2017/18 Annual Repor t Covering the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 Australian Paralympic Committee ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18 Australian Paralympic Committee Ltd Australian Paralympic PO Box 596 Hall of Fame Inductees Sydney Markets Frank Ponta NSW 2129 Louise Sauvage Building A, 1 Herb Elliott Avenue Sir George Bedbrook Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127 Kevin Coombs T: +61 2 9704 0500 Tracey Freeman F: +61 2 9704 0589 David Hall E: [email protected] Daphne Hilton www.paralympic.org.au Ron Finneran ABN 41810 234 213 Adrienne Smith ACN 061 547 957 CONTENTS Message from the President 2 Message from the Chief Executive Officer 4 The Australian Paralympic Committee 6 Finance 8 Message from Sport Australia 11 2018 Australian Paralympic Team 13 2018 Australian Commonwealth Games Team 17 Games Delivery 21 Paralympic Performance 25 Para-sport Reports 28 Commercial 43 Communications 48 Knowledge Services 54 Stakeholder Engagement 55 Corporate Operations 56 APC Sponsor Family 58 Front cover: Simon Patmore Inside cover: PyeongChang 2018 Opening Ceremony flagbearer Joany Badenhorst with the Australian Paralympic Winter Team Page 1 Australian Paralympic Committee ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT In my last full year as in Australia with their groundbreaking coverage of On behalf of the APC, I would also like to record President of the Australian the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the Seven Network my thanks to our member organisations, national Paralympic Committee reaffirmed its commitment to Paralympic sport by federations and the national institute network (APC), I can honestly say signing on to deliver a one-hour highlights package for your ongoing commitment to the growth I have never been three times a day throughout the Games. We have of Paralympic sport. As experts in your field, we prouder of the always known that our partnership with the Seven know that collaboration is a must. I look forward performance of this Network has the potential to meaningfully impact to strengthening our partnerships over the next 12 incredible organisation. all Australians, and we are so excited to continue to months as we continue preparations for the Tokyo create opportunities for our fans to watch and enjoy 2020 Paralympic Games. The phenomenal Para-sport. success of Australian I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Para-athletes at the Riding our wave of momentum into April, the APC our corporate partners and donors. Through your PyeongChang 2018 again proved why it has an enduring reputation for generosity, the APC continues to enhance its Paralympic Games successfully delivering cohesive national teams. In position as a global leader in high performance and Gold Coast 2018 collaboration with Commonwealth Games Australia, Paralympic sport, with the Australian Paralympic Commonwealth Games exemplified the ability of the the APC helped to plan, organise and manage the Team now in an unprecedented position to achieve APC and the Australian Paralympic movement to most inclusive Australian Commonwealth Games their performance goals. We are so proud to have shine on the world stage and empower the Australian Team ever. Not only did the Australians top the medal you as part of our Mob. community in the process, and I look forward to tally with 80 gold, 59 silver and 59 bronze medals, but Finally, to my colleagues on the APC Board, our seeing what is next for the Paralympic movement in our team of 61 Para-athletes won the largest number Chief Executive Officer, Lynne Anderson, and the Australia as it continues to grow and evolve. of Para-sport gold medals on offer of any nation – 16 staff at the APC – your leadership, expertise and The 2018 Australian Paralympic Team of 12 athletes, of 38. Among the most impressive achievements were passion for Paralympic sport is unlike any I have three sighted guides and 20 staff once again proved Madison de Rozario’s dual gold medal haul, Melissa seen, and I am beyond grateful to have worked how Australians punch above their weight on the Tapper’s claim to Australia’s first Commonwealth alongside you and learned from you these last 10 world’s biggest sporting stage. We returned home Games gold medal in table tennis, and Kurt Fearnley years. from PyeongChang, South Korea with one gold being named the first Para-athlete in history to carry With just over two years to go until Tokyo 2020, I and three bronze medals – and that was without the Australian flag into a Commonwealth Games wish our athletes, coaches and support staff the Team co-captain and dual gold medal contender Closing Ceremony. very best of luck in their preparations. I guarantee Joany Badenhorst, who devastatingly withdrew from There is no doubt the Paralympic movement in that with the APC in your corner, you will have every competition after injuring her knee while training just Australia is enjoying a special time in its history, but opportunity to