Bupa and Disability Sports Australia partner to get more people involved in para-sport.
[Image ID - a participant at one of Disability Sports Australia’s Variety Abilities Unleashed Kids events. He is playing a modified version of netball. There is a low hoop in front of him. He is smiling and looking at the camera.]
Australians are invited to test out a range of para-sports, with Bupa and Disability Sports Australia (DSA) partnering to find the next generation of para-sports athletes.
The 'Try-Para Sports' program will deliver community-focused events across Australia. These will offer Australians with disability introductions to para-sports. It will be a safe and welcoming environment leveraging the buzz surrounding para-sports.
Disability Sports Australia and Paralympics Australia will host a space for sports organisations to showcase their para-sport pathways. Participants will start their para-sport journey by connecting to their local opportunities.
Participants will try a range of para-sports. There will be wheelchair basketball, archery, wheelchair rugby, goalball, boccia and many others. Attendees will learn about ways to play these sports at an amateur or elite level.
Ayden Shaw, DSA CEO said these events are a fun, but vital way to help get people, at any age, involved in para-sports.
“Sport has the power to change people’s lives. Our mission is to enable more Australians with a disability to be more active more often. We know 75% of people with a disability want to play sport. Bupa’s support at this grassroots level is vital to achieving our ambitions,” Shaw said.
“Since the launch of our strategic plan last year, we delivered 69 number of events to more than 4000 participants. Partnerships such as the one that we have with Bupa are pivotal in creating and providing sports and active programs and services that deliver more opportunities for individuals with pathways to becoming Australia’s future star Paralympians or, just as importantly, participating socially.”
Paralympic Gold Medallist, Matthew Haanappel OAM PLY said these partnerships are vital for fostering a lifelong love of sport or even the next generation of champion Paralympians.
[Image ID - Matthew Haanappel OAM PLY smiling for a photo on an indoor basketball court. He is tall, wearing a brown jumper and black vest.]
“All sporting careers and healthy active lifestyles start at a grassroots level which is why developing and supporting community-based programs such as this are so important,” Matthew said.
The partnership is an extension of the relationship between the two organisations. Bupa signed as the Official Healthcare partner of DSA over a year ago. Only one in four people with disability participate in sport. Penny Ryan, Director of Brand APAC, said that it is important to support the development and promotion of para-sports at a grassroots level.
“Bupa’s purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, and happier lives, so we are very excited to put this purpose into action with Disability Sports Australia. Being active is one of the best ways to stay healthy, but it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to sport,” Ryan said.
“The Bupa Try Para-Sport program is a great first step for people living with a disability to get their start in sport. Bupa’s support will enable more events to be held around the country, meaning more people will get the opportunity to participate”
Events will run across Australia in October and November 2024. They are open to individuals aged 10 and above. For more information, or to register for an event near you, go to:
https://ticketing.humanitix.com/tours/bupa-try-para-sports
For more information, please contact:
Disability Sports Australia:
Max Reilly
Community Engagement and Activation Coordinator
M: +61 (0) 478 159 118
Website: sports.org.au
About Bupa Asia Pacific
Bupa is an international healthcare group which has been committed to a purpose of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world for more than 70 years.
Bupa Asia Pacific operates in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, supporting about 7.3 million customers through a broad range of health and care services including health insurance, aged care, dental, medical, optical and hearing services. Employing more than 22,000 people in the region, we believe that we can make a real difference to the lives of customers through our values, purpose and the way that we deliver personalised care.
Over the past 17+ years we have invested more than AUD$36 million in partnerships and programs focused on improving health of communities across Australia.
About Disability Sports Australia
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is a distinguished National Sporting Organisation, a not-for-profit entity, and a charity that champions active participation in sports for people with disabilities.
As a leader in Australia’s disability sports landscape, DSA is unwavering in its commitment to creating sporting opportunities that are accessible to all, promoting inclusivity, and upholding the rights and interests of individuals with disabilities.
Our dedicated team, in collaboration with recognised partners such as the Australian Sports Commission, the AFL, NRL, Bupa, Matchworks, Rosterfy, and the Australian Defence Force, works tirelessly to enhance visibility and create clear pathways for participation.
