Accessible Events
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Sport Access Foundation is celebrating its 10th year of grants at a time when inclusive sport is gaining real momentum across Australia, from national forums to new community funding and rising para‑sport talent.
On 20 March 2026, the inaugural ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum marked a significant step forward for disability sport in Australia, driving collaboration, innovation and practical action to improve inclusion for people with disability. The Forum reinforced the importance of embedding inclusive practices across all levels of sport, from grassroots participation through to high performance pathways, while strengthening alignment across the sector and setting a new benchmark for collective progress.
This sector‑wide shift is being supported by new investment and initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers to participation. Para Sport Units have now been established across all state and territory institutes and academies of sport, creating dedicated hubs where athletes with disability can access fit‑for‑purpose training environments, specialised coaching and performance support on the pathway to Brisbane 2032 and beyond Recent state government programs, such as the Regional All Abilities Participation Grants in Victoria, are helping local clubs upgrade facilities, train volunteers and staff, and design more flexible, inclusive offerings so people with disability can find the level and type of sport that suits them, with 89 regional clubs sharing grants of up to 25,000 dollars in the latest round alone. At the same time, para‑athletes are achieving new milestones on the national and international stage through initiatives like the national Para Uplift and new wheelchair sport series, inspiring more young people with disability to see a future for themselves in sport.
For Sport Access Foundation, these developments underline why targeted grant support remains so important. Over the past decade, 828 children have applied for an SAF grant, with $103,000 distributed to date, supporting 101 young Australians and 20 sporting clubs and groups. Five grant recipients have gone on to be selected for the Paralympics, collectively winning seven Paralympic medals and setting multiple Oceania and Australian records, but just as importantly, many more recipients are enjoying the social, physical and mental health benefits of being active in their local communities.
As the broader system becomes more ready for inclusion, Sport Access Foundation’s role is to help ensure cost is not the barrier that stops a young person with disability from getting involved. By easing the financial burden of equipment, uniforms, travel and club or competition fees, the grants work hand‑in‑hand with initiatives like the ASAPD Sport and Disability Forum to open up genuine opportunities for participation. In its 10th year, Sport Access Foundation is proud to stand alongside partners across the disability sport sector to help create a future where every young person with disability can play, compete and belong.
References:
- Australian Sports Commission. Para Multi Sport Units.
https://www.ausport.gov.au/para-system-uplift/para-multi-sport-units
- Australian Institute of Sport. AIS welcomes launch of Australia’s fifth dedicated Para Sport Unit in Perth.
https://www.ausport.gov.au/media-centre/news/ais-welcomes-launch-of-australias-fifth-dedicated-para-sport-unit-in-perth
- Paralympics Australia. New Para Sport Unit launched in NSW.
https://www.paralympic.org.au/2025/03/new-para-sport-unit-launched-in-nsw/
- NSW Institute of Sport. Para Unit.
https://www.nswis.com.au/nswisparaunit/
- South Australian Sports Institute. Para Unit.
https://www.sasi.sa.gov.au/about/para-unit
- Victorian Government. Regional All Abilities Participation Grants.
https://sport.vic.gov.au/funding/regional-all-abilities-participation-grants
- Mirage News. Regional All Abilities Grants boost participation.
https://www.miragenews.com/regional-all-abilities-grants-boost-1622515/
- Ballarat Times. Grants expand all abilities sport in regional Victoria.
https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/ballarat/news/grants-expand-all-abilities-sport-in-regional-victoria/
- The Indian Sun. 89 regional clubs funded to boost disability sport participation.
https://www.theindiansun.com.au/2026/02/19/89-regional-clubs-funded-to-boost-disability-sport-participation/
- Tennis Australia. Woodman to lead new wave into Australian Wheelchair Summer Series.
https://www.tennis.com.au/fan-zone/news/2026/01/05/woodman-to-lead-new-wave-into-australian-wheelchair-summer-serie
Get Involved
Your donation will go towards providing financial assistance and support to enable children with a disability to participate in sporting activities. Every dollar goes direct to the grant recipients to help with the cost of their sport, including modified equipment, carer costs, transport and fees.
