Month: September 2025

National Week of Deaf People – Beyond the Game: Young Deaf Athletes of Australia

Deaf Sports Australia has launched “Beyond the Game: Young Deaf Athletes of Australia”, a new video series for the 2025 National Week of Deaf People.

The series features nine young deaf and hard of hearing Australians sharing their journeys in sport and life:

Sienna Compton – multi-award-winning swimmer and gymnast (NSW) with big ambitions
Ethan Powell – basketballer (WA) passionate about creating more opportunities for Deaf people
Calvin Black – lifelong basketballer (VIC) with bold personality and love for the game
Phoenix Courtney – hip hop dancer (QLD) who values independence and accessibility
Jem Blackmore – adventurous rock climber (QLD) who thrives on challenge
Rebekah Fraser – driven swimmer (WA) with an impressive record and go-getter attitude
Rayan Taya – netballer (VIC) encouraging Deaf kids to pursue their passions
Oliad Omar – table tennis enthusiast (VIC) who has played sport from an early age
Chrispine Wilondja – determined footballer (QLD) who believes in hard work and tenacity

The series celebrates diversity in sport, highlights resilience and a “can do” spirit, and shares stories to inspire Deaf and hard of hearing young people, their families, schools, and the wider community.

Breaking Barriers: Eli Frew’s Journey in Weightlifting

A person sits on a bench in front of a wall with large, bold orange and white text that says "WEIGHTLIFTING" and "Established 1987-". The person is wearing a black shirt with "Noosa Barbell Club" on it and has a jacket draped over their shoulders. They are holding an orange water bottle and gesturing with one hand. On the left and right sides of the image are the Queensland Weightlifting Association and ASAPD logos.

At 22, Eli Frew demonstrates how passion, persistence, and a supportive community can open doors in sport. As a dedicated Sunshine Coast weightlifter, Eli builds his life around training, coaching, and relying on those who believe in him.

“My name is Eli Frew, I’m 22 years old, and outside of weightlifting I enjoy watching the NRL. My favourite team is the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and my all-time favourite player is Latrell Mitchell,” Eli shares. “I work as an assistant CrossFit coach at CrossFit 4566 under head coach Woogie Marsh, and I also do cleaning services in the community.

“My biggest supporters are my family, my Noosa Barbell Club community, and my best mates Zac and Taj. They’ve been with me since I first started training and have always believed in me, even when others doubted what I could do.”

Living with Down syndrome, Eli faces extra challenges in his sporting journey. “I have Down syndrome, which means I was born with an extra chromosome. This affects how I learn and communicate. Sometimes it takes me longer to pick up new skills or remember instructions, and it can be harder for me to explain myself. In weightlifting, this can be challenging because the sport requires learning complex movements and technical detail.

“But with patient coaching, repetition, and the support of my friends, I’ve been able to learn these movements and continue to improve. I want people to know that Down syndrome doesn’t stop me from being an athlete.”

Eli notes that the real challenge is not his disability, but assumptions from others. “The biggest barrier is not my disability—it’s when people don’t give me a chance. Sometimes clubs or organisations doubt whether I can meet the standard or think it will be too hard to include me. Other times, there isn’t enough information about how athletes with disabilities can participate or compete.

“When communities don’t open their doors, it can feel like sport isn’t for people like me. What makes the difference is when people focus on inclusion, patience, and support that’s when I can thrive.”

As for goals, Eli is aiming high in weightlifting. “My dream is to one day compete overseas, especially in an adaptive weightlifting competition in the USA. In Australia, I want to step onto the national stage and represent myself and my club.”

Eli credits Noosa Barbell Club and the Queensland Weightlifting Association for their support. “Noosa Barbell Club feels like a family. I can train with my mates, get coaching that works for me, and feel supported no matter what. Everyone has my back.

“QWA has also helped by making competitions more flexible. I still remember my first competition at Sunshine Coast Weightlifting Club head coach Barry Harden allowed me to compete on a 15 kg bar. That small adjustment opened the door for me. “Now, Noosa Barbell runs its own club competitions where I can lift alongside able-bodied athletes. If I want more of a challenge, I can be placed in either the men’s or women’s session, depending on the numbers, so I can still enjoy that competition feeling. These kinds of adaptations show that small changes make a big difference in accessibility.”

