Belle Tozer
06/06/2026
As the parent of a 6 year old boy with Autism and ADHD, I cannot speak highly enough of the Burleigh Bears.
My son is fully verbal, social and loves being around other children. His challenges are not around wanting connection. His challenges arise in regulating his emotions, managing impulsivity and navigating group environments. Like many neurodivergent children, these are skills he is still learning.
To support him, we invest countless hours every week in one on one support, therapies and intervention. However, the reality is that no amount of therapy can replace learning how to participate in real world community environments alongside other children.
If I am being honest, I was hesitant about signing him up for rugby league.
Over the years we have tried multiple sporting clubs and activities, only to find ourselves facing exclusion. Too often people talk about inclusion, but when presented with a child who learns and behaves differently, they struggle to put those values into practice. It can be an incredibly isolating experience for both the child and their family.
The Burleigh Bears have been different.
From the coaches to the parents, our family has been met with patience, understanding and encouragement. The coaching staff have shown genuine leadership, not just in teaching football skills, but in teaching children what teamwork, empathy and community actually look like.
One moment that particularly stood out to me was when some of the children commented that they did not want my son on their team. Rather than dismissing the situation, the coach took the time to pull the children aside and explain that everyone is different, that some children face challenges others may not see, and that being part of a team means supporting each other.
I watched this interaction from the sidelines and it meant more to me than I can put into words.
What happened afterwards was even more powerful.
The children listened.
Over the season I have watched my son\'s teammates grow in their understanding, patience and encouragement. They cheer him on, help him when he struggles and celebrate his successes. They have learned lessons about inclusion, compassion and acceptance that will stay with them far longer than anything they learn about football.
I have come to realise that the sport itself is almost secondary.
What truly matters are the people.
The coaches who choose patience over frustration.
The parents who choose understanding over judgement.
The children who learn that not everyone experiences the world in the same way.
Burleigh Bears have created an environment where my son is not simply tolerated. He is genuinely welcomed. For a family that has experienced exclusion far too many times, that means everything.
Thank you to the coaches, volunteers, parents and players who have made our family feel part of the community. You may see it as just junior sport, but for families like ours, it is so much more than that.
You are helping children learn that they belong.