Category Brisbane 2032 Show all
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Voice of Queenslanders with Disability 2025
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Help Amplify the Voices of Queenslanders with DisabilityWe are excited to announce that the Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey 2025 is now live! This vital research, led by The Dignity Project at Griffith University, provides an opportunity for Queenslanders with disability, their families, carers, and organisations to share their experiences, helping to shape a more inclusive and accessible future.
We are proud to collaborate with Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) and the Queensland Government’s Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services, and Child Safety to ensure that lived experiences are heard and inform future policies and programs.
We would greatly appreciate your support in promoting this survey through your networks. You can help by:
- Taking the survey: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/hub-page/vqd
- Sharing the survey via email, newsletters, or your social media channels
- Sharing our social media: https://shorturl.at/0oFD6
- Forwarding this information to any citizen researchers, colleagues, or community members who may be interested
- Encouraging participation in alternate formats or through phone/virtual interviews
Survey closes: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Accessible and alternate formats are available to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate.
We appreciate your help in spreading the word so we can reach as many voices as possible. Together, we can work towards a more inclusive Queensland.
For more information, please contact us at inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au.
Thank you for your support!
Dr Kelsey Chapman
Research Fellow
The Dignity Project
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability -
Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity: A symposium championing equity and diversity in Paralympic sports
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Madi de Rozario OAM PLY - Paralympic Athlete, Inclusive Futures Engagement Council Member and Griffith alumnus EVENT OVERVIEW
Hosted online on Friday, 8 November 2024, this symposium, hosted by Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, as a member of the Queensland Para Sport Network, brought together interdisciplinary researchers, community partners, and athletes to amplify the vital role equity and diversity can play in improving the performance of Paralympic teams and enabling athletes to compete at the highest possible standard.
The symposium explored equity and diversity in elite paralympic sport through the lens of exercise and sport science, social justice, tourism and leisure, sport management, disability rehabilitation and inclusion. Building toward the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, this was a key opportunity for participants to incorporate the pillars of equity and diversity into their performance programs and research to drive performance.SYMPOSIUM SUMMARY
by Dr Georgia Munro-CookKeynote: Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity
Our keynote address for Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity was provided by Natalie Charlton. Natalie is the current Pathway Specialist for Paralympics Australia, with a legacy of building and delivering a variety of sports programs from grassroots community development through to performance pathways.
Natalie discussed the importance of thinking inclusively to ensure we meet our medal targets for Brisbane 2032. At the moment, we do not have enough athletes at the bottom of the talent pipeline or the sporting environments for athletes to grow and developments. By accessing a broader demographic of people and opening our sport system to everyone, we can grow our talent pool, but it is essential to create environments that centre athletes and their needs. Natalie provided her experience with the Northern Territory Sports Academy: Para Futures Program as an example of good practice.
Gender Inequity and Paralympic Sport
Dr Georgia Munro-Cook presented on the importance of gender equity and Paralympic Sport. Georgia has successfully represented Australia in Wheelchair Basketball and is now a champion of promoting intersectional approaches to create positive experiences for women in disability sport.
Georgia pointed out the gender disparities on the Australian Paralympic team, which only comprised of 44% women, much lower than the Olympic team which had 55.9% women athletes. She discussed some of what makes para-sport more difficult for women, including poor pathways, fast-tracked development, mixed-gender training and games, challenges with coaches, and the role of the media.
Optimising Performance and Participation for Indigenous and CALD athletes
Dr Kerry Hall gave us an insight into how Indigenous ways of learning can created culturally safe spaces in para-sport. Dr Hall offered a way of transforming sport cultures to centre athlete voice and ensure cultural safety. Dr Hall is a proud descendant of the Kuku Thaypan, Kuku Warra and Lama Lama Peoples from Cape York Peninsula, whose work aims to address access, engagement and inequity issues specific to First Nations Peoples through collaboration and prioritising community voices and perspectives.
Dr Diti Bhattachyarya revealed some of the issues that face Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) people in sport. She challenged the taken-for-granted assumptions organisations have about CALD diverse people, for example, the notion that CALD athletes are expected to be role models. Instead, she stressed the importance of cultural safety. Dr Bhattachyarya’s research relates to how sporting practices and fitness cultures can be used as a social conduit through which marginalised communities experience a sense of belonging and community.
