Dr Alexander Smith is passionate about football, and he backs it up on the field. An Australian representative in Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) and a proud Rabbitohs player, Alex sits down with Ngaire Pakai to share his journey in becoming PDRL ready, the impact of team sport for individuals and the community, and the bright future he sees for the game.
Alexander Smith is a proud Gundagarra man living on Jerrinja and Wodi Wodi Country on the South Coast of NSW.
After experiencing the difficulties of communicating with doctors, Alex acquired his PHD in educational psychology and combined this with his lived experience to develop teachings/resources to help others facing similar troubles.
A lifelong footy fan, Alex learnt about the Physical Disability Rugby League in 2018, but had to wait and work through physical rehabilitation to become fit enough for a training session to then eventually play his first game in 2022.
Alex shares how the PDRL was established in 2010 and has made modifications to the game to ensure player safety and on-field equity.
I just think it’s really smart how the sport has been set up to modify the game so that various types of disabilities can play on the field all at once, in a really safe environment, but it doesn’t dilute at all how tough these guys are and the competition of the game on the field.Dr Alexander Smith
The PDRL has had a profound impact on Alex’s life keeping him active, providing opportunities for socialising and making huge headway in representation.
You know our faces just light up when we take to the field and that’s because the rest of the world and its challenges just slip away. And for the next 40 minutes all that idea of disability and challenge is just forgotten, we’re just mates on a field, playing footy, where we’re accepted, and we're having fun.
Alex also reflects on how becoming involved in the PDRL has re-centred physical activity from a medical setting focused on rehabilitation, progress and healthcare providers to a team sport with intuitive movement and focus on fun.
With Physical Disability Footy, it’s no longer associated with trauma. It’s no longer associated with rehab and someone else dictating what I’m doing. It’s about having fun and getting to enjoy the ability to move again.
Participating in games can sometimes mean travelling a 6 hour round trip for club games and even longer for International games, as was the case when Alex represented Australia in a match against New Zealand in 2024. As a person with medical and physical disability it takes months of planning with his social and healthcare teams to ensure Alex is fit and healthy for competition.
It’s hard being vulnerable to another person about your disability, but I think it is important to self-advocate because that way you can receive some of the supports and accommodations you need to be at your best
Playing in cultural rounds with the combined Indigenous AllStars and the PDRL AllStars is a special highlight and Alex hopes to see the game grow in club representation with exhibition games at Korri Knock-Out, State of Origin and beyond.
A dream that I have is that one year we get to play an exhibition match at the Koori Knockout over the October long weekend ... that would just, that would just be amazing… Beyond that, it'd be awesome to have more club teams, particularly up in QLD, and I mention QLD - surely we have to play a state of Origin
The Speak My Language (Disability) program is an initiative funded by the Commonwealth Government under the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Framework. It is proudly led by ECCNSW and the primary national Partners are ECCV, ECCQ, MCCSA, MCNT, MCOT, ECCWA, and our national broadcasting Partners SBS.
Podcast Tile Artwork: Paul Constable Calcott
