This not-for-profit charity wheelchair manufacturer has built over 60,000 devices for children with disabilities
Wheelchairs for Kids Australia (WFKA) is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides the transformative gift of mobility to children in impoverished and under-resourced communities in Australia and around the globe.
Founded in 1998 by the Scarborough Rotary Club in WA, teams of volunteers gather daily in a purpose-built factory to manufacture and build wheelchairs based on an Australian design and following World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. WFKA has transformed the lives of children in over 80 countries by providing mobility, access to education, improved health outcomes, and a greater sense of inclusion within their families and communities. The final product is delivered to disabled children around the globe. Without our all-terrain wheelchair, these children would face limited mobility, a lack of education, and no hope of a standard, fulfilling life.
Under the guidance of volunteer Factory Manager Br. Olly, a former metalwork and vocational teacher, the wheelchair design has evolved through nine model changes. A breakthrough came in 2010 with the development of a ‘rough terrain’ wheelchair to comply with a new World Health Organization standard for developing countries.
The flagship “Adjusta” wheelchair fully adapts to each child’s specific condition and size. Designed to grow with the child, it accommodates children from preschool age to late teens and was a world first. Built for durability and rough terrain, it features solid, puncture-proof tyres, wheel covers, and a single front wheel for easier navigation over uneven surfaces. Each unit has essential accessories, including seat belts, postural supports, a removable tray, knee separators, a tool kit, a knee rug, and soft toys.
“Designed with safety, strength, and durability in mind, our rough terrain wheelchairs are crafted by our dedicated and hardworking volunteers at our factory, producing 50 each day on shifts under the supervision of our factory manager,” explained CEO Greg Hebble. “We manufacture approximately 300 wheelchairs each month at a price range of $280 to $300 per chair, depending on the required additional supports; we adhere to a rigorous production process—from cutting, bending, and drilling the aluminium frame to fitting the brake modules and conducting tests to ensure compliance with World Health Organisation guidelines. As a final touch, our wheelchairs come with knitted blankets and toys made by our volunteers to guarantee maximum comfort.”
Wheelchairs For Kids manufactures in accordance with strict World Health Organisation guidelines, meaning our manufacturing capabilities must remain consistent and precise. Our factory is equipped with a limited number of CNC profile milling machines, pedestal drilling machines, grinders, finishers, bending machinery, cold saw cutting machinery for both aluminium and steel components, as well as testing equipment, drilling jigs and fixtures, alongside assembly and packaging equipment.
As in any manufacturing plant, there is a constant maintenance programme, but machines still break down and need to be replaced. Jigs and fixtures also need constant maintenance and regular hardening, and replacements and new equipment are always required.
In recognition of his tireless work, Br. Olly Pickett was recently honoured as the 2025 Senior Australian of the Year. At 84 years old, he humbly dedicated the award to his fellow volunteers, emphasising, “Nothing can be achieved unless you have good people around you.”
The ongoing need
It is estimated that millions of children worldwide live with disabilities and simply cannot access the mobility aids available to children with disabilities in Australia. In some of the poorest countries, children are left to spend their lives on the ground or in a bed indoors, missing out on a normal childhood, unable to attend school, and facing poor life expectancy.
A wheelchair can change a child’s life and that of their family, enabling them to attend school, play with friends, and engage more fully in community activities. It also increases life expectancy and helps reduce the stigma surrounding disability. Furthermore, one or both parents can gain the ability to work, enhancing the family’s economic situation and overall wellbeing.
WFKA has set an ambitious target to boost production from about 3,500 wheelchairs per year to 6,000 wheelchairs annually by the end of 2026, furthering its mission to assist more children in need. Br. Olly’s recent recognition shines a national spotlight on this cause, motivating others to back this life-changing project.
The story of WFKA and Brother Olly Pickett exemplifies the power of purpose, innovation, and community-driven projects. With unwavering dedication, WFKA and its remarkable volunteers continue to provide not just mobility, but also hope, dignity, and a brighter future for thousands of children.
For the first time this year, the charity was also attached to the AMTIL Golf Day. Wheelchairs For Kids is a program where people can donate funds to help pay for wheelchairs to be built and transported to children needing them as far afield as Cambodia and parts of Africa and some Pacific islands. Manufacturers were invited to donate and assist in the creation of the wheelchairs themselves.
By the end of the day, AMTIL raised enough for Wheelchairs For Kids to buy around 20 wheelchairs for children in need around the world.
For more information or to support Wheelchairs For Kids Australia, visit wheelchairsforkids.org or contact CEO Greg Hebble on greg.hebble@wheelchairsforkids.org