More than 200 students with disability from 14 public schools across the St George region came together for the AFL’s All Abilities Inclusion Gala Day, hosted at Georges River College Hurstville Campus.

The event, a partnership between Hurstville Public School and AFL NSW/ACT, brought students from Athelstane, Bexley, Bexley North, Blakehurst, Brighton Le Sands, Connells Point, Carlton, Carlton South, Hurstville, Peakhurst, Peakhurst West, Penshurst, Penshurst West and Oatley public schools to the Hurstville Campus oval for a morning of skill-building activities led by AFL NSW/ACT staff.

Hurstville Public School principal Mark Steed said the day reflected the true meaning of inclusion.

"We've had 14 primary schools from the St George area, 235 of our wonderful young people living with a disability,” he said.

“This is all about inclusion. It's about looking at those pathways for connection, but there is more - it's about coming together, bringing all the skills you've got and building your own skills.

"By connecting and becoming part of a team today has been a celebration of what inclusion is all about in a really authentic way."

Year 9 and 10 students from the school's PASS (Sports Coaching) course assisted AFL NSW/ACT leaders throughout the day, while secondary students from the Hurstville Campus Support Unit also took part in the activities.

The Gala Day grew out of a shared recognition between the school and AFL NSW/ACT of the limited, often unclear pathways for children with disabilities to access organised sport and develop physical skills.

For the students and families involved, the message was simple: every young person belongs in the game.