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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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Pathways to Care: Celebrating Strength, Skill, and Sportsmanship in the Queensland Wheelchair Football League Grand Final
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This weekend, the excitement is palpable as the AFL Wheelchair Morningside Panthers prepare to compete in the Grand Final at Nissan Arena. Their journey to the Queensland Wheelchair Football League (QWFL) Grand Final is a testament to their unwavering strength, remarkable skill, and exemplary sportsmanship.
AFL Wheelchair: A New Era in Sports
AFL Wheelchair, which emerged from a series of "come and try" events, has rapidly gained momentum since the Queensland Wheelchair Football League's inception in 2023. Played as a five-a-side game on a basketball court, this adaptation of Australian Rules Football redefines the sport, promoting inclusivity and equity. In AFL Wheelchair, a kick is performed with a handball, and a handball is an underarm throw, offering a unique twist that challenges players to adapt and excel.
Foundation and Growth
The inaugural season saw teams from Beenleigh, Morningside, Ormeau, and Redcliffe lay the foundation for the league. The QWFL not only provides a competitive platform but also serves as a pathway for players to be drafted into the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast SUNS AFL Wheelchair squads for a two-game QClash series which acts as a selection ground for the Queensland State team for the Toyota National Wheelchair AFL Championship.
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
As a proud sponsor of the Morningside Panthers AFL Wheelchair Team in 2024, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability celebrates the spirit of sportsmanship and the opportunities that AFL Wheelchair creates for athletes. The support from organisations like Pathways to Care, acting as AFL Queensland’s Inclusion Partner, and Claro Aged Care & Disability is instrumental in fostering an inclusive environment that empowers all players.
Join the Action
This Sunday, the action kicks off with the Pathways to Care Kids Come n Try Clinic at 9:45 am on the center court. Following this, the curtain raiser featuring the Morningside Panthers begins at 11:00 am. Captain Michael Dobbie-Bridges will lead the team into the Grand Final, and spectators are welcome to join in cheering them on at Nissan Arena.
The AFL Wheelchair Grand Final is more than just a game; it is a celebration of strength, skill, and sportsmanship. Come along and witness the rousing performances of these athletes as they redefine what it means to compete with passion and equity in sports. Everyone is welcome to be part of this groundbreaking event!
Who: AFL Wheelchair Morningside Panthers vs Redcliffe Tigers
Where: Nissan Arena
Date: Sunday, 21 July
Time: 11am (Gates open at 9.30am)
Clinic: 9.45am (Centre Court)
Cost: Free entry
Can’t make the game? Watch the Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialAFLQ
More information:Michael Dobbie-Bridges
Captain, Morningside Panthers
michael.dobbiebridges@gmail.comJeff Neumann
AFLQ Participation and Programs Manager
Schools, Inclusion and Diversity
jeff.neumann@afl.com.au
Website: https://www.aflq.com.au/afl-wheelchair/
Get Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AFLQUEENSLANDTwitter: https://x.com/AFLQ
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Tribal Sport: Empowering Athletes, Fostering Inclusivity
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With a rich history spanning over two decades in the sports industry, Tribal Sport exemplifies a steadfast dedication to crafting team wear tailored to the distinctive needs of athletes with disability. Central to their ethos are principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainable practices.
In partnership with Michael Dobbie-Bridges, a distinguished Para Sport Ambassador and member of the Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability Engagement Council – Tribal Sport takes immense pride in unveiling a series of initiatives meticulously crafted to empower athletes with disability and advance the cause of inclusive sports.
Paralympian Michael Dobbie-Bridges together with David Lake
Their commitment to embodying inclusivity permeates every facet of their operations, underscoring the profound importance of creating environments that prioritise accessibility and inclusiveness within the realm of sport.
At the heart of Tribal Sport's mission lies the unwavering commitment to designing team wear across all sports, with a particular emphasis on addressing the specific needs of the disability community. They recognise and appreciate the significance of apparel tailored to the unique requirements of athletes with disability.
To ensure designs not only meet, but exceed the genuine needs of these athletes, Tribal Sport is resolutely committed to a sincere consultation and co-design process in collaboration with the disability community. This synergistic approach guarantees the creation of apparel that transcends mere functionality and comfort, aiming to empower the athletes who proudly wear Tribal Sport designs.
Visit the Tribal Sport website to find out more:
Contact:
Tribal Sport, 45 Clarence Street, Cooparoo Queensland
Phone: 1300 880 666
Email: mytribe@tribalsport.com.au