Changing Lives Through Sport
Changing Lives Through Sport is Disability Sports Australia’s national storytelling campaign, sharing the experiences of people with disability and showing Australians what sport makes possible.
Why We're Telling These Stories
Despite the proven benefits of sport, too many Australians with disability are still left out of sport and physical activity.
Changing Lives Through Sport was created in response to this participation gap.
1 in 5
1 in 5 Australians have disability.
14%
Adults with disability take part in a sport related activity once per week
60%
People with disability are 60% less likely to meet national physical activity guidelines compared to people without disability.
The Campaign
Australia loves celebrating its sporting heroes. But some of the most meaningful moments in sport happen away from the spotlight.
A new friendship, finding confidence, discovering a sport you love or becoming part of a community.
Sometimes, that first opportunity can even lead to representing Australia.
We want more Australians to see disability sport as something people can experience in their own communities, not simply something they watch.
The Stories
James Summerhayes
For James, Special Olympics has brought much more than the opportunity to compete. It’s given him friendships, confidence, routine and a community he loves being part of.
Harriet Caldwell
After acquiring a disability, Harriet discovered wheelchair basketball through her physiotherapist. What started as therapy grew into friendships, confidence and the opportunity to compete in the National League.
Rae Anderson PLY
A chance encounter at school introduced Rae to sport and eventually took her to both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Now she’s helping the next generation discover their own opportunities.
Our 2025 Impact
1.19 million
people reached through national media
189,000+
digital campaign impressions
111,000
social video views during the campaign period
10,000+
people clicked through to learn more about opportunities in sport
4
national media features across TV, print and online
$170,084
In earned media value
Every Sporting Story is Different
You don’t need to compete at the highest level to have a story worth sharing.
Maybe sport helped you make friends, gave you confidence, introduced you to a community or simply became something you look forward to each week.
Perhaps you’re a parent, coach, teacher or volunteer who has seen what that opportunity can mean to someone.
We’d love to hear from you.
Your experience could encourage someone else to discover sport or help a sporting organisation think differently about the opportunities it can create.
How It Works
This campaign combined authentic storytelling with digital participation to create nationwide impact.
Weekly Story Releases
Three flagship video stories released weekly through November 2025, showing how sport changes lives in different contexts across Australia.
Campaign Hub
A dedicated online hub hosting a wall of stories from people with disability, their families and the sporting community nationwide.
National Reach and Visibility
Coordinated media outreach and targeted digital promotion extending the campaign’s reach nationally.
Promoting Participation
Working with sporting partners to raise awareness of participation opportunities, helping people with disability understand how and where to get involved.
Help us tell the next stories
Changing Lives Through Sport has already reached more than a million Australians.
With your support, we can share more stories from communities across the country, challenge perceptions of disability sport and encourage more people to take part.
For businesses and organisations, it’s an opportunity to connect with people with disability, their families and the wider sporting community through something Australians already care deeply about: sport.
Naming Rights Partner
Become the Naming Rights Partner of Changing Lives Through Sport, helping bring the stories of people with disability to a national audience while connecting your brand with the impact of community sport across Australia.
Story Presenting Partner
From $10,000
Help bring one of our featured stories to a national audience, connecting your brand with the people and communities at its heart through video, social media and national media coverage.
Storytelling Platform Partner
From $7,500
Become the presenting partner of our national Story Hub, connecting your brand with the experiences of people with disability and the sporting community as they share how sport has changed their lives.
Campaign Supporter
From $1,000
Become a recognised supporter of Changing Lives Through Sport, aligning your brand with a national initiative celebrating the impact of community sport in the lives of people with disability.
Changing Lives Through Sport was launched with funding from the Australian Sports Commission through its Play Well Participation Grant, alongside the support of our sporting and community partners.
Presenting and Platform Partners
Campaign Supporters
