Policies, programs, and supporting structures

The Australian Government, Department of Social Services, opens in a new tab works in partnership with government and non-government organisations and communities to ensure the effective development, management and delivery of payments, evidence-based policies, programs and services to support individuals and families.

Strategies

• Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031, opens in a new tab (updated December 2024). A national framework that all Australian governments have signed up to. It sets out a plan for continuing to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia over 10 years.
  • Sport is mentioned under Policy Priority 3: People with disability are able to fully participate in social, recreational, sporting, religious and cultural life.

Resources

• The Disability Gateway, opens in a new tab helps people with disability, their families and carers find the information, services and support they need in Australia.
  • Links to information about competitive and recreational sport opportunities available in each state/territory are included under the Leisure section.

The Australian Human Rights Commission, opens in a new tab provides a variety of tools, guides and initiatives for people with disability, and anyone wanting to make meaningful change. They can also assist organisations with developing a Disability Discrimination Act action plan.

The Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD), opens in a new tab works collaboratively to ensure that all Australians have an opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity in a welcoming and inclusive environment and to advocate and facilitate inclusive sport and physical activity for people with a disability, impairment or limitation. It aims to enhance the ability to communicate with one-voice on many issues and improve the capacity of governments at all levels to effectively and efficiently engage with the broader disability sporting sector.

In September 2017, the ASC brought together leaders from across the disability sport sector to co-design a shared vision for the future of disability sport in Australia. From this workshop, the NSOD Project was created, and an Oversight Committee was established to guide the delivery of 16 key recommendations for the sector. The ASAPD launched, opens in a new tab in October 2020.

ASAPD consists of eight core NSOD organisations whose participant numbers, members and volunteers involve millions of people across Australia:

• Blind Sports Australia
• Deaf Sports Australia
• Disability Sports Australia
• Disabled Wintersports Australia
• Paralympics Australia
• Riding for the Disabled Association Australia
• Special Olympics Australia
• Sport Inclusion Australia
• Transplant Australia

In 2020, the ASAPD lodged a joint submission to the National Disability Strategy, opens in a new tab to ensure that sport was included in the next 10-year plan. They also established four key groups to take their work forward, including: Government and Advocacy; Shared Services and Collaboration; Participation and Pathways; and Research and Innovation. A Project Manager was employed to co-ordinate the work of these groups and to enhance the ASAPD’s impact, shared resources, and efficiencies.

Resources

ASAPD has partnered with Inclusive Sport Design to develop and provide online courses to help train those working in sport to better engage with people with disability, or those with clients, family, or friends with disability who would like to start engaging with sport and physical activity.

• Disability Inclusion Coaching Course, opens in a new tab, Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD), (accessed 6 March 2024). Designed to provide basic skills, understanding and knowledge in a practical real-life framework so as you can be a more inclusive coach of people with a disability in sport and active recreation programs and activities. This free online course has been designed so you can learn at your own pace – anytime, anywhere, on any device. You will get practical tools and tips, hear valuable experiences and advice from individuals with disability and coaches providing confidence to support players and athletes to access sport and physical activity options and pathways. The course is available on the Australian Sports Commission’s Learning Centre.
• Teachers – Including Students with Disability in School Sport, opens in a new tab, Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD), (accessed 6 March 2024). This course will inform you about the many options, benefits and impacts of sport and physical activity and how you can help students with disability get involved so that they can participate in the community, build their capacity, and reach their goals. You will get practical tools and tips hear valuable experiences and advice from individuals with disability and teachers providing confidence to support students to access sport and physical activity options and pathways.
• NDIS – Connecting individuals to physical activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD), (accessed 6 March 2024). This course will inform you about the many options, benefits and impacts of physical activity and how you can help individuals with disability get involved so that they can participate in the community, build their capacity and reach their goals. As part of this course, you will be given practical tools and tips plus you will hear valuable experiences and advice from individuals with disability and service providers.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport at all levels.

