The inaugural Disability Sports Australia national conference takes place on Thursday 16 June 2022 as part of the Sunshine Coast Sports Symposium. To share more about the event, Disability Sports Australia CEO, Murry Elbourn shares the following article with Blue Badge Insurance readers:
Disability Sports Australia is a recognised National Sporting Organisation for people with a disability and is also a key partner of the Australian Sports Commission.
Our mission is to enable all Australians with a disability to be more active, more often.
To do this we have partnered with Sunshine Coast Council, University of Sunshine Coast and Sport Australia to hold a National Conference in mid June that shines a light on how we can improve where disability sport currently sits within its sector.
We would like to invite people from industry and community members to attend in person or online.
Disability Sports Australia conference program
With an impressive program strongly focused on building to the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games but also the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Disability Sports Australia has attracted strong sector leaders to keynote this first year event.
Keynote speakers
Mr Kieren Perkins OAM and Ms Robyn Smith OAM will drive discussion on how we move disability sport forward to Brisbane 2032 and beyond. Perkins recently began as CEO of the Australian Sports Commission and Ms Smith was recently appointed to the International Paralympic Committee.
Both have a rich understanding of the sector and Australian culture to move the needle on how progression can be attained. Watch this video interview with Ms Robyn Smith OAM:
Breakout sessions
Following the keynote speakers is an ambitious round of 6 breakout sessions:
- NDIS in sport and recreation
- Coaching adaption and upskilling
- National Referral Hub (NRH)
- Encouraging younger disability participation
- Health and wellbeing for Australians with a disability
- The role of local government associations through Disability Inclusion Action Plans
These six breakout sessions will feature experts in their field and will again shine a light on what is and isn’t working well in the disability space.
Strong participation is encouraged for the panels of these breakout sessions. We look forward to being the catalyst for a strong exchange of ideas.
Athletes at the Disability Sports Australia conference
To round off the conference, we will have an amazing athlete with lived experience panel led by the 9-time paralympic gold medallist Louise Sauvage OAM PLY. Here’s a video from ABC news that showcases her sporting journey:
Louise will be joined by current co-captain of the Australian winter paralympic team in Melissa Perrine PLY, co-captain of the Australian wheelchair rugby team in Chris Bond OAM PLY and gold medallist in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games for triathlon Ms Katie Kelly OAM PLY.
The inaugural Disability Sports Australia conference will be MCed by Stephanie Branz and we expect strong outcomes from each session to shape the discussion to 2032.
Visit DSA National Conference for ticketing and other information.
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