14 July 2025 | Tennis Victoria

Daniel, a 2024 graduate of the Tennis Victoria Future Leaders Program, was the first participant in the program’s history to identify as a person with an Intellectual Disability.

For Daniel, stepping into the Tennis Victoria Future Leaders Program was both exciting and nerve wracking.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Daniel admits. “But from day one, I felt welcome. I joined the program because I’m passionate about inclusion. My own experience starting out in tennis wasn’t very welcoming, especially at club level, and I knew it could be better for others.”

From navigating access challenges himself, to advocating for people with disabilities, Daniel brought an invaluable perspective and voice to the group.

“I brought my own support and found the program structure really easy to follow,” he said. “It gave me confidence being around my peers and helped me see where we can improve access and inclusion, not just for people like me, but for everyone.”

One of the standout moments of the Program, for Daniel came during an Inclusion Session, where all participants experienced modified formats of the game such as wheelchair tennis and blind sport.

“It was so good to see the other kids say, ‘We didn’t realise how hard this was.’ That kind of awareness is powerful. I spoke about the Intellectual Disability and Austism (IDA) pathway and everyone was really supportive.”

Daniel’s passion for accessibility didn’t stop there. Inspired by the program, he went on to host his own All Abilities Come & Try Day at Keilor Tennis Club, an event that brought the local community together for tennis, a barbecue, and meaningful connection.

“It’s a memory I’ll have forever,” Daniel says proudly. “It wasn’t just great for me, it was great for the club. The council even came along and saw the need for more support in this space.”

The event highlighted urgent accessibility gaps at the 100-year-old Keilor Tennis Club, which lacks ramps, an accessible toilet, or even kitchen access. Thanks to Daniel’s initiative, Keilor is now ranked third on the list for a new, inclusive facility. He has also applied for a local grant to run more all abilities events, hoping to grow the impact with more promotion next time.

“It felt empowering to have a voice. At least now the conversation has started.”

Daniel’s leadership has extended all the way to the Australian Open. While working at the AO and attending as a spectator, Daniel noticed a critical gap in staff awareness about the Sunflower Lanyard, an internationally recognised symbol for people with invisible disabilities.

“I kept getting hassled by security, even though I was wearing my lanyard,” Daniel explains. “They didn’t even know what it meant. I brought it up with Adam [Inclusion Lead at Tennis Victoria] as part of my Future Leaders project.”

AO and Tennis Australia staff are now undergoing training on the Sunflower Lanyard program, with a stronger focus on hidden disability awareness planned for AO 2026 and beyond.

“Not all disabilities are visible. Some people need more space or can’t climb stairs. I just want everyone to feel welcome, so that no one has a bad experience and decides not to come back.”

Reflecting on the past year, Daniel says the Future Leaders Program has helped him step into his own voice.

“I felt supported every step of the way. It inspired me to take action, and now I want to keep going. The more we talk about inclusion, the more we can make tennis better for everyone.”

If you want to learn more about Tennis Victoria’s Future Leaders program, click here. Applications are currently still open for the 2025 program. Click here to follow in Daniel’s footsteps and register, before applications close on 16 July 2025.