Sports CONNECT is a national framework that works to build pathways for people with disabilities to get involved in sport, by creating and developing relationships between sports and disability organisations.

Currently many people with disabilities participate in sport outside a structured sporting organisation which results in missed opportunities for both the individual and the sports organisations.

Through the work of Sports CONNECT more people with disabilities are recognising the many social and health benefits resulting from involvement in sport. At the same time sports organisations are increasingly becoming aware of the significant benefits of involving people with disabilities either as participants, administrators, volunteers, coaches or officials.

How does Sports CONNECT work?

At a national level

Twenty-four sports organisations are supported directly through Sports CONNECT. All receive funding over a five-year period to develop a Disability Action Plan. In addition to funding, sports are supported by a dedicated case manager over the life of the plan.

The Disability Action Plan is designed so that after five years of support, the sports organisations have gained the internal know-how to incorporate inclusive strategies into their regular planning processes, without the external support of the Australian Sports Commission.

The sports involved at a national level include:

At a state/territory level

Sports CONNECT is supported at the state and territory level through strategic partnerships with state departments of sport and recreation. These partnerships are critical to the ongoing support of Sports CONNECT as they provide the key link between what happens at the national level and how this influences state and territory sports and disability groups.

The Disability Sport Network (DSN) is the collective name given to these partnerships. A range of support services are available through the DSN for state sports organisations and disability groups. These include consultancy, funding and the provision of education and training.

Where the Australian Sports Commission works directly with national sports organisations, we also work indirectly with state associations of the same sports through the DSN. Similarly, our state and territory partners also work at the local level.

At a local level

A key element of the Australian Sports Commission’s partnership with state and territory departments and the DSN is the Building Inclusive Communities model.

This model provides a framework whereby the DSN will target specific communities and organisations within those communities, with a view to getting more people with a disability involved in sport.

An example of how this model could work:

A DSN coordinator is working directly with a state football association in developing a Disability Action Plan. This state plan would reflect the existing national plan for that sport. Through the use of a nationally consistent assessment tool, the DSN coordinator is able to identify football clubs in a particular region that are prepared and willing to service people with a disability. The DSN can then follow the same process with disability sector organisations, finding organisations that value sport and want their clients to be physically active. The DSN coordinator can then begin connecting the willing football clubs with the willing disability sector organisations in the same area, with the outcome being more people with disabilities participating in sport.

• Sports CONNECT - Expression of Interest
• Disability Sport Contacts

Did you know?

Australia is one of only two nations to have competed in every modern Summer Olympic Games

• More about this topic
• More ASC facts

Quick numbers