Resources

• Equity, diversity and inclusion – to promote more inclusive sport practices in our community, the ASC have a variety of easy-to-use tools and resources to help sports and clubs understand, recognise and celebrate inclusion and diversity.
  • Inclusion in Sport - People with Disability
• Sports Ability activity cards – designed for all levels of ability and to develop children's skills, confidence and motivation for sports-based activities. The cards outline what is required to plan and execute activities, as well as ways to modify elements of each activity (e.g. rules, equipment, techniques) to ensure that everyone can participate, have fun, and achieve success.

Programs

• Sporting Schools. Deaf Sports Australia and Special Olympics Australia have partnered with National Sporting Organisations to deliver programs for deaf or hard of hearing students and students with intellectual disability or autism in special education environments. A full list of participating sports is available on the website.
• Previous programs
  • Aussie Sports program – launched in 1986, the program included resources for primary school teachers to assist them in delivering physical education and sport programs for children with disability.
  • Willing and Able – launched in 1995 the program was designed to provide training for sport providers and included a comprehensive set of resource materials.
• NSOD recognition criteria. In 2024 the ASC finalised a new set of criteria for the recognition of National Sporting Organisations for people with Disabilities (NSODs). These criteria were developed to better suit the unique purpose and structure of NSODs within the sporting landscape and marked a departure from the previous process in which NSODs were assessed against the same criteria as NSOs.

Grants and funding

• Local Para Champions – provides financial assistance for coaches, officials, and competitors with disability aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships.
• Compensation Grant program – provides financial support to Paralympians whose Disability Support Pension (DSP) payments have been affected due to travelling outside Australia for training and/or competitions exceeding the general travel allowance of 28 days in a financial year.
• dAIS Athlete Grant – provides athletes with direct financial support to enable them to focus on training and competitions to achieve the strategy targets in Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports. Athletes must be nominated by their NSO.

Blind Sports Australia (BSA), opens in a new tab, formerly the ‘Australian Blind Sports Federation’, was formed in 1980. It is the recognised national governing body for blind and vision-impaired sport in Australia and the international representative to the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). BSA helps create pathways and opportunities for blind or vision impaired sports participation from grassroots community level to elite competition at national and international level.

• Blind and vision impaired sports include, opens in a new tab AFL Blind; Archery; Athletics; Blind bowls (lawn); Blind cricket; Blind football (soccer); Blind golf; Vision impaired table tennis (Swish); Tenpin bowling; Cycling; Goalball; Horse riding/equestrian; Judo; Blind and low vision Tennis; Rowing; Running (Achilles); Sailing; Shooting; Winter sports; Swimming; Triathlon; Basketball.

Resources

• Community Sport Guide, opens in a new tab, (2023). Designed to help clubs, coaches, schools, and volunteers welcome and involve people who are blind or have a vision impairment to join and play sport.
• ABF4ALL Handbook, opens in a new tab, (2023). The purpose of the ABF4ALL handbook is to empower aspiring blind football coaches, allowing them to gain a greater understanding of blind football. It will give them the skills to be able to deliver a positive coaching experience to all players, regardless of their ability, age or gender.
• Blind Cricket Beginners Guide to Coaching, opens in a new tab, (2024). An invaluable resource for people wanting to coach blind cricket or incorporate into school activities or at club level.
• Active Play Toolkit for BLV Kids, opens in a new tab, (2024). A toolkit of activity cards specially designed to assist educators and coaches working with children and young people to conduct a range of activities and games to help create equal access to sport. Available as a free resource online to download as a PDF or as and accessible word version.

Deaf Sports Australia, opens in a new tab. Established in 1954 as the ‘Australian Deaf Sports Federation.’ Deaf Sport Australia is the national peak body responsible for supporting our membership, including 16 national and 6 state/territory deaf sport organisations. Deaf Sport Australia also provides advocacy, advice, services, support, and networking with sporting bodies at all levels, governments, businesses, community organisations, sporting bodies and the deaf and hard of hearing communities.

Deaf Sport Australia organise the Australian Deaf Games. Started in 1964, the event includes 14-17 sports each edition.

