The Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD) has recently launched its One Voice Alliance program to the Australian sporting sector – a vehicle to furthering greater inclusion for all Australians, of all abilities, in all sports.
The One Voice Alliance program is dedicated to fostering meaningful collaboration between ASAPD and National Sports Organisations (NSOs), and has already secured the support and involvement from Tennis Australia, Surf Life Saving Australia, Skate Australia with others to be announced shortly.
The program’s objectives are two-fold:
- Drive cooperative initiatives aimed at enhancing inclusivity in sport for individuals living with a disability; and
- Empower NSOs to effectively administer inclusive programs at various levels.
An evolution of the Inclusion Alliance Project from 2017, One Voice Alliance marks a significant step towards supporting and educating NSOs about the importance of accommodating for individuals living with a disability and how to deliver upon this, by providing bespoke educational resources, workshops, training, and other activities.
ASAPD CEO Dr Phil Hamdorf, believes the initiative is unique within the sport sector and is buoyed by the positive response to date, saying “Our ultimate aim is to develop more effective engagement strategies that ensure sport programs become truly inclusive for individuals living with a disability.” he said.
“By strengthening the inclusive capacity of sport, the program not only empowers individuals but also supports the growth of their respective sport, it really is a win-win for all, and we look forward to welcoming more NSOs into the One Voice Alliance,” said Dr Hamdorf.
For more information or to become involved email Dr Hamdorf at ceo@asapd.org.