Hadfield Tennis Club has undergone significant change over the past two years, reshaping itself into a more inclusive and representative club within its multicultural community. This transformation is reflected in strong participation growth. Female membership increased from 25 to 53, while girls’ participation grew from zero to 11. Competitive involvement also expanded, with women in competition rising from 14 to 26 and junior girls entering the pathway for the first time.

This progress has been driven by clear leadership and targeted action. Under President Alex Chen and Vice President Fevzi Ozsoy, the club focused on creating accessible entry points for women and girls. The introduction of a women’s beginner program, led by coach Rachel Stewart, achieved a 30% conversion rate from beginner participants to active members. Governance also shifted, with the club moving from no female representation to two female committee members.

A structured participation pathway now supports long-term engagement, offering programs from Hot Shots and Ready2Rally through to women’s beginner courses, skill development, social play, and competition. Partnerships with Glenroy College and Active Schools support this pipeline, particularly for girls transitioning into the sport. Financial barriers have also been reduced through waived joining fees, discounted equipment, and external funding through sponsorships and Tennis Australia grants.

Infrastructure and accessibility improvements have supported this growth. The club secured council funding to upgrade court lighting to LED, alongside improvements to seating, scoreboards, and facilities. A Gender Audit conducted with Holstep Health informed further changes, ensuring the environment is safe, welcoming, and inclusive.

Hadfield’s approach extends beyond programming into strong community engagement. Events such as the Family Fitness Fun Day have attracted over 50 participants and promoted health and wellbeing alongside tennis. Backed by multiple sponsors and supported by a diverse volunteer group, the event highlighted the club’s ability to connect with its local community. Promotion through schools, social media, and local partnerships has strengthened visibility and participation.

Collaboration has been central to the club’s success. Partnerships with Tennis Australia, local organisations, and other clubs have supported program design and delivery. Initiatives such as the Sports4All inclusion plan and involvement in Monash Health’s Healthy Sports Club program further demonstrate a commitment to best practice.

Importantly, Hadfield has focused on removing both physical and cultural barriers. Equipment support, inclusive clothing options, and low-cost programming have made participation more accessible, particularly for women from multicultural backgrounds.

The club’s progress is supported by strong volunteer leadership and a clear focus on community need. With more than 60 women engaged in coaching programs and continued growth in interest, Hadfield Tennis Club has established a sustainable model for inclusion—one that prioritises participation, representation, and long-term connection to the sport.

In October 2025, Liston Tennis Club marked a significant milestone by becoming the first club in Australia to fully integrate blind and low vision tennis into its annual club championships. The event brought together 10 players from across Melbourne, representing all four blind and low vision classifications, and placed their competition alongside mainstream divisions as an equal part of the tournament.

The blind and low vision division was run in the same format as other events, with modified balls and courts prepared in line with International Blind Tennis Association rules. Matches were scheduled as a feature of the championships on Friday night and Saturday morning, attracting strong interest from club members—many of whom were seeing blind and low vision tennis for the first time.

Liston ensured the competition was both inclusive and professionally delivered. The winner received a championship trophy, and all participating players were awarded honorary club memberships. Importantly, the club took full responsibility for tournament organisation, allowing players—many of whom are volunteers in the blind and low vision tennis community—to focus entirely on competition.

The event was shaped through direct engagement with blind and low vision players who train at Liston. Their input informed scheduling, format, and accessibility considerations, including the decision to host matches on Friday night. The club also worked with Blind Sport and Recreation Victoria to strengthen accessibility and inclusion planning.

Beyond competition, the event created opportunities for connection and awareness. Large numbers of spectators attended, and players had the rare experience of competing in front of a crowd. Post-match, players and club members connected socially, building understanding of the sport and community. The event also attracted the attendance of local MP Melissa Horne, who met players and observed competition.

Liston promoted the championships through its channels and plans to expand the initiative. Future goals include growing participation, adding more all-abilities divisions, listing the event on the Tennis Australia blind and low vision calendar, and ultimately gaining recognition as a national ranking tournament.

By delivering Australia’s first fully integrated club championships, Liston Tennis Club set a clear standard for inclusion—positioning blind and low vision tennis alongside mainstream competition and creating a model for other clubs to follow.