Programs

• High Performance opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing athletes include participating in national and international sport competitions such as the national deaf championships, Deaflympics, Asian Pacific Deaf Games, and World Championships.
• Active Deaf Programs., opens in a new tab An initiative that includes supporting participation of young deaf and hard of hearing children in sport and supporting sport clubs with deafness awareness training and to be more inclusive.
• Sporting Schools - Deaf Sports Australia has partnered with National Sporting Organisations to deliver the Active Deaf Kids program for deaf or hard of hearing students as part of Sporting Schools. Sports include: Athletics; Basketball; Bowls; Cricket; Golf; Table Tennis; Tennis; and Touch Football.

Disability Sports Australia, opens in a new tab (DSA). Changed its name from Australian Athletes with a Disability in 2013. It is Australia’s peak national body representing athletes with a physical disability. DSA performs the role of national coordinating body, providing a single point of contact between partner organisations (National Sports Organisations, Australian Sports Commission, and Paralympics Australia) and State and Territory members (Wheelchair Sports NSW, Wheelchair Sports Victoria, Sporting Wheelies Queensland and Disabled Association).

Programs

• The Accessibility Champion Course, opens in a new tab. Identifies, upskills and supports Accessibility Champions to help grassroots sporting clubs and leisure providers start the accessibility journey.
• DSA Sports Incubator, opens in a new tab. Developed to support and provide expertise to national sport and recreation organisations and program providers to initiate, develop, and grow new sport and active recreation opportunities for people with disability. The Incubator brings together advice and expertise of key stakeholders in both the sport and disability sectors, while helping to promote initiatives and activities for growing sports.

Disabled WinterSport Australia (DWA), opens in a new tab. Established in 1979 as the ‘Australian Disabled Skiers Federation’. DWA is responsible for the development of disability winter sport in Australia. Through building the capability and capacity of a National Sport System, including accountability at the national level, we provide members with technically sound sports programs, policies, and service.

DWA's website provides information on various programs and services that they provide, as well as additional information on volunteering with the organisation, especially as an adaptive snowsport guide.

Invictus Australia, opens in a new tab is owned and operated by Australian International Military Games, the not-for-profit responsible for organising the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and licensed from the international Invictus Games Foundation. They carry on the legacy of the Games in local communities helping veterans and their families benefit from involvement with sporting communities, particularly ‘at risk’ veterans. As well as promoting the physical, social, and emotional benefits of sport, Invictus Australia highlight the unique needs of younger veterans and the challenges they face as they transition from military to civilian life.

You can find out more about the role of sport in veteran's lives in the Australian Veterans and Sport topic.

Programs

• Sporting Opportunities, opens in a new tab – Invictus Australia partner with major and national sporting organisations to deliver opportunities for veterans and their families across sport at a local level. We also work together on programs, initiatives and offers to encourage the Australian Defence community to become involved – and stay involved – with sport.
  • Current sports include archery; biathlon; bowls; cycling; esports; indoor rowing; rugby league; rugby union; running and walking; sailing; surfing; wheelchair sports; yoga; water polo; surf life saving, pickleball; dragon boating; table tennis; and adventure activities.
• Adaptive Sport Program, opens in a new tab – working with the Australian Defence Force to deliver the national Program for veterans who are wounded, injured or ill – including supporting the Australian Invictus Games and Warrior Games teams. Invictus Australia is responsible for the former serving contingent.

Resources

• Case studies, opens in a new tab - be inspired by stories of the unconquered human spirit.

Paralympics Australia, opens in a new tab was originally established in 1990 as the Australian Paralympic Federation to coordinate the Australian Paralympic Team. However, with the awarding of the 2000 Paralympic Games to Sydney the organisation accepted the role of preparing Paralympic athletes across all sports and changed their name to the Australian Paralympic Committee in 1998. In 2000 the APC managed the programs of all 18 sports in which Australia competed. In 2019 the organisation re-branded as Paralympics Australia. PA also works with our National Federation partners to help identify potential Paralympians and assist athletes to prepare for competition by providing funding for coaching, equipment and travel in the lead up to the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.

