By Disability Sports Australia Media Team
Badminton Australia and Disability Sports Australia Renew Partnership to Enhance Accessibility
Badminton Australia (BA) and Disability Sports Australia (DSA) are pleased to announce the continuation of their partnership through DSA’s Sports Incubator Program, reinforcing their shared commitment to accessible sport for all Australians.
This renewed collaboration supports BA’s ongoing mission to make badminton more inclusive and recently began with a disability inclusion workshop delivered to Badminton Australia staff and officials.
Led by DSA, the workshop focused on building awareness, confidence, and equipping BA staff with practical tools to consider the needs of and better support individuals with disability across all levels of the sport—including program delivery, event management, and participation pathways.
It also forms part of ongoing efforts to build capacity within BA’s staff, member organisations, clubs, and the broader badminton workforce to be more disability-inclusive.
Both organisations will continue working together to bring Shuttle Smash to Abilities Unleashed events. Shuttle Smash introduces children to badminton in a fun, inclusive way, while Abilities Unleashed offers come-and-try days for people with disability across Australia. Last year, Abilities Unleashed engaged over 3,000 participants with disability. By featuring Shuttle Smash at these events, even more people will be exposed to the sport and enjoy the many physical, mental and social benefits badminton provides.
The partnership also supports one of the priority actions in BA’s recently released National Participation Plan; to engage more under-represented communities in the sport, including people with disability.
Sonia Gouvia, National Participation and Para Manager at Badminton Australia, said:
“We’re excited to continue working with Disability Sports Australia through the Sports Incubator Program. This collaboration aligns with our strategic aim to grow participation, by introducing badminton to new and more diverse communities, strengthening partnerships that support our vision and facilitate opportunities to upskill our affiliated organisations and delivery workforce in inclusive practises.”
Kristy Rohrer, National Participation and Education Manager at Disability Sports Australia, added:
“Disability Sports Australia’s new strategy aims to create more pathways for active participation and inclusion. Working alongside Badminton Australia enables us to put this into action by growing programs that welcome everyone and build stronger, more inclusive communities.”
You can find Shuttle Smash at upcoming Abilities Unleashed events by visiting: abilitiesunleashed.com.au.
The Sports Incubator Program is Disability Sports Australia’s flagship initiative, providing tailored support to National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) to develop inclusive programs and pathways. This program helps embed inclusion into every aspect of sporting organisations, from policy development to participation.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Badminton Australia
Sonia Gouveia
National Participation & Para Manager
Email: sonia.gouveia@badminton.org.au
Disability Sports Australia:
Celeste Taylor
Communications Lead, Disability Sports Australia
Email: [email protected]
About Badminton Australia
Badminton Australia (BA) is the peak body for the sport of Badminton within Australia. Affiliated with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) and Paralympics Australia (PA), we promote, develop and administer badminton throughout Australia in partnership with our State/Territory member organisations. Badminton has over 450,000 participants across Australia (AusPlay 2024) and over 16,000 registered members. Badminton Australia is committed to creating a diverse environment where everyone feels included and a strong sense of belonging.
About Disability Sports Australia
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is a national non-profit, registered charity, and National Sporting Organisation for people with disability, dedicated to increasing participation in grassroots sport.
For over 60 years, DSA has been at the forefront of disability sport in Australia, starting with wheelchair sports and continually expanding opportunities for people with disability across the country. Today, DSA is disability-agnostic, focusing on building the capability of sports organisations to ensure inclusive and accessible opportunities for people with disability.
Our goal is to raise awareness of the positive impact sport can have, remove barriers to participation, and build a future where sport is inclusive for all Australians.
