Support Disability Sports Australia

Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is a dedicated national organisation and charity committed to making sports more accessible and welcoming for people with disability.

Founded as the birthplace of wheelchair sports, DSA evolved over time, shaped by our state members, to become the peak body for physical disability sport in Australia.

Over the years, we served as the National Governing Body for various sports, including wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.

We also developed the sport of Wheelchair Aussie Rules, now known as Wheelchair AFL, in conjunction with Para-Quad Tasmania and the Australian Defence Force.

We are now disability agnostic, focusing on providing foundational knowledge and improving access to grassroots sports.

Our strategy prioritises ensuring our activities and business accurately reflect the needs and voice of people with disability.

In just the past year alone we have:

• Introduced 3338 people with disability to sport through our flagship Abilities Unleashed program.
• Delivered 51 Abilities Unleashed events across Australia reaching local, regional and remote communities.
• Delivered seven Bupa Try Para-sports events around Australia in a four-week period in partnership with Paralympics Australia to capitalise on the awareness generated by the 2024 Paralympic Games.
• Engaged 125 sports administrators across four forums on disability employment and volunteering in sport in partnership with Victoria University.
• We welcomed 101 sports clubs to our Building Inclusive Clubs program delivered in partnership with Victoria University. These clubs partnered with women with lived experiences of disability to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities.
• Had 1000 people complete our Accessibility Champion online training course and learn the importance of creating inclusive and welcoming club environments for everyone.
• Worked closely with Blacktown City Council on the development of a landmark Disability Sports Centre funded through the NSW Office for Sport
• Established a Disability Advisory Committee to ensure our programs and activities reflect the needs of people with disability.
• Operated a Business Unit in the NT ensuring that people with disability have access to sport through us building capability of organisations
• Worked closely with National Sport Organisations to improve their own capability to be disability inclusive.
• Activated as the Community Engagement partner of the inaugural AFL Open in partnership with the AFL.

Why We Need Your Support

Our current operations heavily rely on government and corporate funding, with less than 1% of our annual revenue coming from donations, fundraising, and philanthropy. To create a more sustainable future, we need your generous support.

Increasing the percentage of our revenue from community support allows us to expand our impact and continue delivering free, high-quality programs to our participants.

Your support will also empower us to enhance the sports sector's capability, making it more accessible and welcoming for everyone. We achieve this through consultation, active stakeholder engagement and by developing and distributing free resources to improve knowledge and understanding.

We recognise that our fundraising activities require strategic investment. With your generosity, we can enhance our capability to increase our impact and more effectively measure the societal change our organisation is funding and continue to serve those who need our help the most.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: to improve opportunities for people with disability to be involved in sport in the way they choose. 

Our Vision

Lives and communities changed through the power of sport. 

Our Purpose

To build the capability of sport to enable the meaningful participation of people with disability.

Our History

With a long, storied history as the birthplace of wheelchair sport in Australia, DSA ensures equal opportunity for people with disability to participate in sport.

We are committed to elevating the profile of disability sport and recognise the power of sport to transform lives and communities through social change.

Why Sport Matters

For people with disability, sports open the door to independence, self-esteem, motivation, and friendship.

Sport can be a powerful tool for social inclusion and personal development, and we strive to ensure everyone has the same opportunities to participate and excel.

Our Approach

Our programs for participants are kept free, as we firmly believe that every person has the right to access sport and recreation in a way that is meaningful to them.

Additionally, we provide foundational education resources for free to ensure that more people have access to inclusive, welcoming, and accessible environments.

Our focus is on ensuring there is clarity about the important role that sport plays in changing lives for people with disability and reducing duplication in the disability sport sector.

We have a particular emphasis on improving access to grassroot sport.

We believe everyone has the right to access sport and recreation in a meaningful way. By supporting DSA, you're helping us ensure that sport changes lives for people with disability.

Thank You

Your donation will directly support our mission to create a more accessible and inclusive sporting landscape for all.

Together, we can change lives through sport.