Category: Members News

CANTER CON to unite Australia’s equestrian coaching community in 2026

Group of six women from different sporting and disability organisations standing together and smiling in a meeting room, wearing branded uniforms and jackets, with a projector screen and office furniture in the background.

ASAPD member Riding for the Disabled Australia (RDA), in collaboration with Equestrian Australia (EA) and Pony Club Australia (PCA), is proud to announce CANTER CON. A new national conference designed specifically for equestrian coaches who want to connect, learn, and feel part of a broader coaching community.

Taking place at Melbourne Showgrounds on 25–26 July 2026, CANTER CON will bring coaches together for practical workshops, sector insights, and cross‑discipline collaboration across EA, PCA and RDA pathways.

CANTER stands for Coaching Advancement through Networking, Training, Education and Relationships, reflecting a shared vision of coaching the future together.

Read the full media release and register your interest via the original announcement on RDA’s website.

Launceston to host the 2026 Australian Transplant Games

A large group of people, including adults and children, stand together on a grassed area in front of a river and tree-covered hills at Cataract Gorge in Launceston. Many are wearing bright orange T-shirts featuring transplant and donation messaging, while branded event banners are visible behind them, suggesting a community launch or announcement related to the Australian Transplant Games.

For the first time in its 40-year history, the Australian Transplant Games will be held in Tasmania, with Launceston announced as the host city for the 18th Games from 26 September to 3 October 2026.

Announced by Transplant Australia at Launceston’s Cataract Gorge, the event will bring together transplant recipients, donor families and supporters from across Australia to celebrate the life-changing gift of organ and tissue donation.

The Games highlight the courage, strength and determination of the transplant community, while also honouring donors and their families for the incredible legacy they create. With Tasmania currently leading the nation in organ and tissue donation consent rates, Launceston will provide a meaningful and inspiring setting for this national celebration.

Special Olympics Australia launches next-generation inclusive coaching course

ASAPD member Special Olympics Australia has released an updated version of its flagship eLearning course, Coaching Inclusive Sports for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism.

Building on the success of the original 2018 course, which reached over 2,500 coaches nationwide, the new program introduces contemporary research, modern coaching practices, and richer learning experiences designed to strengthen inclusive sport across Australia.

Developed with Playbk Sports and delivered through the award-winning Inclusive Sport Academy, the course brings together Special Olympics athletes, expert coaches, and sector leaders to empower coaches with practical skills for creating inclusive sporting environments.

Boccia: the most inclusive sport in the world and a leader in integrity

A boccia athlete in a powerchair lines up a shot using a head pointer and ramp, while a support person in a NSW team shirt steadies the ramp and another athlete looks on in the background at an indoor boccia competition.

Boccia is one of the world’s most inclusive sports, created specifically for athletes with high support needs and offering a genuine pathway to belong, compete and excel. On International Day of People with Disability, Sport Integrity Australia highlights how Boccia Australia has a strong integrity culture, safeguarding practices and a deeply supportive community are making the sport safer and more accessible for some of Australia’s most vulnerable athletes.

From Paralympian Daniel Michel finding a sport “for people exactly like me”, to coaches, referees and volunteers who prioritise safety, education and respect, boccia shows what is possible when a sport is built for inclusion from the start. Events such as national championships and international tournaments on home soil are opening doors for more athletes to participate without the significant barriers of long-distance travel.

Robyn Smith OAM elected as first female President of Virtus

Robyn Smith OAM, CEO of Sport Inclusion Australia, has been elected President of Virtus, the global federation for athletes with intellectual impairment. She is the first woman to hold this position in Virtus’ 40-year history, following her previous term as Vice President. The election took place at the 2025 Virtus General Assembly in Cairo, where Smith outlined her vision to grow Virtus membership and strengthen inclusion worldwide.

Smith’s leadership is a proud milestone for Australia and the Oceania region, reflecting decades of commitment to inclusive sport and international partnership. Her presidency comes at a crucial time leading up to Brisbane 2032, reinforcing Australia’s global role in sport diplomacy and opportunity for athletes with intellectual impairment.

Athletes Shine at the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships with Record Breaking Brilliance in Brisbane

A group of male athletes with race bibs from different countries, including Australia, France, Japan, Italy, and Spain, are running on a blue track during an international athletics event. The runners are captured mid-stride, with focus and intensity as they compete. In the background, officials are watching and the grassy area of the track venue is visible. The image is captioned with "Sport Inclusion Australia."

Over four unforgettable days in Brisbane, elite athletes with an intellectual impairment broke 27 Virtus World Records at the 2025 Virtus World Athletics Championships.

Italy led the medal tally with 41 medals and eight world records, followed by Australia (46 medals, six world records) and Poland (17 medals).

Record-breaking moments included Italy’s men’s 4x100m relay teams, Great Britain’s Saide Graham-Mulvaney, Spain’s Pineda Mejia, Japan’s Kai Kameyama, and Australia’s rising star Siarne Davis, who smashed three world records in her international debut.

More than 300 athletes from 30 nations showcased precision, power and world-class performance, with the Championships delivered by Sport Inclusion Australia and Queensland Athletics.

Full results: https://qldathletics.anet.live/meets/56068
More info: https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/2025-virtus-world-athletics-championships/

Ballarat to host 2025 Special Olympics Victoria State Games

The City of Ballarat will host the 2025 Special Olympics Victoria State Games from 3–5 October, welcoming over 500 athletes with intellectual disability and autism for a weekend of competition and celebration. Events will open with a ceremony at Selkirk Stadium on Saturday, showcasing sports across Ballarat’s key venues and fostering inclusion, resilience, and community spirit.

These Games offer athletes vital opportunities, leading up to the 2026 National Games in Melbourne, and are set to deliver benefits for local businesses, clubs, and the broader community.

Competitions:

Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Football (Soccer), Golf, Gymnastics, Netball, Swimming, and Tennis across Ballarat venues.

Special Olympics Australia launches practical new online course with support of My Plan Manager

Special Olympics Australia, in partnership with Playbk Sports and supported by My Plan Manager, has launched a free online course to help coaches, parents, and volunteers better understand the NDIS and support people with intellectual disability and autism through sport.

The 30-minute course, available via the Inclusive Sports Academy, offers practical coaching strategies, examples of funded supports, and real stories to show how sport can build skills, confidence, and independence for NDIS participants. Developed collaboratively with support from the Australian Sports Commission, this initiative empowers communities to create inclusive sporting environments and make sport more meaningful and accessible for everyone.

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.

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.