Category: Industry News

Softball Australia and Disability Sports Australia Partnership

Softball Australia and Disability Sports Australia (DSA) are pleased to announce a new partnership via DSA’s Sports Incubator Program.

This partnership represents a significant milestone in Softball Australia’s efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion throughout the sport. With support from DSA, Softball Australia will strengthen its workforce’s capability, promote inclusive participation opportunities, and create welcoming environments for people with disability both on and off the field.

Softball Australia will benefit from specialised support through the program, such as a workshop focused on disability inclusion, joint promotion of DSA’s Accessibility Champion course, and the chance to participate in inclusive sporting events nationwide through the Abilities Unleashed initiative.

Participants Needed for Deakin University Research

Deakin University is conducting an important research project to learn more about how people with intellectual disability manage obesity, and who or what helps them on this journey. Led by Associate Professor Joanne Watson and student researcher Samantha Lilly, this study aims to improve the supports and services available.

If you or someone you know would like to share their experience, Deakin University would warmly welcome your participation.

ASAPD are helping spread the word.

Find out more or consider getting involved today.

Inside Valleys District Cricket Club All Abilities Program

Everyone’s Welcome: Inside Valleys’ All Abilities Cricket Program

Valleys District Cricket Club is proving that sport truly can be for everyone. The club’s All Abilities Program is founded on a core belief that every person deserves the chance to be part of a team, to play, and to belong. The program was developed specifically to provide a welcoming and fun space for children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Whether a participant has never picked up a cricket bat or has tried other sports and not quite found their fit, Valleys meets them where they are.

The program has expanded to now offer two distinct streams to better cater for different needs and goals:

Foundation Program: Held at Ashgrove Sports Ground on Friday evenings during the cricket season, these sessions blend skill-building activities and modified games. The focus is on enjoyment, not competition. With small group support from a dedicated team of coaches and helpers, this program allows each player to progress at their own pace. This program welcomes participants aged 5 and up. Many participants are neurodiverse, and for many families, it’s the first time their child has felt truly part of a team. Siblings are encouraged to join as well.
Athlete Development Pathway: For teens and adults who are ready to take their cricket further, this pathway runs on Wednesday evenings and offers more structured social games and opportunities for competitive play. Participants may work towards selection for prestigious events like the Queensland Cricket Inclusion Championships or the Special Olympics pathway. Experienced coaches provide support with a focus on skill development and teamwork.

The All Abilities Program is about fostering belonging, friendship, and confidence. Every win, no matter the size, is celebrated. The atmosphere caters for each participant to feel valued for who they are, and encouraged to have fun and grow.

Joining the program is easy. Families can register their interest through the Valleys website (www.valleycricket.org.au/allabilities) or directly contact the club at allabilities@valleycricket.org.au.

Year 3 of the Sport Volunteer Coalition (SVC) Action Plan – Australian Sports Commission

Large, bold yellow letters “ASC” are centered on a dark blue background, creating a simple and high-contrast design.

The Australian Sports Commission has released a new report and video as part of the Sport Volunteer Coalition Action Plan. This important work highlights how we can create more inclusive, flexible, and rewarding volunteer experiences across the sport sector.

The Action Plan outlines key steps to support and strengthen volunteering now and into the future.

Explore the report and video HERE.

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.

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

Two people are skiing together on a snowy slope, holding an orange training bar between them. The person on the left wears a green race bib, blue and white ski pants, and a purple helmet, while the person on the right wears a black jacket, brown pants, and a blue helmet. Residential buildings and another skier are visible in the background under bright sunlight.

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.

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

Three people are pictured on an outdoor sports court, with one individual, Brodie Taylor, seated in a power wheelchair between two standing companions who are wearing polo shirts with sports-related logos. A fence, parked cars, and benches are visible in the background, suggesting a recreational or sports setting.

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.”

Equestrian Australia – Para Dressage Club Guide and Toolkit Grant Recipients

An equestrian dressed in formal riding attire and a helmet rides a brown horse in an outdoor arena. The scene features spectators in the background, and the horse is equipped with a white saddle pad displaying an Australian flag patch.

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