PA plays a lead role in assisting the Oceania Paralympic Committee, made up of member nations: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia. Since 2000, the Australian Government has provided PA with financial assistance to service its Paralympic commitments in the Oceania region.

PA helps sporting organisations and individuals with a disability through programs, resources, and services.

Resources

• A Universal Design Guide for creating Inclusive Sport in Australia, opens in a new tab, Paralympics Australia, (2024). This Guide can act as a valuable reference for sports representative bodies adopting inclusive practices, as well as sports clubs and venues that want to get started on the journey. It addresses structural, process and attitudinal barriers to inclusivity and universal design and comprises: A ‘living document’, through user testing, the guide will be refined and updated as PA builds its presence and activity to make Australian sport accessible and inclusive.
• Classification Fundamentals online course, opens in a new tab. Launched in 2022 in partnership with Sport Integrity Australia. Key topics include who can compete in Para-sport, how classification works, and the reasons why fairness and safety in classification is paramount. [requires account to access further information and complete the course]
• Indigenous PWD and Sport, opens in a new tab. This web-section provides information and resources to help reduce/prevent chronic disease and promote health and physical activity awareness and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people with disability.
• Australian Paralympic History Project, opens in a new tab. Aims to capture, manage, and preserve the history of the Paralympic movement in Australia in a way that is relevant, accessible, and places the Paralympic movement within its broader social context.
• Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab. Established in 2011 to recognise the achievements of individuals who have made a significant contribution to Australian success at the Paralympic Games; enhanced the profile and understanding of Paralympic sport and Paralympic athletes in Australia; and promote the role of the Paralympic movement in the development of Australian sport and society.

Programs

• Classification, opens in a new tab. PA is responsible for implementing the International Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Classification Code, which details the relevant policies and procedures common across Paralympic sports. They work with National Sporting Organisation partners to create opportunities for athletes to access accurate and quality classification at the relevant point in their sporting pathway.
• Get Involved in Para-sports, opens in a new tab. Participants can register to attend para-sport 'Come and Try Days' or register to get classified.
• Australian Paralympic Education Program, opens in a new tab provides free curriculum-linked resources for Australian school students along with ideas to support the Australian Paralympic Team. Includes resources for teachers, students and the 'Paralympians in schools' program.
• Paralympic Speakers Program, opens in a new tab. Paralympic athletes have powerful stories about how resilience, teamwork, and commitment can overcome adversity. This program allows Paralympic athletes to share their story and inspire others.
• Paralympic Workplace Diversity Program, opens in a new tab. Designed to help place past and present para-athletes into employment. Paralympic Employment Providers offer flexible work environments and meaningful career opportunities specific to the skills, experience and career goals of each participant.
• Building Employer Confidence program, opens in a new tab. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and in collaboration with industry leaders, aims to encourage understanding and appreciation of athletes with disabilities in work environments. A comprehensive suite of valuable tools and resources has been developed to help employers build inclusive workplaces and to assist Para-athletes in finding meaningful employment.
• Para-sport Equipment Enhancement Program, opens in a new tab. The Para sport Equipment Enhancement Program (PEEP) provides targeted support to address the specific gap of equipment within the Para sport pathway, enabling more athletes to enter and progress within the Para sport pathway, including those competing within high-performance.

Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia, opens in a new tab. Formed in 1979 originally by agreement among five state riding associations, RDA Australia is a voluntary, nonprofit organisation. RDA Australia supports State and Associate Members to enable people living with disabilities or additional support needs to experience enjoyment, challenge, and a sense of achievement through equestrian activities.

• RDA Centres offer Come and Try sessions so individuals can see if programs will meet their goals and expectations.
• RDA coaches are qualified through the RDA National Coach Training Program. They have skills in horse management, safety, medical conditions, first aid, teaching and selection, and training of horses.

Short Statured Sport Australia, opens in a new tab (SSSA) is the official Sports Branch of the Short Statured People of Australia (SSPA). Short-statured people can participate and play in a number of sports taking into account the following factors:

• the type and nature of their condition
• their degree of mobility and flexibility
• their general fitness and lifestyle.