Eli encourages sports clubs to open their doors and people with disabilities to give sport a go. “Accept people with disabilities with open arms. You never know how much of an impact it might make on their life. A small change in attitude or environment can give someone the chance to discover their passion. “Have a go. Put yourself out there. I know it’s not easy, but you never know what might happen until you try. My journey in weightlifting has taken 14 years of training, learning, and support it didn’t happen overnight.”

“Sport may not always have a clear pathway for people with disabilities, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for you. With patience and persistence, you can create your own pathway.”

Media Release Announcing Deaf Sports Australia Patron

Deaf Sports Australia has appointed Cindy-Lu Bailey as Patron, recognising her outstanding community service and respected leadership in sport, particularly deaf sport. As Patron, Cindy-Lu will provide guidance to the Board, represent the organisation at key events, and serve as an ambassador.

Cindy-Lu’s sporting career includes appearances at the Commonwealth Games, Pan Pacific Games, and six Deaflympics over two decades, along with significant roles in mentoring and developing deaf sport nationally. She succeeds Kevan Gosper AM, who was a longstanding ambassador.

“Our Australian Deaf Sport Community welcome Cindy-Lu to her new and exciting role as Patron for Deaf Sports Australia. We know she will be a wonderful role model for all and we look forward to working with her to help grow our deaf sports profile nationally and internationally,” says Hannah Britton (DSA President).

You can see the interview with Cindy-Lu in Auslan via – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPRxL3n22so.

Bigger, Better Equipment Program Is Opening Doors To Para-Sport

The Para Sport Equipment Enhancement Program (PEEP) has awarded over $1.6 million in equipment grants this year, helping Para-athletes and sport programs overcome barriers identified in recent research. PEEP now offers monthly funding rounds, encouraging athletes, clubs, and community programs to apply for support.

Recipients from Round 1 include athletes and initiatives like PlayOn, which received competition-quality wheelchairs to boost women’s participation in basketball. Funding also supported equipment for Para-archery, canoes, prostheses, and more, with additional bulk wheelchair orders on the way for sport institutes.

Matheson said, “Critical to a person’s experience of Para-sport is getting the right equipment… Because of this grant we can expand our program and have more women and girls getting involved in wheelchair basketball.”

PEEP streamlines applications and targets those facing equipment barriers, aiming to remove obstacles and support athlete progression. Liam Wood said, “the aim is to remove equipment as a barrier to participation,” and to ensure equipment doesn’t hinder advancement.

Disability Inclusion Resource Guide – Making Cricket a Sport for All

Image shows a pile of flyers in the centre with an image on people playing cricket. There is wording that states 'Help us grow cricket as a sport for all'. At the bottom there is Cricket Australia, Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability and Sport Inclusion Australia Logos.

Cricket Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability, Sport Inclusion Australia, and the cricket community, has launched a Disability Inclusion Resource Guide to help clubs and associations create safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for all cricketers.

Access the guide here.

The guide offers practical strategies grounded in best practice and shaped by insights from partners across the sport. It supports Cricket Australia’s vision of making cricket a game for all, whether as a player, volunteer, coach, official, or supporter.

Topics covered include:

Flexible participation models
Training and match modifications
Inclusive communication strategies
Non-playing roles and community pathways
Building environments where people with disability feel a sense of belonging

Cricket Australia’s National Inclusion Ambassador, Nathan Lyon, introduced the resource, encouraging community clubs to use the guide to become welcoming and safe environments for everyone.

Help spread the word by accessing the Stakeholder Kit.

Paralympics Australia Unveils Next Phase of Strategic Plan: UPLIFT

Image shows 6 athletes all standing with their hands in the air. They are all wearing green and gold paralympic uniforms.

Paralympics Australia has unveiled Uplift, the second phase of its Strategic Plan, focused on building momentum towards Brisbane 2032. Following Imagine in 2023, the new horizon sharpens priorities to eight, with 17 key initiatives targeting stronger government investment, system growth, and athlete pathways.

President Grant Mizens said Uplift ensures Australia is ready to lead “not just on the medal tally, but as a nation that champions inclusion and equality through Para-sport.”

