Accessibility

Our Disability Advisory Committee

People with disability shape how we design and deliver sport.

Our Disability Advisory Committee, established in September 2024, ensures lived experience informs our decisions, programs and direction.

Why a Disability Advisory Committee

The Disability Advisory Committee brings together people with lived experience of disability to guide our work.

Their insight strengthens how we design programs, shape strategy and remove barriers to participation.

Representation of lived experience is central to our strategy and to building a sport system that works for people with disability.

Participation doesn’t happen by chance. It is shaped by the people it is designed for.

Hand-drawn workshop summary titled “World Cafe: Discussion Rounds” outlining ideas on accountability and sustainability, including collaboration with community, decision-making, measurable actions, inclusion practices, monitoring frameworks, and Disability Advisory Committee input, with Disability Sports Australia branding and note: “In person Workshop, Sydney Olympic Park: 21.02.25.”

The Committee ensures:

Accessibility

Our work is accessible in design and delivery.

Communication

Language and engagement are accessible and practical for people with disability.

Program Design

Initiatives are shaped with and for people with disability.

Representation

Lived experience informs decisions across the organisation.

Our Committee

Meet Our Committee

Our Committee brings together people with lived experience across sport, community and policy, shaping how we design and deliver our work.

Travis Zimmer

Committee Member

Travis has lived experience of disability, including low vision and hearing loss. He works with local clubs to improve accessibility and is actively involved in blind cricket and AFL Blind. He brings practical insight into how sport can better support participation for people who are blind or have low vision.

Rebecca Kirwan

Committee Member

Rebecca is a filmmaker and workshop facilitator focused on inclusive storytelling. As a neurodiverse woman, she is committed to improving access to sport and physical activity. She brings a strong perspective on representation and how stories shape participation.

Kathryn Ross

Committee Member

Kathryn is a Paralympic silver medallist and multiple world champion in rowing. She works as a registered nurse and contributes to several advisory groups across sport. She brings experience across high performance, health and athlete wellbeing.

Melissa Hale

Committee Member

Melissa is Manager of the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and a proud Deaf woman. She works across the disability advocacy sector and holds roles in transport and sport advisory groups. She brings strong experience in leadership, policy and representation.

Georgia Inglis

Committee Member

Georgia is a former Australian wheelchair basketball athlete and current PhD candidate in occupational therapy. Her research explores how sport supports life after spinal cord injury. She brings both athlete experience and academic insight to the Committee's work.

Sheri Fitton

Committee Member

Sheri is a parent of a child with disability and has been involved in community sport. She writes and advocates on access, participation and the experience of families navigating sport. She brings a family and grassroots perspective to the Committee.

Christos Constantine

Committee Member

Christos is autistic and has a background in psychology and disability studies. He works in research and community practice focused on participation and lived experience. His work focuses on how participation systems can better support autistic people and others with neurodiverse experiences.