Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD) has unveiled national guidelines designed to ensure every Australian indoor sporting facility is accessible, safe, and welcoming for people with disability. Announced at the 2025 PLA National Conference, this milestone launch would not have been possible without the dedicated support of Otium Planning Group.
The purpose of the guidelines is to inform community sporting infrastructure locational accessibility, management and access arrangements, and facility design. The Guidelines are envisaged to support sporting organisations, planners, architects, builders, operators, government agencies, and educational institutions in enhancing sporting outcomes for people with disabilities.
ASAPD, in collaboration with its eight (8) member organisations (Blind Sports Australia, Boccia Australia, Deaf Sports Australia, Disabled Wintersport Australia, Riding for the Disabled Australia, Special Olympics Australia, Sport Inclusion Australia and Transplant Australia) identified critical gaps where Australians were not being fully considered in building design and planning processes. The alliance has outlined practical recommendations to address these gaps and enhance accessibility.
Developed in partnership with Otium Planning Group, the Disability Sports Community Facility Guidelines and Venue Specifications highlight universal design principles and practical solutions to reduce barriers for athletes, coaches, volunteers, and spectators with disability.
Key new standards include:
- Accessible entrances, step-free paths, wide passageways, clear signage, and universal parking for safer, easier navigation.
- Inclusive facilities: automatic doors, hearing loops, tactile and braille signs, colour-contrasted line markings, and visual-audio cues for blind, Deaf, or sensory-impaired athletes.
- Dedicated quiet rooms, flexible amenities, and integrated storage to support a diverse range of sports, including Boccia, wheelchair basketball, Goalball, blind football, and para-powerlifting.
- Venue management performance metrics, staff education, and peer consultation to ensure ongoing improvement and genuine community benefit.
ASAPD CEO, Dr Phil Hamdorf said, “While there is a genuine desire within the government and the sports sector to address the challenges mentioned, limited resources are available to guide public servants, sporting organisations and industry advisors. A comprehensive tool that integrates the needs of people with disability and associated organisations from early planning to delivering and managing community sporting infrastructure can significantly enhance outcomes. By adopting a realistic, sustainable and phased approach, we can ensure that people with disability enjoy the same opportunities and experiences as other members of the sporting community.”
The guidelines have been shaped through extensive consultation with people with lived experience of disability, sports groups, venue managers, and allied experts to make sport and fitness accessible to all Australians.
Access the guidelines here:
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