Disability sport in Australia timeline

1950s

Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA) was established.

1952

Australian Cerebral Palsy Association was formed to cater for people with disabilities playing sport.

1954

Australian Deaf Sports Federation (now Deaf Sports Australia) was established.

1957

The 1957 International Stoke Mandeville Games was the first time an Australian disability sports team competed at an international Games. The Stoke Mandeville Games were the precursor of the Paralympic Games.

1960

The Australian Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Council (APQC) was established.

In March, the first National Paraplegic Games were held and served as the selection event for the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games.

Australia competed at the first Summer Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy. Australia sent a team of 12 athletes and 4 support staff, and won a total of three gold, six silver, and one bronze to finish 7th on the medal table.

1962

Perth hosted the inaugural Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, marking the first international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held in Australia.

1964

The first Australian Deaf Games were held in Sydney.

1965

Australia participated for the first time in the World Games for the Deaf.

1971

The Australian Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Sports Sub Committee (APQSSC) took over responsibility for organising teams for international competitions. The Committee became the basis for the Australian Wheelchair Sports Federation, the first National Sporting Organisation for people with Disability (NSOD) in Australia.

1975

1976

Special Olympics Australia was established, with the first event held in Victoria.

Australia competed at the first Winter Paralympic Games in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. Australia’s only participant was Ron Finneran.

1977

Australian Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Sports Federation was established.

1978

Australian Disabled Skiers Federation was established (now Disabled Wintersport Australia).

1979

Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia was established.

1980

The Australian Blind Sports Federation (BSF) was established, and the first National Championships were held in Melbourne.

1981

The National Committee on Sport and Recreation for the Disabled (NCSRD), originally known as the National Committee on Sport and Recreation for Handicapped People, was established by the Australian Government. Its purpose was to make recommendations to the Federal Minister for Sport on priority areas for development and funding allocation for sport and recreation for persons with disabilities.

1981 was declared the ‘International Year of Disabled Persons’ and several Government reviews were conducted to assess the needs of people with disabilities.

The National Amputee Sporting Association of Australia was founded, and the inaugural National Games were held in Toowoomba.

1982

The first Australian Special Olympics meeting was held in Newcastle, New South Wales.

1984

Australian Transplant Olympic Association (now Transplant Australia) was established.

In 1984-85, the National Disabled Athlete Award Scheme (NDAAS) was launched with an initial budget of $50,000, offering a maximum grant of $5,000 per athlete.

1986

Australian Sport and Recreation Association for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (ASRAPID) (now Sport Inclusion Australia) was established.

1987

From 30 April to 2 May 1987, a consultation was held on junior sports development for people with disabilities. The purpose was to advise participants of the current activities of various key agencies, to give participants the opportunity to discuss the major issues and needs in this area, and to enable participants to prioritise action they considered were required.

The NCSRD was dissolved with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) assuming responsibility for Federal Government sports assistance to people with disabilities.

The ASC established a ‘Sport for All’ Committee and assumed responsibility for considering policy matters in disabled sport such as funding.

Australian Wheelchair Tennis Federation was established.

1988

In January, the National Coaching Coordinator for the Disabled began their duties, reporting to the Australian Coaching Council.

In March, Russell Short, a visually impaired thrower, received the first Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athlete scholarship for an athlete with a disability.

The 'Disabled Sports Program' of the ASC was initiated with an allocated budget of $640,000 for the financial year 1988-89.

1989

‘The Australian Sports Kit: The Next Step’ strategy was launched, allocating $2.55 million over four years to support disabled sports.

Cerebral Palsy Australian Sports and Recreation Federation (CPASRF) was established.

1990

The Australian Paralympic Federation (now Paralympics Australia) was established in January.

Can sport be bought?: Second report on an inquiry into Sports Funding and Administration, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration, (May 1990). The inquiry into sports funding and administration (also known as the 'Martin Report'), focused on sports participation funding, particularly for women and sport for the disabled.