Paradox of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Paralympic Classification
Professor Sean Tweedy is the Principal Investigator for the International Paralympic Committee’s Classification Research and Development Centre. He works to develop best practice and evidence-based methods for allocating athletes to classed. Professor Tweedy gave an excellent overview of why classification is important to enable para-sport, even if it is sometimes exclusive.
Equity and Design Thinking in Technology
Laurent Frossard is a bionic limb specialist passionate about developing ground-breaking prosthetic solutions. Laurent discussed how technology like bionic limbs can be both inclusive—allowing people with disability to engage with sport—and exclusive, as their incredible expense benefits high-income countries.
Matt McShane is an Australian Paralympian and an Industrial Designer with a passion for co-designing technologies to improve the lives of individuals with a disability. Matt again emphasised the inequities in access to technology, while also stressing the importance of centreing the athlete voice in technology design.
Panel Discussion
We had a fantastic panel discussion in which Michael Dobbie-Bridges, Robyn Smith, and Ben Newton had an illuminating debate centred around the following questions:
- How can we create a cohesive sport system and strong pathways for para-athletes by centring inclusion?
- How do inclusion and equity factor into our legacy planning?
- What is the role of policy in driving inclusion and equity?
- Brisbane 2032 – quality or quantity?
Michael Dobbie-Bridges is a celebrated Paralympian, representing Australia in wheelchair tennis. In addition to Michael’s considerable sporting achievements, he is an advocate for promoting inclusion and support for individuals with a disability, across multiple sectors including health care and employment opportunities and wheelchair sports. His expertise includes high-level policy development and driving meaningful change within the government administration industry.
Robyn Smith has worked at the National level in Sports Administration for the past 3 decades as Chief Executive Officer of Sport Inclusion Australia. Her role includes working closely with Government Agencies, Paralympics Australia and National Sporting Organisations, including School Sport Australia to develop appropriate inclusive services and opportunities for athletes with an impairment into the mainstream community. In 2022, Robyn was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to people with disability through sport.
Ben Newton is a respected Paralympian, coach, and accessibility advocate. He represented Australia in wheelchair rugby for two decades. In 2014 Ben was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to sport and is now Head Coach of the Queensland Academy of Sport High Performance Program and Assistant Coach for the Australian Steelers Development Program. Prior to his coaching roles Ben worked at Queensland Rail for ten years as the Principal Accessibility Adviser.
Wrap Up
In the last session of the day, to provide concluding remarks we invited Simone Fullagar on behalf of Griffith Inclusive Futures and Brendan Burkett on behalf of Queensland Para Sport Network for Performance Enhancement and Applied Research.
More information: Please contact inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au
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Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity: A symposium championing equity and diversity in Paralympic sports
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Griffith Inclusive Futures, a proud member of the Queensland Para Sport Network for Performance Enhancement and Applied Research (QPSN) is thrilled to host:Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity: A symposium championing equity and diversity in Paralympic sports
Friday, 8 November 2024, 9 am–3:30 pm, Online Event
This symposium, hosted by Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, as a member of the Queensland Para Sport Network, brings together interdisciplinary researchers, community partners, and athletes to amplify the vital role equity and diversity can play in improving the performance of Paralympic teams and enabling athletes to compete at the highest possible standard.
The symposium will explore equity and diversity in elite paralympic sport through the lens of exercise and sport science, social justice, tourism and leisure, sport management, disability rehabilitation and inclusion. Building toward the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, this is a key opportunity for participants to incorporate the pillars of equity and diversity into their performance programs and research to drive performance.
