We are a not-for-profit organisation with personality and a casual wardrobe working to improve the quality of life for those living with spinal cord injuries.

Founded in 2016, Wheels in Motion is reframing expectations of disability by building a community around a movement. A community that understands disability as a social construct, not a means to define someone’s potential; one that includes and empowers, not pities.

We want to change what people expect from those with a disability, whilst changing what people expect from a charity, too. Wheels in Motion harnesses the enthusiasm and generosity of its supporters to both raise funds and break down the invisible barriers facing people living with spinal cord injuries in Australia.

Wheels in Motion is the brainchild of five high-school friends: Nick Inge, Hugh McKenzie, Will Kitchen, Will Allen and Matt Pierri.

At the age of 16, Matt had a spinal cord injury playing AFL at school. During his time in hospital and rehabilitation, all five friends recognised two key barriers preventing people with spinal cord injuries from reaching their full potential – physically, mentally and socially.

The first – financial barriers. Put simply, living with a spinal cord injury is very expensive and support is limited.

The second – low expectations and negative social perceptions of disability. The dominant narrative around disability is one of pity and charity. This is false, limiting and often self-fulfilling. It is time we changed this. 

In 2016, the boys founded Wheels in Motion to break down these barriers and improve quality of life for young people living with spinal cord injuries in Australia.