3.4 million dollar funding boost for Disability Sports Australia under Labor government
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) has received a 3.4-million-dollar funding boost over the next four years under a Federal Labor Government to provide more opportunities for sport and recreation to Australians living with disability.
The announcement highlights the Labor Party’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of all Australians by creating more sport and active recreation opportunities for people living with a disability.
DSA’s ‘Changing Lives Through Sport‘ campaign aims to provide further opportunity, choice and introductory pathways to participation across a wide variety of sport and recreation activities to the Australian community.
Labor’s commitment will provide a huge boost to the opportunities available in the disability sports sector, with the investment committed to focus on: a range of multisport programs for children with disabilities, a disability sports advisory service, a nation-wide rollout of a youth ambassadorship program, and a bid to host the 2022 Cerebral Palsy World Games.
(L - R) Back Row: Mr Richard Keith (Acting Chair, RaceRunning Australia), Senator Carol Brown (Shadow Minister for Disability & Carers), Senator the Hon Don Farrell (Shadow Minister for Sport), Ms Jenni Cole (CEO, DIsability Sports Australia and Ms Jen Prior
Front Row: Mr Arran Keith (RaceRunning athlete) and Miss Emily Prior (Youth Ambassador, Disability Sports Australia)
Disability Sports Australia’s Chairman John Croll was delighted with the announcement, stating “Labor’s policy is a transformational investment in sport for athletes with a disability. It is the first time that grassroots programs, from school kids with a disability to older Australians, have been provided with substantial and long-term financial support.”
DSA CEO Jenni Cole echoed Croll’s sentiments, saying “This funding commitment from Labor is absolutely unprecedented. It shows that Labor has listened to the sector and to people with a disability and understands that it’s not enough to say we want people with a disability to be more active – Labor is willing to invest in the sector to do something about it.
“Whether you want to represent your country, or just get active and play sport, this unprecedented funding announcement supports new programs that will transform the way Australians with a disability are able to get active and into sport.” said Ms Cole.
Senator Carol Brown (Shadow Minister for Disability & Carers) and Senator the Hon Don Farrell (Shadow Minister for Sport) meeting RaceRunning athlete, Mr Arran Keith and DSA Youth Ambassador, Miss Emily Prior on Tuesday, 14 May at the announcement.
The announcement, which today took place at the Essendon Football Club Hangar saw the representation and support of Disability Sports Australia’s athlete and member network, including youth ambassador and disability advocate Emily Prior, junior RaceRunning athlete Arran Keith, Wheelchair Aussie Rules athlete Judeland Anthony, Wheelchair Rugby athlete Antonio Vecchio - all whom are in total support of the ground-breaking commitment by Labor to the sector.
For more information, please contact Chris Nay on 0405 036 727 or chris@sports.org.au