ASC developed and published the first Aussie Sport Activities Manual for Children with Disabilities.

‘The Development of a Policy’ Integration conference, held in December 1990 by the Australian Confederation of Sport for the Disabled and the ASC, aimed to develop a policy and resources to assist sports to create appropriately designed integration strategies that maximised the opportunities for sport and recreation for people with disabilities.

1991

The ASC ‘Disabled Sport’ program was renamed as the ‘Aussie Able Program’ with the goal to assist elite Australian athletes with disabilities to compete in international events.

The 'Coaching athletes with a disability scheme' was initiated to enhance coaching standards. Manuals and courses were developed with the goal of integrating disability-specific modules into the coaching curriculum of all national sporting organisations. In partnership with the International Paralympic Committee, these manuals were made accessible to developing countries.

1992

Australia won its first Winter Paralympic medals at the Winter Paralympic Games in Tignes and Albertville, France. Michael Milton won gold in the Slalom, while Michael Norton and David Munk each earned bronze medals.

Give it a Go: Coaching Athletes with Disabilities, was a video produced by 'Aussie Able', part of the ASC’s program for people with disabilities, created with the Australian Coaching Council (ACC) under the 'Coaching Athletes with Disabilities (CAD) scheme'. Its primary aim was to ensure Level 1 Coaching Courses addressed coaching athletes with disabilities.

1993

Sydney won the right to host the 2000 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Ron Finneran and Adrienne Smith lobbied to ensure that the Paralympics were part of Sydney's bid for the 2000 Olympics and would be underwritten by the Federal and State Governments.

Boccia Australia was established.

Michael Milton became the first winter Paralympian to receive an AIS scholarship.

1994

The 'Paralympic Preparation Program', established by the ASC, assisted athletes with disabilities in their preparation for the Sydney 2000 Summer Paralympics.

The Australian Confederation of Sports Council for the Disabled (ACSD) is dissolved.

1995

'Willing & Able', a joint project of the 'AUSSIE SPORT' and 'Aussie Able' programs, was launched by Senator John Faulkner, Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories. It aimed to help teachers integrate children with disabilities into school sport programs.

The ASC provided approximately $400,000 to seven NSOs to help integrate people with disabilities into mainstream sports.

1996

The Australian Disabled Skiers Federation changed its name to Disabled Wintersport Australia.

1998

The Australian Coaching Council (ACC)'s 'Coaching Athletes with Disabilities Program' facilitated the Vista Downunder '98 — International Conference on Athletes with Disabilities. The conference, held from 1-7 November, was attended by over 90 delegates from 19 countries.

The Australian Paralympic Federation changed its name to the Australian Paralympic Committee (now Paralympics Australia).

The National Amputee Sporting Association of Australia changed its name to the Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD).

1999

The two ASC disability sport programs, ‘Willing and Able’ and ‘Aussie Able’, were merged to create a new 'Disability Education Program', which was implemented in all States and Territories.

2000

Opening doors : getting people with a disability involved in sport and recreation, report was released by the ASC. It compiled case studies from sport and recreation organisations, local government authorities, and other organisations that had developed, implemented, and evaluated programs to include people with disabilities in sport and physical activity.

On 21 June, the Australian Paralympic Federation announced the AIS as a Centre for Excellence for Athletes with Disabilities.

In November, Chris Nunn was appointed Head Coach of the AIS Athletics program, leading to the integration of para-athletes into the program.

Australia topped the Sydney 2000 Summer Paralympic Games medal table with 63 gold medals, 39 silver medals and 47 bronze medals.

2001

Give it a go: including people with disabilities in sport and physical activity resource was published by the ASC.

The AIS and APC collaborated to establish the first single-sport AIS program for athletes with a disability, known as the 'AIS/APC Alpine Ski Program'.

2002

Launched in October, 'Project CONNECT' promoted equity and inclusion by encouraging people with disabilities to participate in sport. It ensured their right to choose how, when, and where they engaged, from grassroots to elite levels.