The SSSA will continue to promote and share the success of the Australian World Dwarf Games Team. Beyond the World Dwarf Games, the SSSA aims to enhance and grow the already successful sporting program within the SSPA.

Special Olympics Australia, opens in a new tab is part of a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education, and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Volunteers create accessible sports training, coaching, and competition opportunities which are offered in local communities throughout Australia.

Programs

• The Affiliate Program, opens in a new tab has been developed to support and acknowledge programs that strive to offer an inclusive environment for athletes with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. The program aims to build strong, long-term relationships between Special Olympics Australia and the sporting community by offering regular participation, competition pathways, training and skill-development for both athletes and coaches.
• The Inclusive Sport in Schools program, opens in a new tab improves the health and wellbeing outcomes of students with an intellectual disability and autism through the delivery of inclusive sport and physical activity in a school setting. The program increases the skills of teachers, coaches, and volunteers to provide better programs for students, underpinned by the principles of physical literacy, creating meaningful experiences that demystify intellectual disability and promote lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.
• Playing for All, opens in a new tab is a games-based program for youth (8-17) and adults (18+) with and without disability. It helps them get active, make friends and have fun while learning important life skills.
• Unified Sports, opens in a new tab promotes social inclusion by bringing people with and without intellectual disability together to play sport – because training and playing together is a quick path to understanding and acceptance.
• Sporting Schools. Special Olympics Australia has partnered with national sporting organisations (NSOs) to deliver inclusive Sport Partner programs through Sporting Schools, creating meaningful experiences that promote lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. These Sport Partner programs are suitably adapted from mainstream Sporting Schools products for delivery to students with intellectual disability or autism and in special education environments.
  • Sports include Australian football (NSW only); athletics; cricket; football; golf; gymnastics; rugby league; table tennis; tennis; and tenpin bowling.
• Young Athletes, opens in a new tab is an early childhood play program for children with and without intellectual disabilities, ages 2 to 8 years old.

Resources

• The Inclusive Sport Academy, opens in a new tab online learning platform helps individuals to build their skills and abilities to deliver sporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities or autism. The platform provides a tailored, user-friendly learning experience for people with intellectual disabilities, teachers, coaches, tertiary students, and allied health professionals.

Sport Inclusion Australia, opens in a new tab. Established in 1986 as AUSRAPID, Sport Inclusion Australia is a national sporting organisation (NSO) dedicated to the inclusion of people with an intellectual disability into the mainstream community, using sport as the medium. Sport Inclusion Australia works within the Australian sporting sector to assist sporting organisations and clubs with strategies that focus on ability and are based on social inclusion principles.

• Information on Sport Eligibility for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment, opens in a new tab.
• Inclusion Organisations, opens in a new tab – Sport Inclusion Australia works with NSOs to address inclusive outcomes for the benefit of all athletes. NSOs who have developed 'Goals for Inclusion' and become official members include Badminton Australia; Bowls Australia; Cricket Australia; Golf Australia; Gymnastics Australia; Motorsport Australia; Swimming Australia; Softball Australia; Table Tennis Australia; Tennis Australia; and Tenpin Bowling Australia.

Transplant Australia, opens in a new tab is a charity that supports transplant recipients and their families, people on the waiting list, donor families, living donors, healthcare professionals, and all those touched by organ and tissue donation. They lead programs which encourage physical activity to increase survival rates in transplant recipients.

• Transplant sports, opens in a new tab. As the governor of transplant sports in Australia and a partner of the Australian Sports Commission Transplant Australia's role is to provide transplant recipients with fun and accessible sporting options.
  • Transplant Australia has partnered with Swimming Australia and Athletics Australia to recognise transplant recipients under the multi-class sports program, opens in a new tab. This means that transplant recipients can now compete at a high or elite level of sport in consideration of their transplant.
  • Transplant Australia Football Club, opens in a new tab. Since 2015 we have organised the club to play against other football (soccer) clubs across Australia.

