positive impact.

This led to the creation of a Disability and Inclusion Training Workshop. Its purpose was to equip participants with practical tools for inclusion and connect schools with organisations working in the disability space. The event was co-delivered by dsport, Halberg Foundation, Special Olympics New Zealand, and Blind Sport NZ.

The first workshop, ran in Term 4 2024, was a full-day training aimed at teachers, teacher aides, principals, special education coordinators, and others interested in disability inclusion. It featured presentations and interactive activities featuring rangatahi guest speakers, Tas Grindly, Special Olympics athlete and Roman Parahi,  Blind Sport NZ Athlete.

These young people shared their lived experiences and gave honest feedback on what’s working and what needs to change. Healthy Active Learning Facilitator Tania said the rangatahi were “great at keeping it real, and not afraid to speak up on what needs to change.”

The success of the workshop sparked demand for more sessions tailored to different audiences. The kaupapa resonated strongly with attendees, with one participant saying:

“Everyone is unique and has a right to be included and have their views respected and asked for. Inclusion training should be mandatory for all schools.”

One meaningful connection formed through the workshop was with Kimi Ora School. Five of their staff attended, and through this whanaungatanga, the team encouraged the school to take part in the upcoming TRY Challenge.

Delivered by Sanitarium and supported by Nuku Ora, the TRY Challenge is a fun and inclusive obstacle course based on the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon. It’s designed to be adapted by each school to suit their resources, activity levels, and wellbeing goals.

This year, Kimi Ora students participated and thrived. The event was tailored to meet each student’s needs, and the feedback from teachers, students, caregivers and whānau was overwhelmingly positive.

 Paige Walls, Rehabilitation and Exercise Specialist at Kimi Ora, provided the feedback that “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the TRY challenge, students and staff alike. I have had so many people come to tell me how amazing they thought it was and how impressed they were with the students' participation. I've also had a lot of comments about how supportive and welcoming the team who were running the event were."

This is just one example of how Nuku Ora kaimahi are supporting inclusion across physical activity. It reflects our goal to empower communities, provide quality opportunities, and contribute to a more inclusive and responsive physical activity system.

By listening to schools, working in partnership with others, and putting tamariki and rangatahi at the centre, the Healthy Active Learning team is helping to create environments where all tamariki can feel included, participate and thrive.