Wheelchair Sports Australia – A new era for Australian Wheelchair Sport

Today marks the launch of Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA), signaling a new chapter for disability sport in Australia.

For more than 60 years, State and Territory Wheelchair Sports organisations have drawn on their expertise to provide outstanding sporting opportunities for people with disabilities. Since the late 1950s and early 1960s, pioneering individuals—many of them tenacious, skilled, and dedicated—have played a crucial role in developing wheelchair sport across the country. Their efforts have supported everyone from newcomers just starting out to elite athletes achieving international success.

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, the future of wheelchair sport is shaped by partnerships. WSA aims to unite the skills and knowledge of wheelchair sports organisations with the complementary strengths of State and National sporting bodies that offer wheelchair sport formats.

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Snow Australia – Snow Australia launches inaugural adaptive festival for a new era of inclusive snow sports

Snow Australia continues to create new opportunities for inclusive snowsports with the launch of its first-ever Adaptive Festival, which was launched last weekend.

With the support of Disability Wintersport Australia (DWA), Paralympics Australia, and Snowy Hydro, the event celebrated adaptive skiing and snowboarding at Perisher Resort, with participants based at Sport and Recreation Jindabyne.

Bringing together people from all ability levels, from first-time skiers to Paralympians, the festival provided a rare opportunity to connect, learn, and push boundaries in a supportive and social environment.

Snow Australia Para Alpine Head Coach, Ali Bombardier, said: “The first Snow Australia Adaptive Festival was a huge success with participants coming from across New South Wale, Victoria, and even Queensland to take part. With perfect bluebird days on the slopes, the smiles were huge and the atmosphere electric.”

Across two days of on-snow activity, participants worked with Perisher instructors and Snow Australia High Performance athletes to build skills, gain confidence, and try something new. 

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Netball New South Wales – Brodie Taylor Becomes First Badged Wheelchair Netball Umpire in NSW

Eighteen-year-old Brodie Taylor from Albury-Wodonga has made history—becoming the first known badged wheelchair netball umpire in New South Wales, and possibly Australia, to receive his C Badge accreditation.

Brodie’s journey into umpiring is remarkable not just for the milestone it represents, but for the determination and collaboration that made it possible.

“I honestly wasn’t planning on getting badged this year,” Brodie said. “I was just umpiring at a local Schools Cup event when Amanda [McLachlan] came up to me and said, ‘Look, we’ve all been watching you—we’re very impressed. Would you consider going for your badge?’ I thought, why not? My mum’s badged, and this felt like a good achievement—something I never thought I’d do.”

Brodie lives with acute transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that caused a spinal cord injury when he was just seven months old. He has spent his life in and out of power wheelchairs and undergoing surgeries. Despite the challenges, netball became a constant—thanks to his mum.

“I was always around the courts with Mum on Saturdays. My sister was off dancing with Nan, my brother was with Dad at rugby, and I just sat with Mum. I started out doing stats as her team manager. I love my stats—that’s what got me hooked.”

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Equestrian Australia – Para Dressage Club Guide and Toolkit Grant Recipients

A grant has been awarded by Equestrian Australia and the EA Para Dressage Committee to test the Para Equestrian Club Guide and Toolkit across 16 clubs throughout Australia. The initiative is designed to support inclusive equestrian activities nationwide.

The following clubs have been selected to participate:

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Dressage Association

New South Wales

Central Western Dressage Group

Singleton Dressage Club

Star Club Equestrian Program

The Arcadia Para Dressage Club

Queensland

Caboolture Dressage Group

Dressage Queensland

Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Club

Park Ridge Active Riding Group

Toowoomba Dressage

South Australia

Southern Vales Dressage Club

Tasmania

Dressage Tasmania

Victoria

Elmore Equestrian Club

Western Australia

Bunbury Horse and Pony Club

Dardanup Horse and Pony Club

Orange Grove Adult Riders

This project will enable these clubs to trial the new guide and toolkit, with the goal of expanding accessible equestrian opportunities for all.

 

Read more here!