Disability Sports Australia Unveils National Play Well Participation Plan 2026–2029

Disability Sports Australia and its member organisations have released the Disability Sports Australia Play Well Participation Plan 2026–2029, a unified national framework to enhance grassroots sporting opportunities for Australians with disability.

The plan aligns with the Australian Sports Commission’s Play Well Participation Strategy and focuses on improving visibility, strengthening sector capability, and building a robust evidence base for participation.

Developed through extensive consultation with members across various states and territories, the strategy reflects a diverse range of sports and organisational roles within the sector.

WADSA CEO Conor Mahady described the plan as a critical step in aligning national ambitions with state-level actions to build a more inclusive system. 

Participating organisations in the development of the plan included groups such as the Western Australia Disabled Sports Association (WADSA), Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT, Sporting Wheelies Queensland, and several national powerchair associations.

Disability Sports Australia CEO, Ayden Shaw, noted that the plan acknowledges the complex history and shared responsibility required to shape disability sport, which has been supported by Disability Sports Australia and its predecessors for over 65 years.

The Participation Plan outlines five strategic priority areas for the 2026–2029 period:

• Every Body in Sport, for Life: Ensuring long-term engagement in sporting activities.
• Enabling Connection: Strengthening ties between sport, education, allied health, and community services.
• Building Capability Together: Enhancing the ability of sporting organisations to provide inclusive environments.
• Sharing Stories that Matter: Increasing the representation and visibility of disability sport nationally.
• Building the Evidence Base: Improving data collection and measuring sector-wide impact.

The Full Disability Sports Australia Play Well Participation Plan 2026–2029 is available here:

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