About Disability Sports Australia
Who Are We?
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is one of Australia’s nine (9) National Sporting Organisations for people with a disability (NSODs), all of whom share a common purpose to improve the lives of Australians living with disability using sport as the medium.
Why Do We Do What We Do?
Our vision is: Active lives for all Australians with disability.
Our mission is: To enable more Australians with disability to be more active more often.
At DSA, we aim to connect Australians with disabilities to local active and adaptive opportunities through trusted programs like our Abilities Unleashed Program, Sports Incubator program and Accessibility Champion Certification.
Who Do We Represent?
DSA marshals the efforts of 12 highly committed and active mainly State-based disability sports groups.
Business Unit - Disability Sports Northern Territory:
Disability Sports Northern Territory (DSNT) was established in October 2019 via Sport Service Provider Grant Funding from Northern Territory Government. The DSA business unit works closely with Northern Territory peak sporting bodies and community sports officers to facilitate more accessible pathways and programs across the territory.
History
2003
Australian Athletes with a Disability Limited was formed in 2003 to represent the interests of its member disability sporting organisations, through the creation of an “umbrella” body established to coordinate relations with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). During 2013 the organisation changed its name to Disability Sports Australia to better reflect the organisation and its role within the Australian community as the peak national body.
The “umbrella” body including merging the following organisations:
Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD) founded 1981
Cerebral Palsy Australian Sports and Recreation Federation (CPASRF) founded 1989
Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA) founded 1950s
2011
During 2011 / 2012, Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD) dissolved, and management agreements were executed between Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA) and AAWD, and Cerebral Palsy Australian Sport and Recreation Federation (CPASRF) and AAWD, resulting in AAWD undertaking the administrative responsibilities of its national members, significantly reducing the administration load of the group.
2012
Following a vote of members on 31 January 2012 DSA expanded its membership base to include the state members of its founding national member organisations.
The objective of this change was to enable DSA to better support its member organisations to develop, promote and deliver participation opportunities for people with a disability.
This included sporting pathways and participation opportunities for people with a variety of physical disabilities including cerebral palsy, amputees and people who are wheelchair users.
2013
In 2013 Australian Athletes with a Disability changed its name to Disability Sports Australia to better reflect their role within the Australian community.