Disability Sports Australia and MatchWorks Renew Partnership to Drive Social Change and Inclusion
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is proud to announce the renewal of its partnership with MatchWorks, which will now be recognised as the organisations Impact Partner.
This renewed collaboration aims to enhance the branding and awareness of both organisations through continued engagement across various DSA programs and events.
Over the past year, the organisations have collaborated on a variety of initiatives. This has included the MatchWorks team volunteering at a variety of Abilities Unleashed events, staff training and engagement through experiential learning and team-building opportunities at the 2023 Toyota Wheelchair AFL National Championship and Disability Sports Australia supporting the MatchWorks pilot Employment Unleashed program.
Disability Sports Australia and MatchWorks also collaborated to deliver Reimagining Disability Sport Employment and Volunteering forums. Speakers from across the business presented on how sport can support more people with disabilities in finding employment in the sector. These forums, attended by 125 community sport clubs, were held in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
During recent recruitment efforts, MatchWorks accessed their extensive network of job seekers to facilitate opportunities for people with disabilities to find meaningful employment. This national partnership will continue to explore the co-design of new initiatives and programs aimed at helping people with disabilities achieve employment outcomes through participation in the sport and leisure sector.
The shared values of Disability Sports Australia and MatchWorks have made the continuation of their partnership a natural progression. Both organisations are driven by a mutual desire to capture the positive impact on the wider community.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with MatchWorks,” said Ayden Shaw, CEO of Disability Sports Australia. “Together, we will promote inclusion, meaningful engagement in sport, whether through playing, volunteering, or other forms of participation. This will contribute to stronger employment opportunities for people with disabilities and a broader social impact across the community.”
Veronica Killick, MatchWorks General Manager, Disability Employment Services, said, “MatchWorks prides itself on building genuinely inclusive communities and working alongside DSA to deliver many benefits to our communities. We are thrilled to be growing our connection with DSA through this partnership and building on the exciting work we have recently undertaken together.”
Ms Killick added, “We know every connection counts and this is another example of leveraging opportunities to help enrich the lives of others.”
Together, Disability Sports Australia and MatchWorks aim to drive impact and value for both organisations while fostering broader social change and inclusion.
ENDS
Celeste Taylor
Communication Lead, Disability Sports Australia
celeste@sports.org.au
Website: sports.org.au
About MatchWorks
MatchWorks offers a no-cost service to employers large and small, helping them to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces.
They specialise in helping organisations to employ people of all abilities, backgrounds, cultures and age groups. They believe everyone deserves the opportunity to work and experience the benefits that employment brings.
As one of Australia’s leading employment services providers they draw on their strong local community connections across more than 110 locations. They build ongoing relationships with employers and job seekers to help both succeed and thrive beyond the recruitment process.
About Disability Sports Australia
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is a 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, work tirelessly to enhance visibility and create clear pathways for participation.