Programs

• Fit for Life!, opens in a new tab An award-winning initiative to get more transplant recipients more active, more often. Fit for Life! was introduced by the World Transplant Games Federation in 2016 with a long-term goal of improving health outcomes for transplant recipients through moderate, regular physical activity. The program was developed because studies show that exercise and physical activity is linked to longer survival rates in transplant recipients.
• The Australian Transplant Games, opens in a new tab are held every two years. The Games provide living proof of the success of transplantation and encourage all Australians to discuss organ and tissue donation with their families. The Games cover a multitude of sports and recreational activities, giving individuals the opportunity to try sports they have not participated in before. The spirit of the Australian Transplant Games is to encourage individuals to be involved in a sporting competition, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many competitors previously may not have been able to engage in any sort of sporting activity due to their illness. The quality and determination of competitors has led to many participants being selected to represent Australia at the World Transplant Games.

The Inclusion Club

The Inclusion Club, opens in a new tab is a non-profit health promotion charity established 2010 in Australia and the UK committed to the inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of sport and active recreation. They publish articles, podcasts, and other resources to educate and inform people about the different aspects of inclusion. All Inclusion Club articles and materials can be reproduced or distributed for free under a CCBY license.

Dylan Alcott Foundation

Dylan Alcott Foundation, opens in a new tab. A charitable organization to help enrich the lives of young people with disabilities by eliminating the barriers of entry to getting involved in sport and study through mentoring, grants, and scholarships.

Sport Access Foundation

Sport Access Foundation, opens in a new tab. Raises money which is distributed in the form of grants to children with disability, so they can participate in sporting activities.

Sport4All

Sport4All, opens in a new tab. Giving community sport clubs and schools the support and skills to include people with disability when, where, and how they choose.

Sports Medicine Australia

Considerations for Athletes with a Disability, opens in a new tab. This workshop focuses on a range of considerations that should be made when working with athletes with a disability, both universal and specific for those with a physical, intellectual, or sensory disability.

AllPlay

AllPlay, opens in a new tab – an initiative of the Deakin University Child Study Centre – is a place where parents, teachers, coaches, carers, and health professionals can access strengths and evidence-based resources and information to support children who experience developmental challenges or disabilities to fully participate at school and in the community where they play, move, get active, and be creative.

• AllPlay Move: Footy for Parents/Carers, opens in a new tab. Find out about what parents and carers can do to encourage children of all abilities to participate in NAB AFL Auskick.
• All Play Move: Footy for Coaches and Clubs, opens in a new tab. These resources will help you learn how to be an inclusive coach so that all children and young people can play, regardless of ability. You can find tips and strategies on how to modify your program and approach to coaching to fit the children and young people you work with. There are many simple changes that coaches can make to enable inclusion which will greatly improve the experience for all children, their families and the whole community.

The Disability Resource

The Disability Resource, opens in a new tab is a La Trobe University resource website designed for volunteers and staff who are involved in facilitating sport and active recreation experiences to gain an understanding of working for people with disabilities. The website can also be used for training programs and as an ongoing resource and reference guide for volunteers and staff. The website is divided into a number of sections:

1. An overview of the programing options and philosophies that drive the delivery of sport and active recreation programs for people with disabilities in Victoria.
2. Explains the skills required to work and volunteer in this field and the various responsibilities leaders will experience in providing sport and active recreation programs for people with disabilities.
3. A summary of the major disabilities that leaders may encounter when working or volunteering in this area. For each disability there is a brief explanation of the causes and issues associated with having the disability and some information on programing constraints and other issues.
4. Covers generic volunteer and staff management issues related to sport and active recreation programs.
5. Provides a list of activities and resources available to volunteers to use.
6. Outlines volunteer management for staff followed by further information sources and reference information.

Be Prepared! Sport and Active Recreation Programs for People with a Disability, opens in a new tab, Kappelides P, La Trobe University, (2014). This resource kit has been written for volunteers and staff who provide sport and active recreation programs for people with disabilities. It was developed with the support of Sport and Recreation Victoria.