EVENT SCHEDULE9.00 am – 9:10 am
Opening Remarks/ Housekeeping
Master of Ceremonies: Ella Sablijak9:10 am - 9.40 am
Keynote Introduction: Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity
Presenter: Natalie Charlton9:40 am - 9:50 am
Questions9:50 am – 10:00 am
10-minute break10.00 am – 12.30 pm
Performance Priorities Lightning Round10:00 am – 10:25 am
Gender Equity and Paralympic Sport
Presenters: Dr Georgia Munro-Cook and A/Prof. Adele Pavlidis10:25 am – 10:30 am
Questions10:30 am – 10:55 am
Optimising Participation and Performance for First Nations and CALD Athletes
Presenter: Dr Kerry Hall and Dr Diti Bhattacharya10:55 am – 11:00 am
Questions11:00 am – 11:25 am
The Paradox of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Paralympic Classification
Presenter: Prof. Sean Tweedy11:25 am – 11:30 am
Questions11:30 am – 11:55 am
Equity and Design Thinking in Technology Innovation for Improved Performance
Presenters: Prof. Laurent Fossard and Matthew McShane11:55 am – 12:00 pm
Questions12:00 pm – 12:25 pm
Creating Environments to Optimise Performance of Athletes with High Support Needs
Presenters: Sharon Hill and Rachel Watson12:25 pm – 12:30 pm
Questions12:30 pm – 1:15 pm
45-minute lunch break1:15 pm – 1:30 pm
Performance priority poll1.30 pm – 3.00 pm
Panel Discussion: “Ethical Decision Making - Inclusion Versus Equity?”
Panel Members: Michael Dobbie-Bridges; Ben Newton; Robyn Smith- How can we create a cohesive sport system and strong pathways for para-athletes by centring inclusion?
- How do inclusion and equity factor into our legacy planning?
- What is the role of policy in driving inclusion and equity?
- Brisbane 2032 – quality or quantity?
3.00 pm–3.30 pm
Closing remarks: Best Practice in Equity and Diversity to Drive Performance / Building Environments to Optimise Performance
Presenters: Prof. Simone Fullagar and Prof. Brendan Burkett3.30 pm
Event concludes
Concluding pollMEET OUR SPEAKERS
Meet our Master of Ceremonies — Ella Sablijak
Fresh off her bronze medal performance with the Australian Steelers, Ella has graciously agreed to be the Master of Ceremony for our symposium. Ella has more than 15 years’ experience in elite sport at an international level – representing Australia in both Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby. She is the current Education Manager for Paralympics Australia, with positions on the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Athlete Steering Committee, Paralympics Australia’s Athlete Commission and WADA’s Athlete Committee.Gender Equity and Paralympic Sport
Presenters: Dr Georgia Munro-Cook and A/Prof. Adele PavlidisDuring our Performance Priorities Lightening Round we will be discussing the important issue of gender equity and paralympic sport. Our presenters on this topic are Dr Geogia Munro-Cook and A/Prof. Adele Pavlidis, from the Sport and Gender Equity Research Hub. Georgia has successfully represented Australia in Wheelchair Basketball and is now a champion of promoting intersectional approaches to promoting positive experiences for women in disability sport. Adele’s work focuses on gender and power relations, specifically connecting social, cultural and health concepts in sport to drive inclusion. She is currently leading an international team to investigate mega-sport event sport participation legacies and experimenting with ways of co-creating knowledge with girls, women and non-binary people.
Optimising Participation and Performance for First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Athletes
Presenters: Dr Kerry Hall and Dr Diti BhattacharyaDuring our Performance Priorities Lightening Round we will be discussing how to optimising participation and performance for First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Athletes. Tackling this important issue is Dr Kerry Hall and Dr Diti Bhattacharya. Dr Kerry Hall is a proud descendant of the Kuku Thaypan, Kuku Warra and Lama Lama Peoples from Cape York Peninsula. Her work aims to address access, engagement and inequity issues specific to First Nations Peoples through collaboration and prioritising community voices and perspectives. Dr Diti Bhattachyarya’s research relates to how sporting practices and fitness cultures can be used as a social conduit through which marginalised communities as experience a sense of belonging and community. Her current expertise in sporting geographies and social inclusion is being applied to her Postdoctoral Research Fellow role working on an ARC Discovery Project titled 'Engaging Outsiders in Sport: Transforming Major Sport Event Legacy Planning Through a Co-Creation Approach'.
