AIS Paralympians Brad Scott and Aaron Chatman recently joined members of the Fiji Sports Association for the Disabled (FSAD) at the launch of a disability strategy by Australia’s overseas aid program, AusAID.

Held at the AIS, the launch is the first step to focus on people with disabilities in developing countries. The new strategy, Development for All: Towards a disability-inclusive Australian aid program 2009–2014, aims to support people with disabilities to improve the quality of their lives.

Chatman, who was born without a fully formed right arm, won silver and bronze medals at the Beijing Paralympics. He spoke of the importance of sport in his life.

‘Sporting activities can show the broader community what people with disabilities are capable of,’ he said, ‘not just at the higher elite level, but at a community level.’

FSAD, which runs disability-specific sport programs in Fiji, is supported by the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP). An AusAID-funded sport for development initiative, ASOP is managed by the Australian Sports Commission and aims to assist people in the Pacific to deliver and participate in inclusive sports-based programs.

Through FSAD’s sport programs over 1000 children in 17 special schools throughout Fiji are getting active, which is important for promoting social inclusion, good health and boosting self-esteem for the children.

The strategy is part of the Australian Government’s social inclusion agenda, and marks a transformation in the aid program towards development that includes and addresses the needs and priorities of people with disabilities.