Victoria Police employees slipped on their jogging shoes in September for the Gippsland Regional Engagement and Awareness Tour, or as we like to call it GREAT, to assist Special Olympics athletes across the state. A total of 40 Police employees from across Australia & New Zealand joined Victoria Police and Special Olympics Australia toured the Gippsland Region from Melbourne to Bairnsdale spreading the message of opportunity, respect and inclusion through sport.
This year we were joined by 6 Special Olympics athlete leaders and carers. The athletes are all graduates of the Athlete Leadership Program and the trip provided opportunities to enhance their life skills. Over the week they learnt about life on the road in a Britz campervan, organizing and assisting in running Torch Runs and ‘Come and Try’ events and acting as peer leaders.
Over 390 people participated in ‘Come and Try’ sports events showcasing both local and Special Olympics sports.
Involving specialist schools, disability service providers, local sporting clubs and police, the regional awareness tour is a fantastic way to showcase the Torch Run and Victoria Police support for people living with a disability in our communities.
The Regional Engagement & Awareness Tour will be heading into regional Victoria in October 2020. If you’d like to be a part of this amazing initiative, keep an eye out for communications from the Torch Run in the very near future.
