Strategic advice, grant writing and communications for Wheelchair Rugby League Australia over seven years
Sector: Sport and recreation | Disability inclusion | Grant funding | Communications, government & media relations
CONTEXT
Wheelchair Rugby League Australia operates within a competitive sporting and funding landscape, where emerging and adaptive sports must work harder than established codes to secure resources, visibility and recognition. Sustaining the program required both reliable grant funding and a consistent, professional communications presence.
During a key period of the program’s growth, Infodec Communications was engaged to provide strategic advice, grant writing and communications support to the founder and board of Wheelchair Rugby League Australia, working alongside the leadership group over more than seven years.
WHAT WAS REQUIRED
The engagement required a long-term, dual-track approach that could:
- secure recurring grant funding to support program operations, athlete development and international competition
- lead the program’s day-to-day communications, media and public relations activity
- provide speech writing, event coordination and executive communications support for the Chair and board
- develop professional collateral to support sponsorship and partnership conversations
- represent the program at major events and international competition, including in formal media management roles
The work needed to balance long-term strategic input with consistent, hands-on delivery across two parallel workstreams.
OUR ROLE
Infodec Communications provided two integrated workstreams over more than seven years: a funding strategy anchored in grant writing, and end-to-end communications support for the program.
Funding and grant writing
- researched, wrote and managed grant submissions across multiple government programs and funding rounds
- advised on which funding opportunities to pursue and how to position the program against funder criteria
- developed a comprehensive sponsorship document to support corporate partnership conversations
- provided ongoing strategic counsel to the founder and board on funding strategy and positioning
Communications, media and stakeholder engagement
- led the program’s communications activity, including media relations, announcements and public profile work
- wrote speeches and key messages for the Chair across a range of events and stakeholder forums
- coordinated events for the program, including stakeholder, sponsor and supporter activity
- secured national media coverage, including broadcast coverage on Foxtel
- worked directly with the NRL to coordinate joint events, announcements and integrated communications activity
- travelled with the Australian team to the Rugby League World Cup as Media Manager, leading on-the-ground media and communications throughout the tournament
- supported stakeholder engagement around significant moments, including a Prime Ministerial acknowledgement of the team in Question Time
OUTCOME
The engagement contributed to more than $1.5 million in grant funding secured for Wheelchair Rugby League Australia during the period, providing sustained financial support for program operations, athlete pathways and international representation.
Alongside the funding outcomes, the program built a consistent national communications presence, including broadcast coverage on Foxtel, coordinated events with the NRL, recognition from the Prime Minister in Question Time, and formal media management of the Australian team at the Rugby League World Cup, strengthening the program’s profile with media, stakeholders and supporters.
The long-term nature of the engagement allowed Infodec Communications to build deep sector knowledge and a trusted working relationship with the founder, Chair and board, supporting the program through a key period of its growth.
TESTIMONIAL
Infodec Communications supported Wheelchair Rugby League Australia with grant applications and funding submissions over an extended period, securing significant grant funding. Their understanding of government requirements, ability to address key criteria and clarity of writing contributed to many successful outcomes. The Infodec team’s approach was professional, well considered and aligned to our organisation’s values and objectives.
— Founder, Wheelchair Rugby League Australia