achieve your personal best – and days before her competition. success like this is only possible with the support of with luck, your best will win you a special place To achieve our goal of a top 15 position on the the Australian Government. I would like to extend my in Australian Paralympic history. It has been my overall medal tally was always going to be a thanks to the former Federal Minister for Sport, the absolute pleasure to have shared your journey to mammoth challenge for the Australian Team, but Honourable Greg Hunt MP, and officially welcome this point and you can always count on my support they were never fazed by it. In a landmark moment Senator the Honourable Bridget McKenzie to the role. as a member of the ever-growing fanbase of the for Paralympic sport in Australia, Para-snowboarder We were honoured to be joined in PyeongChang by Australian Paralympic Team. Simon Patmore broke a 16-year gold medal drought Senator McKenzie and the Assistant Minister for Social to become the first man in Australian sporting history Services and Disability Services, the Honourable Jane to win a medal at the Paralympic Summer and Prentice MP. Winter Games. Together with Para-alpine skier Melissa As always, the APC is laser-focussed on sporting Perrine, who tasted medal success for the first time outcomes, but also creating and facilitating a after three Paralympic campaigns, the duo doubled sustainable career pathway for athletes with our medal haul from the Sochi 2014 and Torino 2006 disabilities, particularly one which pushes the Paralympic Games to place 15th on the overall boundaries of innovation. To do this, the APC relies medal tally. on the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) for PyeongChang 2018 was also the first Paralympic support. In particular, I would like to thank the Chair Winter Games to be broadcast on a commercial of the ASC, John Wylie AM, and its Chief Executive Glenn Tasker television network in Australia. After setting a new Officer, Kate Palmer; your belief in us is what makes President standard of excellence for the Paralympic movement all of this possible. Australian Paralympic Committee Page 2 Kurt Fearnley Page 3 Australian Paralympic Committee ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER At a time of extraordinary And while preparations for the Paralympic Games in history, the Paralympic Winter Games was visibility for the Paralympic remains our strong focus, we continued to add value broadcast on a commercial television network in movement in Australia, to our partners in a multitude of ways. An example is Australia, introducing our incredible athletes to new it is undeniable that the our groundbreaking partnership with Commonwealth audiences which we believe will only build in years Australian Paralympic Games Australia (CGA), which was announced to come. in May 2017. During an already demanding Committee (APC) has Thanks to the support of the Australian period in the Paralympic cycle for the APC, key proven itself to be a Government and ASC, our member organisations, members of our Games Delivery division helped widely respected and national federations, sponsors and supporters, to plan, organise and manage the 2018 Australian effective leader in the Paralympic movement in Australia is a Commonwealth Games Team for the Gold Coast Australian sport and globally respected force boasting world-class 2018 Commonwealth Games. In return, they were Paralympic sport globally. expertise, research, innovation, classification and given the opportunity to experience the intensity of governance. However, equity of opportunity is not Following an exceptional another Games environment well in advance of the yet a reality, and the APC will continue to challenge amount of work over Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. As we continue the you to ensure all Australians with disabilities can the last three years to countdown to Tokyo 2020, collaboration with peak participate in sport. rebuild and consolidate its financial position, the sporting bodies will prove crucial to delivering the APC repaid its $2.25 million loan to the Australian most successful Australian Paralympic Team yet. To the athletes, coaches and support staff who Sports Commission (ASC) in September 2017. This was represented Australia at PyeongChang 2018, So too will the extraordinary leadership of the Chef de achieved four years earlier than anticipated and is congratulations again. You handled the pressure Mission of the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team, Kate a tribute to the expertise of the APC President, Glenn of the Games environment magnificently, and McLoughlin, who is also General Manager, Games Tasker, his colleagues on the APC Board and the should be exceptionally proud of everything you Delivery at the APC. During the reporting period, Kate wonderful APC staff, whose belief in our movement achieved. received national and international recognition for and passion for what we do inspires me every day.