The Australian Melbourne Chinese Tennis Association (AMCTA) has made a strong impact in engaging culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, particularly Chinese-Australian players who have historically been underrepresented in tennis.

Across the past year, AMCTA has delivered multiple tournaments and social play opportunities across Melbourne, engaging more than 200 participants. These events have attracted a broad demographic—including students, working adults, and older players—and achieved strong female participation of around 40%. The association has also extended its reach beyond metropolitan Melbourne through a regional activation at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club, introducing culturally inclusive tennis opportunities to new participants.

AMCTA’s model is built on consistent, low-barrier programming. Regular social hit events and tournaments provide accessible entry points, while participants are encouraged to transition into local clubs, coaching, and competition pathways. Partnerships with clubs support this progression and ensure continued involvement beyond AMCTA events. The regional roadshow initiative further strengthens this model, with plans to expand engagement into additional communities.

Promotion is targeted and effective, using Chinese-language platforms such as WeChat and RedNote to reach its core audience. Combined with word-of-mouth growth and consistent event storytelling, this approach has built trust and driven repeat participation. Collaboration with host venues has also broadened visibility and strengthened connections with the wider tennis community.

A key strength of AMCTA is its community-led approach. Programs are designed and delivered by individuals with lived experience, ensuring they are culturally relevant and accessible. Volunteers act as important connectors, helping new participants feel confident and supported. This approach has been central to reducing barriers such as language, cost, and confidence.

The standout initiative was the AMCTA event at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club—the organisation’s first regional social hit. The event successfully brought together metropolitan and regional players, demonstrating that culturally inclusive programming can thrive outside major cities. It also highlighted the role of local clubs as welcoming community hubs and provided a clear model for future regional expansion.

Through its work, AMCTA has created meaningful opportunities for participation, connection, and long-term engagement in tennis. Its community-driven approach continues to strengthen inclusion across Victoria’s tennis landscape.

Hands Up for Tennis is a fully funded initiative founded by Vicky Lee, Head Coach from Slamin Tennis and Fitness, designed to support individuals experiencing mental health challenges and intellectual impairments through structured, inclusive tennis programming. Across the delivery period, the program engaged 36 participants in over 1,000 sessions, achieving an 85% attendance rate and 78% retention—clear indicators of strong and sustained engagement.

The program’s impact extends beyond participation. Ninety percent of participants formed new social connections, while 70% progressed from no prior involvement in tennis to rallying and match play. Participants also showed improvements in physical activity, routine, and reduced social isolation. These outcomes are supported by ongoing tracking, surveys, and structured coach observations.

Hands Up for Tennis is designed as a long-term pathway rather than a one-off initiative. Sixty-five percent of participants transitioned into ongoing tennis opportunities such as coaching, social play, and club environments, with 40% committing to regular weekly participation. The program provides structured support through group coaching, social match play, private coaching, and integration into Doncaster Tennis Club, ensuring participants remain connected to the sport.

The initiative is delivered in partnership with Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS), providing both funding and direct access to participants with lived experience of mental health conditions and intellectual impairments. Program delivery is tailored to these needs, with small group sizes, consistent scheduling, flexible attendance, and multiple session formats to ensure accessibility and comfort.

Barriers to participation are intentionally removed. The program is fully subsidised, provides equipment, and supports all ability levels in a safe, non-judgmental environment. The focus is on psychological safety, routine, and social connection rather than performance. This approach has resulted in high re-engagement and zero drop-out due to financial constraints.

Promotion has been driven through community partnerships, social storytelling, and referral networks. A key milestone was the official program launch, attended by health professionals, lived experience advocates, and local government representatives, helping to reduce stigma and strengthen community connections. Participants were also linked with external support services such as Lifeline, Beyond Blue, and Headspace, reinforcing a holistic approach to wellbeing.

The defining outcome of Hands Up for Tennis is the shift from isolation to belonging. Participants who began as hesitant and disengaged are now active, confident, and socially connected. The program demonstrates how tennis can be adapted as a tool for mental health inclusion—creating environments where individuals feel supported, valued, and part of a community.