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The Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD) has officially been registered as a legal entity, securing financial and strategic support from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).

ASAPD is made up of the participating Australian National Sporting Organisations for people with Disability (NSODs), who have come together to create ‘one voice’ to increase the accessibility of sport and physical activity for people with a disability, impairment, or limitation - which ultimately supports the people and communities they all represent.

The ASC will support ASAPD as they strive to create more opportunities for Australians with a disability to be involved in sport. This support will allow the ASAPD to invest in member services, employ staff, and deliver strategic objectives agreed by the Alliance.

Advising that the new agreement is a significant investment financially, as well as positive recognition of the achievements to date and confidence in the pathway forward, ASAPD Chair, John Croll explained “through the support of the ASC and all our members, the ASAPD has built a skilled coalition to raise awareness and deliver improved resources to our sporting sector.

“The ASAPD is now in a strong position to build momentum and deliver real outcomes for Australians with a disability, and we will continue to be focussed on creating opportunities for people to be active and included in disability sport.”

ASAPD also counts global disability advocate, Robyn Smith, OAM, and Independent Member on the Governing Board of the International Paralympic Committee as a board member, along with skilled Directors nominated by the member organisations some of whom have lived experience.

Welcoming the development, Smith commented “for the first time in my 30 years working in the sector, the members have all collaboratively come together to form the ASAPD and shine a light on the power of sport to enhance the lives of those living with a disability. Working together and speaking as one has undoubtedly raised the profile of sport in our sector.”

With a vision for ‘all Australians have an opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity in a welcoming and inclusive environment’ ASAPD aims to better serve the disability sport sector believing that all Australians should have an opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity in a welcoming and inclusive environment, and at all levels - from grassroots, right through to high performance.

ASAPD is backed by:

• Blind Sports Australia
• Deaf Sports Australia
• Disability Sports Australia
• Disabled Wintersport Australia
• Paralympics Australia
• Riding for the Disabled Australia
• Special Olympics Australia
• Sport Inclusion Australia
• Transplant Australia.

For more information go to www.asapd.org

Image: Disabled sport program at Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope. Credit: Volleyball NSW.

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