AusLeisure

Disability Sport & Recreation (DSR), the peak organisation for disability sport and recreation in Victoria, has partnered with etrainu - a leader in community education solutions - to launch a new online learning and development hub, aimed at fostering greater inclusion across sport and active recreation for people with disability.

DSR is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Victorians with disability through increased participation. This new initiative will expand access to quality training and development opportunities for individuals and organisations across the sector.

In 2024, the Victorian Government announced the recipients of its All Abilities Workforce and Sector Program 2024–27. DSR was one of just two organisations awarded funding from the $5 million program, alongside Leisure Networks - also a member of the etrainu community. The funding is dedicated to boosting sport participation, especially in regional and rural Victoria.

The funding was the catalyst that brought the vision of an online learning and development hub to life. With these resources, DSR will create and deliver quality, relevant training through Inspire Group's learning and development content creation expertise, empowering people with disabilities to explore participation opportunities. DSR will draw on etrainu's platform capabilities to shape the learning hub and provide impactful learning outcomes. The goal is to increase participation on and off the field.

The hub will be available for anyone in the disability sector, including people with disability themselves, carers, support workers/support persons, and managers or employers in sport, recreation, or disability organisations.

In the spirit of true inclusion, the hub's development was kicked off by inviting people with disabilities and managers from the sport and recreation sector to respond to a survey, empowering them to have their say and shape the future of training and learning opportunities in the sport and recreation sector. As the hub continues to develop, DSR will prioritise collaboration and co-design, drawing on insights from users to foster long-term sustainability and enhance participation.

Liz Tesone, Chief Executive of Disability Sport & Recreation noted “this partnership with etrainu marks an exciting step forward in breaking down barriers to inclusion in sport and recreation. By creating a tailored online learning and development hub, we’re not only providing accessible pathways for people with disability to engage but also empowering them with the skills and opportunities to lead, work, and thrive in the industry - while building a more equipped, inclusive and disability-confident workforce across the sector.”

etrainu’s deep presence in the disability space, paired with its NDIS-aligned training and robust LMS capabilities, made it a natural choice to power the hub.

Paul Hoon, Chief Executive of etrainu added “at etrainu, our foundation was built on a simple but powerful idea: how can we provide regional and remote parts of the country with access to world-class learning opportunities? That question continues to guide everything we do.

“We see this partnership as an opportunity to combine our experience and technology with a shared commitment to community impact. We’re proud to contribute to a solution that brings high-quality education to the people and places that need it most."

Cameron O’Riordan, VP of Sales at etrainu shared “this partnership is a wonderful opportunity for us because it brings together two sectors at the heart of what we do: disability and sport.

Working across both industries has allowed us to see the incredible potential at their intersection. This collaboration is a natural extension of our brand, values, and our passion for creating inclusive, accessible learning experiences and enables us to support two communities that matter deeply to us. It’s not just a strategic fit; it’s a meaningful one.”

etrainu partners with leading organisations in sport, disability, aged care, and beyond - including US Youth Soccer (USYS), Football Australia, the PGA Tour, Hockey Australia, Gymnastics Australia, and Surf Life Saving Australia.

More information on etrainu 

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