Alysse Gavlik
Wheelchair Rugby Player
It’s not about who’s the fastest or strongest. It’s about showing up and giving what you can on the day.
Every Saturday morning, regardless of the weather, Alysse Gavlik gets out of bed, bundles up against the chill, and heads to a local sports hall to play wheelchair rugby. It's not your average Saturday sport. It’s fast. It’s physical. It’s occasionally a little chaotic. But above all, it’s inclusive.
“For the past few years, I’ve played wheelchair rugby with my mates on the weekend,” Alysse says. “It’s not a conventional sport people know about in the mainstream, but if you have a disability, it gives you options to participate again and I think that’s really important.”
Alysse is part of a mixed-ability wheelchair rugby team that trains weekly. Some players use wheelchairs every day. Others are able-bodied but choose to play for the camaraderie, the exercise, and the joy of shared movement. Everyone’s welcome. Everyone’s included.
“Our team is made up of people with all sorts of different levels of movement and mobility,” she says. “It allows everybody to participate equally, to the best of their ability and strengths. It’s not about who’s the fastest or strongest. It’s about showing up and giving what you can on the day.”
The game itself is a mix of traditional rugby and basketball. Played in specially designed wheelchairs, players pass the ball forward, race against a shot clock, and bump and barge their way around the court. Contact is not only allowed – it’s encouraged. “It can be quite violent in a good way,” Alysse laughs. “We bang into each other’s chairs, and sometimes people even fall out, but it’s all part of the fun. And if you don’t want rough play, you just say so. Everyone respects that.”
The atmosphere is one of pure inclusion, and it’s this, more than the adrenaline or athleticism, that keeps Alysse and her teammates coming back. There’s a real sense of community. “We warm up with drills, practice skills, then end with a proper game. But in between, we chat, we laugh, we make plans. Sometimes we talk about what we’re doing on the weekend. Sometimes we talk about our health and share advice. We’re learning from each other all the time.”
It gets my heart pumping. I get to hang out with my mates. It’s a great way to stay active.
After each session, the team often stays behind for a casual ‘show and tell’ – sharing information about other sporting opportunities and community events. It might be adaptive kayaking, adaptive mountain biking, or just a bushwalk someone enjoyed.
Alysse is especially passionate about encouraging more people to join. “We’re here every Saturday. We love welcoming new people,” she says. “Recently, we had a new woman join, and I could see it in her face the moment she felt like she was part of the team. That look of joy, that energy, it’s so rewarding.”
The sport’s inclusive approach extends to its accessibility. No gear? No worries. The team provides a range of wheelchairs in different sizes and has all the equipment ready for newcomers. Anyone can walk in off the street and have a go. You don’t need to bring anything except yourself.
It also helps that wheelchair rugby is a year-round, indoor sport, making it perfect for Tasmania’s unpredictable climate. Rain, hail or shine, Alysse and her teammates are playing. Alysse works a fulltime desk job during the week, and the contrast that wheelchair rugby offers – both physical and social – is a vital part of her wellbeing. “It gets my joints moving after sitting all week,” she says. “It gets my heart pumping. I get to hang out with my mates. It’s a great way to stay active.”
While there’s potential for knocks and spills, safety is always front of mind. “I’ve never fallen out of my chair; I wear my seatbelt,” she says with a grin. “I do let people know I have a 9-to-5 job and need to show up on Monday, so I ask them to take it a bit easy. We’re all pretty kind to each other.”
Some of her proudest moments on the court have come when everything just clicks: when the drills pay off, the teamwork shines, and the team scores. “It feels amazing,” she says. “You realise you’re winning, you’re doing it together, and you just want to come back and do it all again next week.”
If there's one takeaway Alysse wants people to have, it's that wheelchair rugby is for everyone. “It’s the most inclusive sport I know,” she says. “Whether you have full mobility or impairment in all four limbs, you can come along and have a good time.”
And if you’re thinking about giving it a go? “Just come along,” says Alysse. “Reach out to us on Facebook, give us a call. We’re always happy to have new people join. You don’t need to be sporty. You don’t need experience. It doesn’t matter if you have a disability or not. If you just want to have a crack at it, we’re here for you.”