On the International Day of People with Disability, Melbourne Victory is sharing the story of Valentina.
A Victory member, Valentina and her closest family love the Club. Her father, Octavio, is an inaugural member. But for many years, attending matches as a family was not possible.
Then, at the start of the 2024/25 season, this all changed.
Melbourne Victory and the Inclusion Project partnered together. They delivered a sensory room for supporters at AAMI Park, which has now provided a specially designed space offering both calming and stimulating environments for more than 200 individuals with sensory processing needs.
This means Valentina, who has autism, can enjoy home fixtures with her father and his wife, Giovanna, courtesy of a complimentary carer membership.
Octavio told MelbourneVictory.com.au: “Valentina now wants to work at The Inclusion Project – seeing people like her have jobs has inspired her. Valentina has built a relationship of trust with the Occupational Therapist – this is so important.
“The Sensory Room provides a welcoming space away from things that don’t upset other people but do upset Valentina, like the hot summer sun and match day noise. The room is a calming mechanism.
“I encourage Melbourne Victory to continue providing these specialised experiences, such as separate groups for kids with a disability on family days and at football clinics. It is a point of difference to all other football clubs”.
General Manager – Community, Simon Rodder, added: “The Sensory Room is one part of our commitment to be more inclusive – we are committed to building more opportunities for people living with disability to feel a part of the Victory family, whether watching or playing football.
“The Inclusion Project is a key partner of Melbourne Victory, supporting us and the wider community to be a safer space for people living with disability. This is seen through the facilitation of sensory rooms and the creation of employment pathways.”
The Sensory Room is hosted by an Occupational Therapist, who supervises the safe environment and provides parents and carers with important advice to support the ongoing inclusion of their loved one at the sports event and wider community. They are supported by an Inclusion Project officer who has lived experience.
The work being undertaken in the sensory room demonstrates Melbourne Victory’s commitment to social inclusion, ensuring anyone from the wider community can come to AAMI Park and watch a Victory match.
It is also one of a range of initiatives that the Club is delivering that improve inclusion of people living with disability, including the Annual All Abilities Gala Day, scheduled for April 2026, and a series of All Abilities Football Centres.
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations (UN) day observed internationally on Wednesday, December 3. It aims to promote community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. IDPwD is an opportunity to be part of creating an inclusive and diverse community for the 5.5 million people with disability in Australia. The theme for IDPwD 2025 is Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress. The theme means everyone needs to work together to make society fairer and respect the rights of people with disability.
