Kieran Watts on Fundraising, Powerchair Hockey & NDIS Realities

What are we drinking?Red Bull

About the episode

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Kieran Watts, a Powerchair athlete and advocate, for a real and eye-opening conversation as the Powerchair Hockey Team aims to fundraise their trip to the World Championships in Finland.

They unpack what it actually takes to compete in Powerchair sport, from the discipline and preparation to the often overlooked reality of constant fundraising just to get to competitions. Kieran shares the financial challenges athletes face and why community support is so critical.

The conversation also dives into the NDIS, breaking down misconceptions, media narratives, and the frustration of navigating a system that often requires people to repeatedly prove permanent disabilities.

This is a raw discussion about autonomy, accessibility, and changing the way we view disability in Australia.

Donate Today! ANY amount helps 🩷https://asf.org.au/campaigns/australian-powerchair-hockey-association-nsw-inc/help-the-australian-sliders-go-to-finland

In this episode

Kieran’s background and journey into Powerchair sport
The mindset and discipline required to compete at a high level
Behind-the-scenes reality of training, competing, and preparation
Financial challenges in disability sport and lack of funding
The role of sponsorships and community support – Misconceptions about people with disabilities and capability
The “protection vs autonomy” debate in disability
Barriers to mainstream participation and accessibility improvements
NDIS funding controversies and media narratives
The emotional and administrative burden of NDIS processes
Advocacy for participant choice, control, and dignity
Why lived experience voices need a bigger platform

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