2003

Australian Athletes with a Disability (AAWD) was established to represent the interests of its member associations, ASOD, CPASRF and WSA.

2004

The 'Pacific Sport Ability program' promoted inclusive sport and physical activity for people with disabilities in Pacific countries by training local administrators, coaches, and teachers in a tailored curriculum.

2005

The APC established the 'Paralympic Search Program' to identify people with disabilities who had athletic potential to represent Australia at Paralympic level competition.

2006

'Sports Ability' was a national program promoting disability inclusion in sports and physical activity. It aimed to equip teacher, coaches, and sports leaders with strategies for inclusive participation and foster interaction between people with and without disabilities. The program included 'Sports Ability' cards, offering adaptable activities that focused on inclusive delivery methods rather than individual disabilities.

'Project CONNECT' was renamed 'Sports CONNECT' to reflect its long-term commitment to inclusion, rather than being seen as a temporary project.

2008

Australian sport: emerging challenges, new directions, Department of Health and Ageing, (May 2008). This directions paper highlighted the importance of enhancing support and recognition of disabled sport, including identifying emerging challenges and potential new directions.

On 28 August the Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, announced the appointment of an Independent Sport Panel, led by David Crawford, to investigate ways of ensuring that Australia’s sporting system remained prepared for the challenges of the future. Identifying opportunities to break down barriers to participation for certain groups, including persons with disability, was included in the terms of reference.

2009

The ASC's 'Disability Action Plan' included initiatives to target entry-level recruitment, such as providing work experience placements for students with disabilities.

The APC and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) jointly submitted a 'National High Performance Plan for Olympic and Paralympic Sports in Australia' to the Independent Sport Panel.

In November the final report and recommendations of the Independent Sport Panel, The Future of Sport in Australia (also known as the Crawford report), was published. Facilitating access and inclusion of people with disabilities was one of the nine future strategic focus areas identified.

2010

Australian Blind Sports Federation changed its name to Blind Sports Australia.

In 2010–11, the APC allocated $1 million from its annual grant to the Direct Athlete Support scheme, ensuring equal support for athletes with disabilities compared to able-bodied athletes.

The APC and Australian Defence Force (ADF) launched the 'ADF Paralympic Sport Program' to guide ADF members who acquired a disability during their service into Paralympic sports.

2011

During 2011/2012, Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD) dissolved.

2013

Australian Athletes with a Disability (AAWD) changed its name to Disability Sports Australia (DSA) to better reflect the organisation and its role within the Australian community as the peak national body for people with physical disabilities.

The Market Segmentation for Sport Participation – Disability research project highlighted the need for sports to adapt their offerings to remain relevant to Australian consumers,

2015

AUSRAPID changed its name to Sport Inclusion Australia.

2017

All 16 National and 6 State Deaf Sport Organisations merged into the Deaf Sports Association (DSA) to concentrate on sports programs and reduce administrative and legal responsibilities.

2019

Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) changes its name to Paralympics Australia (PA).

In December 2019, Deloitte conducted a Disability Sports Feasibility Study for the ASC and PA. The study followed the establishment of a 'Disability Sport Steering Committee' in April 2019, tasked with exploring strategic approaches to managing and delivering disability sports events in Australia.

2022

The National Sporting Organisations for people with a Disability (NSODs) formed a key representative agency for sport and physical activity for people with disabilities, leading to the establishment of the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability (ASAPD).

2023

Adaptive sport programs for Australian Defence Force veterans, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Parliament of Australia, (May 2023). The committee conducted an inquiry to examine the role of adaptive sport programs for Australian Defence Force veterans in addressing issues identified by the ongoing Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

2024

Paralympics Australia released the first Universal Design Guide for creating Inclusive Sport in Australia. It serves as a reference for sports bodies, clubs, and venues adopting inclusive practices and fulfills Australia's commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.