By Disability Sports Australia Media Team
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) has reaffirmed its partnership with the AFL, continuing as an Event Partner of the 2025 Toyota AFL Open, which will be hosted at the La Trobe University Sports Precinct in Bundoora, Victoria, from 27–30 October 2025.
In preparation for the event, earlier this month DSA delivered a Foundations of Disability Inclusion workshop to AFL Open staff. The session provided practical tools and confidence to ensure the tournament is accessible and welcoming for every participant, family and spectator.
DSA has been part of wheelchair football’s journey from the beginning, supported by its State Members, the AFL and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
From 2015 to 2019, DSA delivered the Wheelchair Aussie Rules Carnival, supported by the AFL and ADF.
In 2022, this grew into the Wheelchair AFL National Championships, again delivered with AFL and ADF support.
In 2023, DSA co-delivered the Championships with the AFL, before the AFL united them with the AFL National Inclusion Carnival in 2024 to launch the Toyota AFL Open.
As the event has grown, DSA’s involvement has evolved — reflecting its strategy to build the capability of sport to enable meaningful participation for people with disability at the grassroots.
In 2025, DSA’s role as an Event Partner will focus on community engagement and storytelling, ensuring the voices of athletes with disability are celebrated and participation pathways are strengthened.
The 2025 Toyota AFL Open will again bring together more than 200 athletes from across Australia, with matches in both the Wheelchair and Inclusion divisions played at a redeveloped precinct featuring an elite AFL oval and six multi-purpose indoor courts.
This year’s event will also introduce a blind and low-vision exhibition match and expand its focus on pathways for women and girls — another step forward in the growth of AFL as a sport for everyone.
Ayden Shaw Chief Executive Officer of Disability Sports Australia said
“From delivering the first carnivals supported by the AFL and the Australian Defence Force to co-delivering the Championships with the AFL in 2023, Disability Sports Australia has proudly helped grow this sport at every step.
“Our role has evolved alongside the sport. The Toyota AFL Open is the next chapter, and as we approach 10 years of national wheelchair football in 2026, it’s a powerful reminder of how far the game has come and the opportunities still ahead.”
Rob Auld, AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development, said:
“The Toyota AFL Open is now a flagship for inclusive football. Disability Sports Australia’s history, expertise and commitment to community engagement will help ensure the 2025 event delivers lasting impact for athletes, families and fans.”
“With more than 18,000 people with disability now participating in AFL programs across the country, the AFL Open continues to expand opportunities and strengthen pathways from grassroots to elite.”
For more information on the 2025 Toyota AFL Open, visit:
https://play.afl/play/local-footy/disability-inclusion/national-events
ENDS
Media contact:
Ayden Shaw
CEO
M: 0411 788 315
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 seeking to expand 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.
Its 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.
