Annual Report 2018–19 Contents Our history 4 Our vision, mission and values 5 Chairperson report 6 CEO report 7 Getting active 8 DSR Kids 12 Education 14 Working in the sector 16 Working in the community 19 2018 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards 20 2019 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards 22 2018 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival 24 Our members 26 Our staff 27 Our volunteers 28 Our supporters 29 Fundraising 30 Our financials 32 Our key partners 34 Image left: Ian Spence. Cover images: Ian Spence, RMIT, Lesley Bourne. Annual Report 2018–19 3 Our history In 1962, the ParaVics Sports Club was formed to help a group of eight athletes with disability compete in national and international sporting competitions. We are proud to be the birthplace of the Victorian Paralympic movement, with our founders Kevin Coombs OAM and Bruno Moretti. The organisation grew from the grassroots With this change in direction, we encouraged actions of a small group of athletes who were state sporting associations (SSA) to take united by the ambition to compete in paraplegic ownership of inclusive sports and recreation sporting events at an international level. The activities in their community of interest. group challenged preconceptions and dispelled societal prejudices toward disability in order to achieve this. The organisation demonstrated This allowed us to take on a the potential for a united group of determined person-centred approach to individuals to effect lasting social change. programs and service delivery. The Club transitioned to Wheelchair Sports Victoria (WSV), where it became the leading This included the introduction of a membership provider of sport and recreation for people with structure and services like one-on-one physical disability. At this stage, the majority consultations, the adaptive equipment library of WSV members were Victorians with spinal and camps for children, while still being cord injury, lower limb amputees, spina bifida, responsible for wheelchair rugby and supporting cerebral palsy and other physical conditions AFL Wheelchair. affecting mobility. We also developed many broader sector WSV was the governing body for a range of initiatives such as educational programs and our disability sports including basketball, athletics, annual festival and awards. swimming, rugby, tennis, hand cycling, lawn bowls and shooting. In 2019, our Board and management group began reviewing our strategic plan and focus to make In 2010 we made a strategic decision to renew sure our work, now and into the future, reflects our focus and expand our support to include all the needs of all Victorians with disability. types of disability, as well as include recreation to cover all types of physical activity. WSV was rebranded as Disability Sport & Recreation (DSR), as we are known today. 4 Disability Sport & Recreation Our vision, mission and values Our vision A community where there is access and equity for all. Our mission To provide and promote positive health outcomes for people with disability, through taking part in sport and recreation. Our values Access, Equity, Respect Ian Spence Annual Report 2018–19 5 Chairperson report It will include an expanded office space for our Over the past year, the Disability operations and partners, as well as five levels Sport & Recreation (DSR) Board of apartments that have the option of being and management team concentrated designed with individual accessibility needs on looking at the future direction of in mind. our organisation. I believe the redevelopment will be a strong platform for the future of DSR. Not only will it ensure ongoing sustainability for us, it is our Australia has the highest per capita of not-for- commitment to the community that we have an profits world-wide, so it is important that we are ongoing investment in creating the change that providing value to our members and the sector will see more people with disability taking part in as well as maintaining relevance. By focussing our communities. on strengthening our strategic priorities, we will make sure DSR is sustainable and relevant as we I would like to thank the contribution of each of move forward. our Board members. We are so fortunate to have skilled and invested directors that truly believe The vision outlined in our draft Strategic Plan is in our movement. I particularly want to thank for a community where there is improved choice retiring Board directors Gabriella Cesile and and access for people with disability who want to Andrew Keen. take part in sport and active recreation. We have begun public consultations on this draft Plan and The last three years on the Board have been a have received fantastic feedback so far. wonderful journey – personally, I have been able to work with inspirational and evanescent people We are looking forward to working with the and professionally, I have been able to contribute sector and our stakeholders to finalise our new on a governance level by opening up extra strategy and prioritise the voice of people with funding options for the