Our Unique History

For more than 60 years, Disability Sports Australia has been at the forefront of creating opportunities for people with disability to participate in sport. From our origins in wheelchair sport to our role today as a National Sporting Organisation for People with Disability and a registered charity, our story is one of innovation, collaboration, and inclusion.

Beginnings in the 1950s

Our journey began in the 1950s with the establishment of the Australian Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Sports Federation (APQSF). The Federation organised the first Australian team to compete at the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, helping lay the foundations for the Paralympic movement in this country.

Building Pathways: 1960s–1980s

Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the Federation:

• Supported Australian Paralympic teams from 1960 to 1984

• Hosted national disability sport competitions, including the National Wheelchair Games

• Expanded wheelchair sports nationwide, providing opportunities for athletes with disability to connect, compete, and grow

During this period, we became recognised as the national governing body for sports such as wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, cementing our role in Australia’s sporting landscape.

A National Merger: 2003

In 2003, three national organisations merged to form Australian Athletes with a Disability (AAWD):

• Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD)

• Cerebral Palsy Australian Sport & Recreation Federation (CPASRF)

• Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA)

This merger created a single point of coordination between government, partners, and state and territory member organisations, strengthening pathways and advocacy for athletes with disability.

Becoming Disability Sports Australia: 2013

In June 2013, AAWD members voted to adopt a new constitution and rebrand as Disability Sports Australia (DSA). This change was made to establish one strong national identity and reflect a broader mission, to be the peak sporting body for people with physical disability in Australia.

Today

Our focus is on increasing grassroots participation in disability sport, improving access, and raising the profile of disability sports across Australia.

We are proud founding members of Paralympics Australia and the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with Disability, working together to ensure sport is accessible to everyone.