Bupa and Disability Sports Australia partner to encourage para-sport participation

Bupa and Disability Sports Australia (DSA) have partnered to launch the ‘Try-Para Sport’ program, offering a range of community-focused events across the country to encourage people with disabilities in sampling a variety of para-sports in a safe and welcoming environment in order to leverage and maximise the increased engagement surrounding para-sports.

Supported by Paralympics Australia and other sports organisations, DSA will provide an opportunity for sporting partners to showcase their para-sport opportunities and connect participants to local opportunities.

Participants will have the opportunity to try a range of para-sports, including wheelchair basketball, archery, wheelchair rugby, goalball, boccia and many others, while also learning about potential pathways to participate in these sports at an amateur or elite level.

Advising that these events will be a fun, but vital way to help get people, at any age, involved in para-sports, DSA Chief Executive, Ayden Shaw stated “sport has the power to change people’s lives. Our mission is to enable more Australians with a disability to be more active more often. We know 75% of people with a disability want to play sport, so Bupa’s support at the grassroots level is vital to achieving our ambitions.

“Since the launch of our strategic plan last year, we delivered 69 events to more than 4000 participants. Partnerships such as the one that we have with Bupa are pivotal in creating and providing sports and active programs and services that deliver more opportunities for individuals with pathways to becoming Australia’s future star para-athletes or just as importantly participating socially.”

Noting that partnerships such as these are vital for fostering a lifelong love of sport or even the next generation of champion Paralympians, Paralympic Gold Medallist, Matthew Haanappel commented “all sporting careers and healthy active lifestyles start at a grassroots level which is why developing and supporting community-based programs such as this are so important.”

The partnership is an extension of the relationship between the two organisations, with Bupa signing as the Official Healthcare partner of DSA over a year ago.

Penny Ryan, Bupa’s Director of Brand APAC, said that is important to help support the development and promotion of para-sports at a grassroots level, especially when only one in four people with disability participate in sport.

She added “the Bupa Try Para-Sport program is a great first step for people living with a disability to get their start in sport. Bupa’s support will enable more events to be held around the country, meaning more people will get the opportunity to participate.”

Events will be run across Australia in October and November 2024, and are open to individuals aged 10 and above.

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