organisation. disability in striving for better choice, access and participation for everyone. However, this will be my last report as Chair before I retire from the Board. I am so grateful Over recent years, we have undertaken to the Board, Richard and management team for considerable work to plan for a complete their support and guidance throughout my time redevelopment of our home – Kevin Coombs as Chair. We certainly have an exciting future to House – at 341 George Street, Fitzroy. The look forward to. monumental decision to proceed with the redevelopment was endorsed by the Board this year. Alexandra Ash Chair 6 Disability Sport & Recreation CEO report the leisure centre environment. The Melbourne Over the past 12 months, DSR has Disability Institute has also provided funding experienced transformation that for a Leisure Facility Disability Audit Program, will drive our future. We remain to be developed in 2019–20. committed to supporting people with A genuine partnership approach has been disability to achieve positive health developed with the Victorian Government and outcomes through participation in we were invited to deliver ‘Sportability’, an employment program for women with disability sport and active recreation. in sport. We have also received more funding from VicHealth to develop the first disability I thank the Board, our staff, partners, donors, sports hub in 2019–20. volunteers and members for their support as we We continue to advocate for greater resources strive to achieve change. With physical activity and focus on supporting people with disability for people with disability remaining concerningly to be active. In the past year we made low, there is much work to do. submissions to the 2019 Victorian Public New projects from last year have continued Health and Wellbeing Plan and an Action Plan to grow, including the second season of the to the Victorian Government to guide future Victorian Wheelchair Football League and our investment in disability sport as part of the second National Disability Sports Conference. Victorian election campaign. We’re thrilled to have entered into a partnership Erich Hubel became our 38th life member, with YMCA Victoria, which will give us a greater recognising his significant achievements and presence in the leisure centre environment, while contribution. We also welcomed new staff also joining forces with Gymnastics Victoria and members – Kaitlyn Frawley and Kris Paproth – Paralympics Australia. while significant milestones in our fundraising team were celebrated, including 25 years for Players in our highly respected wheelchair rugby Trevor and 20 years for Laurette. program continued strong representation in the Australian team, with Shae Graham becoming A heartfelt thanks goes to the thousands of the first-ever female player to represent people who have believed in what we do and Australia. Our state team won their first-ever provided us with the means to effect change. National Championships and we hosted our first We invite everyone to join us as we continue to international wheelchair rugby event with Australia evolve and adapt to become a stronger voice for defeating New Zealand for the Ken Sowden Cup. people with disability, supporting choice, access and participation in sport and active recreation. Our Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards again showcased the talent, tenacity and humanity that is abundant in our sector, supported by record nominations and attendance. From a research perspective, we continued Richard Amon to work with La Trobe University and other Chief Executive Officer partners investigating the ‘FitSkills’ model in Annual Report 2018–19 7 Getting active Wheelchair rugby for gold. Unfortunately, Japan proved to be too determined in a very competitive final, winning We have worked hard over the past year to build by just one try. on the successes of the previous 12 months. Season 2 of the 2018 Protect Victorian In July 2018, we were honoured to have our Wheelchair Rugby Cup wrapped up in November. partnership with Rugby Victoria, which sees Melbourne Unicorns eventually took the title with our wheelchair rugby teams align with four a 35-34 victory over Box Hill in a nail-bitingly local rugby union clubs, announced as a finalist close game with scores tied in the last minute. for the 2018 Victorian Disability Awards in the Tomas Klein was named Most Valuable Player category of Excellence in Promoting Health, and Rhys Morton was awarded Best New Talent. Housing and Wellbeing. Our development program at the Royal Also in July, with assistance from our wheelchair Talbot Rehabilitation Centre continues to give rugby development sponsor ETU, we sent a team newcomers the chance to try wheelchair rugby of players to represent Victoria at the annual for the first time. south-east Asian wheelchair rugby competition – the Bali 4’s. In 2018 we introduced a new regional participation program in Echuca to enable people In addition to the Victorian players attending, Naz outside of Melbourne the opportunity to try the Erdem was invited by the Bali Sports Foundation sport.