Philanthropy
Participation doesn’t happen by chance.
Disability Sports Australia creates opportunities for people with disability to experience those benefits, while helping sporting organisations across Australia become more inclusive.
See our impact in action
Participation Matters
Only 14% of people with disability take part in sport each week, despite 75% wanting to play.
That’s a significant gap, and it isn’t simply about sport. Missing out on participation can also mean missing out on friendships, community connection and shared experiences.
The barriers aren’t inevitable. They reflect how sport is structured, resourced and delivered.
Why investment matters
Australia’s social cohesion is under pressure.
The Scanlon Foundation’s 2026 research highlights declining community involvement and trust, reinforcing the importance of places where people can connect and feel they belong.
Community sport can be one of those places. But only when people have the opportunity to take part.
An event might introduce someone to sport. What happens afterwards depends on whether local clubs have the confidence, resources and support to welcome them.
That’s why we invest in more than programs.
Disability Sports Australia follows Pay What It Takes principles, recognising that meaningful outcomes require investment in the people, coordination, capability and partnerships behind participation.
What your investment enables
We work across four areas to make community sport more accessible and welcoming.
Create opportunities
Helping people with disability discover sport, meet others and connect with local opportunities.
Build Capability
Supporting clubs, coaches and organisations to become more confident and capable of including people with disability.
Improve systems
Working with sporting organisations and communities to address barriers through lived experience, evidence and advocacy.
Increased Visibility
Sharing stories that challenge perceptions and show the value of participation for individuals and communities.
From local participation to national impact
Participation starts locally, but its benefits can reach much further.
When someone finds a sporting club where they feel welcome, the opportunity isn’t simply to play. It’s to build friendships, establish connections and become part of their community.
Our work helps create those opportunities while strengthening the organisations that make them possible.
Working With You
We work with individuals, families and foundations who recognise that stronger communities are built when more people have the opportunity to belong.
Philanthropic investment can help us create local participation opportunities, build the capability of sporting organisations, support employment opportunities for people with disability and strengthen how sport works nationally.
Some supporters want to make a difference in a particular community. Others want to help us address the barriers that affect participation across Australia.
We welcome conversations about both.
If you believe community sport can play a greater role in creating a more connected Australia, we'd welcome the opportunity to work with you.
Support disability sport your way
There are different ways to support our work, including philanthropic giving, Trailblazers monthly giving and community fundraising.
Every contribution helps make sport more accessible while creating opportunities for connection, confidence and belonging.
Eligible donations are tax-deductible.
