Our Disability Advisory Committee
At Disability Sports Australia, people with disability are at the core of our work. Our Disability Advisory Committee ensures their lived experience shapes our decisions and direction.
Why a Disability Advisory Committee
The Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) is dedicated to ensuring Disability Sports Australia’s projects are shaped by people with disability. Comprising eight members with lived experience, the DAC provides critical insight to make sport accessible and inclusive.
Representing the voices of people with disability is a key priority in our new strategy, with a focus on genuine, authentic engagement to ensure that everybody belongs in sport, regardless of background or ability.
Every two months, our Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) meets to make sure:
Accessible
Everything we do is accessible to everyone.
Communication
We use clear and inclusive communication, from planning to delivery.
Projects and Programs
Our programs and projects are designed and delivered to include people with disability in all aspects.
Representation
People with disability are meaningfully involved in shaping our decisions and actions.
Meet Our Committee
From those deeply involved in sport to those not involved at all, our Committee represents the disability community in its many forms.
These individuals are shaping our future.
Travis Zimmer
Travis has lived experience of disability, being hard of hearing since 18 months old and having low vision from Usher Syndrome since age 12. He is a passionate advocate for inclusion and accessibility in sport, especially for people who are blind or have low vision. As a Sport4All Inclusion Coach with the City of Greater Geelong, Travis supports local clubs and communities to become more inclusive. His involvement in Blind Cricket, AFL Blind, and as an Executive Board Member of the Victorian Blind Cricket Association gives him a strong voice in driving change. Travis is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate in sport.
Rebecca Kirwan
Rebecca Kirwan is an award-winning filmmaker, with a passion for social justice and inclusive storytelling. She is currently a director and workshop leader at Bus Stop Films, where she mentors participants and supports them in developing their filmmaking skills. As a proud neurodiverse woman, Rebecca is dedicated to ensuring people with disabilities have equitable access to sports and physical activities in her role on the Disability Advisory Committee for Disability Sports Australia. She advocates for diversity, equity, and empowerment, using her platform to create inclusive spaces and tell authentic stories that are impactful and inspire meaningful change.
Kathryn Ross
Kathryn began rowing in 2006 through a talent search program. She acquired her disability at age two after a lawn mower accident on her family farm, affecting her right leg. She has represented Australia at every Paralympic Games since rowing was introduced in 2008, winning the country’s first Paralympic rowing medal — a silver in Beijing. Kathryn is a multiple world champion, holding several world and national records. Outside of sport, Kathryn is a Registered Nurse with experience in emergency care, mental health, and suicide prevention. She is a strong advocate for athlete wellbeing and serves on advisory groups for Rowing Australia, Paralympics Australia, Disability Sports Australia, and Boccia Australia. She is also active in community outreach and motivational speaking, inspiring others to pursue their goals regardless of the challenges they face.
Melissa Hale
Melissa Hale is the Manager of the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit, supported by the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS). She works to strengthen and support the disability advocacy sector across Victoria.
Melissa is a proud Deaf woman and a passionate advocate for inclusion. She is a graduate and valedictorian of the 2021 Williamson Leadership Program and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Her board roles include the Accessible Transport Advisory Committee (Vic Dept of Transport) and Head of Deaf Women’s Cricket with Deaf Cricket Australia.Melissa is dedicated to creating leadership opportunities for Deaf and hard of hearing people, and others with disability, in decision-making spaces. Her work focuses on building a more inclusive society where people with disability feel a strong sense of belonging.Outside of work, Melissa enjoys family life with her husband James, their four teenagers, and their overgrown puppy, Jack. Sport is a big part of their world, with everyone kicking goals in their own way.
Georgia Inglis
Georgia is a member of the WA Disability Advisory Council, recently retired from the Australian Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team, and currently pursuing a PhD in Occupational Therapy. Her research focuses on the role sport can play in improving life after spinal cord injury—particularly in advancing equipment design and supporting coping and adjustment through participation in physical activity. With a background in elite sport and a deep commitment to inclusion, Georgia brings lived experience and academic insight to her work. She is passionate about shaping systems that enable people with disability to thrive—on and off the field.
Kate Jennings
Kate Jennings is a queer woman with disability and chronic illnesses who lives and works on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation in Naarm. Kate is a passionate activist for equity and inclusion, advocating for the rights of women, non-binary people and girls, people with disabilities and chronic illness, as well as the LGBTQIA+ community. Kate works for the Victorian State Government as a Senior Policy Officer in the Office for Women and Sport and Recreation. She has previously worked for the federal government and in the non-profit sector, with specific expertise in project management, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, research, and critical analysis. Kate has previously contributed her lived experience and expertise to advisory committees for Disability Sport & Recreation and Women with Disabilities Australia, and as a writer for Missing Perspectives. She is a lifelong fan and participant of sport, and currently plays netball with her wife through Queer Sporting Alliance.
Christos Constantine
Christos is an autistic professional with a background in psychology and disability studies. He specialises in contemporary philosophical conceptual engineering, using participatory practices to promote the flourishing of Australians navigating disability and diverse lived experiences. Christos is committed to advancing research and supporting community initiatives that help individuals engage with opportunities for growth, connection, and inclusion.