Centred on four pillars – Our Team, Our Ecosystem, Our Story, Our Future – the plan outlines goals like increasing Australia’s elite Para-athlete pool to 800 by 2028, delivering success at upcoming Games, and leaving a legacy of accessibility and inclusion at Brisbane 2032.

Alice Springs Mini Paralympics encourages athletes ahead of 2032 Games

Image shows Quade Stone sitting in a wheelchair in an empty gymnasium. He is holding a basketball in one hand is making an expressive, happy face.

A special Mini Paralympics event in Alice Springs brought together young athletes to try out sports like athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, and badminton as part of a national push to find and develop para sport talent ahead of Brisbane 2032. Fourteen-year-old Quade Stone, who has cerebral palsy, said playing wheelchair basketball with others showed him “you’re not alone,” and dreamed of representing Australia at the Games.

The day connected regional athletes to coaching, equipment, and development pathways, as part of the federally funded Para System Uplift program to boost awareness and participation in para sports. Organisers and participants spoke of the joy and community sport can bring.

‘This is our thing’: The blind athletes finding pride in a sport all their own

Image shows two goal ball players in action. They are both wearing Australian jerseys with black pants. They have eye masks on, and they are stopping a blue ball from going in the goal.

Jess Clark grew up in mainstream sports like gymnastics and swimming, but with low vision she often felt out of place. Discovering goalball, a Paralympic sport played exclusively by people with vision impairment, gave her a sense of belonging. Unlike most adapted disability sports, goalball was designed specifically for blind and low vision athletes and has no non-disabled equivalent, something players like Clark and teammate Zara Perry see as empowering.

The sport is fast, strategic, and played blindfolded, creating a level playing field regardless of degree of vision loss. For Perry, who has partial sight, the shift from straining to use her vision to relying on other senses was a “relief” that made the game feel more inclusive than other blind sports.

Australia’s national women’s team, the Aussie Belles, is rebuilding after missing the last Paralympics, aiming for LA 2028 but with an eye toward Brisbane 2032. The men’s team, the Aussie Storm, is also rising in the rankings after decades of struggle. With fresh talent, increased funding, and growing grassroots participation, both teams see cause for optimism about the future of goalball in Australia.

Australian Boccia Back On Top Of The Podium

Image shows Boccia stars Dan Michel and Jamieson Leeson, and their respective ramp assistants Ash Maddern and Jasmin Haydon in front of a grey and white sign. They are all holding up gold meals and all wearing yellow jackets.

Australian boccia stars Dan Michel and Jamieson Leeson, alongside ramp assistants Ash Maddern and Jasmin Haydon, have sent a strong message to rivals ahead of next year’s World Championships with a dominant pairs victory at the Seoul 2025 World Boccia Cup.

The Australians claimed their first major title in over two years, defeating Poland 8-0 in the final after edging Greece 4-3 in the semi-final. Michel, a two-time Paralympic medallist, described the gold as “really rewarding” after a strong campaign in both pairs and individual events. Leeson, last year’s Paralympic silver medallist, said their preparation and composure were key to the win.

The tournament proved a standout for the Australians, with Michel and Maddern also earning silver in the BC3 male event, and Leeson and Haydon securing bronze in the BC3 female competition. Looking ahead, Michel said the result puts the team in an excellent position for the 2026 World Championships in Korea and qualification for the LA 2028 Paralympics.

Boccia Athletes Among Para Athlete Barrier Fund Recipients: Breaking Down Barriers in Australian Para-sport

The Para Athlete Barrier Fund, part of the Australian Government’s Para Uplift initiative, awards up to $4,000 to help Para athletes cover costs like equipment, travel, and support needs, directly addressing real challenges identified through extensive research. Boccia Australia is proud that athletes Dylan Schwarz, Ashlee Maddern, Jean-Paul La Fontaine, and Lachlan Kavanagh have received this support, enabling them to focus on training and performance.

The government has doubled its investment to $54.9 million, aiming to boost athlete development and success ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games by enhancing coaching, training, and classification systems. Minister for Sport Anika Wells emphasized the grants are crucial for 122 athletes to pursue their dreams in sport, ensuring they have the resources to reach their potential.