By Disability Sports Australia Media Team
On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Disability Sports Australia (DSA) proudly unveils its new Strategic Plan for 2025–2028.
This ambitious plan outlines DSA’s commitment to enhancing accessibility and inclusion across all sport settings, aiming to ensure that every person with disability has the opportunity to participate in sport in a way that works for them.
This three-year strategy marks a transformative shift for DSA, moving beyond a focus on a specific group of people with disability to prioritising the building of capability of sport.
The new plan reflects DSA’s evolution from its previous role as the peak body for people with physical disability in sport to embracing the social model of disability.
By creating inclusive, welcoming, and accessible environments, DSA aims to drive increased participation and create more opportunities for everyone with disability to engage in sport.
As part of this plan, the organisation has updated its vision, mission, and purpose to ensure that its work delivers a tangible and lasting impact:
Vision: Lives and communities changed through the power of sport
Mission: To improve opportunities for people with disability to be involved in sport in the way they choose.
Purpose: To build the capability of sport to enable the meaningful participation of people with disability.
From 2025 to 2028, Disability Sports Australia will focus on four key strategic pillars that will guide its work and drive real progress:
Awareness – Enhancing awareness through identity, influence, and engagement
Accessibility – Creating clear pathways, improving access, and increasing participation
Capability – Building knowledge, providing education, and encouraging positive behavioural change
Excellence – Strengthening resources, diversifying revenue, and fostering collaborative partnerships
Dr. Renae Domaschenz, DSA Co-Chair said
“Sport has the power to transform lives — through this strategic plan, we’re committed to raising awareness of that impact and closing the participation gap for people with disability at the grassroots level”
“By improving knowledge, providing education, and influencing behavior, we can drive better access and participation for people with disability.”
Kerri Griffiths, DSA Co-Chair said
“Everything we do, from community engagement to how we allocate resources, is driven by this strategy. It ensures that we are not only responsive to the needs of people with disability but are also proactive in reshaping the sporting landscape to be truly inclusive.
A key focus of this strategic plan is to actively engage with the community to ensure that our plans and programs align with the needs of people with disability.
DSA is dedicated to welcoming everyone, regardless of disability, and fostering an environment where all individuals can thrive, belong, and actively participate in sport.
For more information about DSA’s Strategic Plan 2025–2028, including accessible versions (Accessible PDF and Easy Read), please visit our website.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Disability Sports Australia:
Celeste Taylor
Communications Lead, Disability Sports Australia
Email: [email protected]
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.