The Paradox of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Paralympic Classification
Presenter: Prof. Sean TweedyDuring our Performance Priorities Lightening Round we will be discussing the balance between equity, inclusion and fair competition during our “Paradox of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Paralympic Classification” session. We are very fortunate to have Professor Sean Tweedy, the Principal Investigator for the International Paralympic Committee’s Classification Research and Development Centre (physical impairments) available to reflect on his decades long career developing best practice and evidence-based methods for allocating athletes to classes. Sean leads the Para Sport and Adapted Physical Activity Research Group in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland and is a proud member of the Queensland Para Sport Network for Performance Enhancement and Applied Research board.
Equity and Design Thinking in Technology Innovation for Improved Performance
Presenters: Prof. Laurent Fossard and Matthew McShaneTechnology has unlimited potential to optimise performance – it also has the potential to create inequities due to issues with access, acceptability and affordability. During our Performance Priorities Lightening Round we will be discussing Equity and Design Thinking in Technology Innovation for Improved Performance. Tackling this important issue is Laurent Frossard and Matt McShane. Laurent is a bionic limbs scientist passionate about developing ground-breaking prosthetic solutions to improve life of individuals suffering from limb loss. Prof Frossard was the Sport Biomechanist for the Australian Para-athletic team between the Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic games. Internationally recognised as independent expert, he approaches bionic solutions from an all-rounded perspective integrating prosthetic biomechanics, clinical benefits, service delivery and health economics. Matt is an Industrial Designer with a passion for co-designing technologies to improve the lives of individuals with a disability. He is an Australian Paralympian and World Champion with more than 8 years’ experience in elite sport.
Creating Environments to Optimise Performance of Athletes with High Support Needs
Presenters: Sharon Hill and Rachel WatsonAn individual’s environment can either be a positive and enabling force or a barrier for participation and performance. So how do we ensure an individual’s environment enables maximal participation, particularly for individuals with high support needs? Tackling this important issue is Sharon Hill. Sharon Hill is a volunteer who is passionate about driving the expansion of inclusive sport on the Sunshine Coast through Reverse Inclusion to encourage more social interaction between able-bodied people and those with disabilities. Sharon is a recipient of an Honorary Senior Fellow Award from the University of the Sunshine Coast for her dedication to inclusive sport. Sharon has tripled the Suncoast Spinners membership and created opportunities to employ people with disabilities for programs such as coaching local school children to play wheelchair basketball irrespective of their abilities.
SAVE THE DATE
Friday, 8 November 2024
9 am–3.30 pmThe symposium will be hosted online on Microsoft Teams.
This is an accessible event with live captions. Auslan interpreting is available upon request.
Register now: https://forms.office.com/r/LBHEY9iktm
CONTACT US
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.auDr Kelly Clanchy
Program Director – Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology
Griffith University
k.clanchy@griffith.edu.au -
Unlocking the Game to ‘Count Her In’: A Thought-Provoking Conversation on International Women's Day
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Join us as experts from Griffith University’s Sport and Gender Equity (SaGE) team delve into the critical aspects of investing in women's sports, exploring transforming policy frameworks, gender budgeting, and the transformative power of research.
From dismantling stereotypes to ensuring inclusivity for women with disability, this conversation values intersectional thinking and diverse meanings of ‘sport’ to go beyond the scoreline. Our Griffith feminist sport researchers offer insights into reshaping the narrative and fostering greater equity in the world of sport on and off the field.
Guest Speakers:
Professor Simone Fullagar – Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability “Inclusive Play” Theme Lead
https://experts.griffith.edu.au/19065-simone-fullagarAssociate Professor Adele Pavlidis
https://experts.griffith.edu.au/7436-adele-pavlidisDr Diti Bhattacharya
https://experts.griffith.edu.au/10229-diti-bhattacharyaDr Georgia Munro-Cook
https://experts.griffith.edu.au/38757-georgia-munrocookVisit the SAGE Website
https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-business-school/department-tourism-sport-hotel-management/sage-at-griffithVideo link: https://youtu.be/c1IZadlE_tE
Acknowledgement of Country:
Griffith University acknowledges the people who are the traditional custodians of the land and pays respect to the Elders, past and present, and extends that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. South Bank, Nathan and Mount Gravatt campuses are situated on the land of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera and Turrbal peoples. Logan is situated on the land of the Yuggera, Turrbal, Yugarabul, Jagera and Yugambeh peoples. The Gold Coast is situated on the land of the Yugambeh/Kombumerri peoples.