2019/20 Annual Report Covering the period 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 Paralympics Australia Ltd Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame Address: Frank Ponta Building A, 1 Herb Elliott Avenue, Louise Sauvage OAM Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, 2127 Kevin Coombs OAM Tracey Freeman Postal address: David Hall OAM PO Box 596, Daphne Hilton Sydney Markets, NSW, 2129 Sir George Bedbrook OBE P +61 2 9704 0500 Ron Finneran OAM E [email protected] Adrienne Smith OAM Contents W www.paralympic.org.au ABN 41810 234 213 | ACN 061 547 957 02 Message from the President 04 Message from the Chief Executive Officer 06 About Paralympics Australia 08 Finance 10 Message from Sport Australia 13 Games Delivery 19 Performance Services 24 Para-sport Reports 41 Commercial and Marketing 49 Communications 55 Stakeholder Engagement 58 Corporate Operations 60 IT Operations 61 Sponsor Family Cover: 2020 Australian Paralympic Team co-captains Ryley Batt and Danni Di Toro This page: Vanessa Low 2 Paralympics Australia ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 3 Among our world’s best female and Minister Colbeck in Canberra to Games coming up in quick succession Message from the President governance, I was thrilled to see discuss the strategic direction of the next year and in 2022, followed shortly our Chief Executive Officer Lynne IPC and Paralympic Movement, the after by the Commonwealth Games. Anderson earn the Award for strength of Para-sport in Australia and There is much work ahead and an Leadership at the AIS’s Sport a potential bid for the 2032 Olympic uncertain environment in which to It’s in the tough times that our best allocated to Para-programs for Performance Awards. Lynne received and Paralympic Games. do it. But, as we have shown over qualities come to the fore, so it’s no wheelchair rugby, archery, men’s this prestigious recognition at the end The bid became a reality two months the past 12 months, our people are surprise to me that the Australian wheelchair basketball, triathlon, of 2019, during which she oversaw new later when Queensland Premier resilient, passionate and united. Paralympic family has risen so shooting, boccia, and canoe. I would government investment, a landmark Annastacia Palaszczuk announced We have outstanding people within admirably to the challenges we’ve like to extend my gratitude to Sport media rights deal, the launch of the her state would seek to host the 2032 our organisation and have strong been presented. Australia, led by Chairman John Wylie new Paralympics Australia brand Games. On behalf of Paralympics partnerships in government, business, and Chief Executive Rob Dalton, and new partnerships with sponsors, The past year has delivered obstacles Australia, I applauded the Premier’s media and across the sports industry. and AIS Director Peter Conde, for suppliers and supporters. the likes of which we’ve never decision and offered our strong their unwavering support of these We are also backed by our Para- experienced. The bushfire disaster last Recognition on a fitting scale was support. Hosting a second Paralympic programs. athletes, whose informed and summer, the COVID-19 pandemic and forthcoming also for Greg Hartung, Games in Australia 32 years after the important input continues to be valued the subsequent postponement of the Amid this defining announcement, I who during his 16 years as President success of Sydney 2000 would define both in Australia and internationally. Tokyo Paralympics have tested us in was pleased to welcome three new of Paralympics Australia until a new generation of sporting talent Three-time Winter Paralympian many different ways. Yet, the mettle, Directors to our Paralympics Australia his retirement in 2013, made a and have a hugely constructive impact Mitchell Gourley joined PA’s Athletes’ unity and compassion shown by our Board. Former Chief Justice of the monumental contribution domestically on the wider Australian community. Commission that addressed key issues people has reinforced to me what a Queensland Supreme Court, Tim and internationally by increasing Positive legacy is a big part of what this year while Kurt Fearnley’s election special place Paralympics Australia is. Carmody, Chief Operating Officer of support and respect for athletes we aim for within our Movement and as Vice-Chair of the IPC’s Athletes’ Frizelle Sunshine Prestige, Rebecca with disabilities. Greg received the it is here I would like to make special Council strengthens our visibility of During these unprecedented Frizelle and Paralympic gold medallist, Paralympic Order from International and solemn mention of two revered issues facing athletes with a disability times, I am pleased to report that Grant Mizens, bring unique and Paralympic Committee President members of our Paralympic family, across every continent. our relationship with the Federal important skill sets to the Board at Andrew Parsons at a special ceremony Glenn Tasker and Kieran Modra, Government has only strengthened. a pivotal time in our organisation’s in Sydney last October. It is the highest who we lost in tragic circumstances I ask you to join me in embracing the We are grateful to the Federal history. Tim, Rebecca and Grant honour presented to an administrator during the year. Glenn was President next year with the kind of confidence Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator extend our Board of Directors from in the Paralympic Movement and I can of Paralympics Australia from 2013 to and enthusiasm that makes our Richard Colbeck, whose confirmation six to nine members, including five think of no more worthy recipient. 2018 and was an outstanding leader Para-athletes the best in the world of significant funding for high men and four women. and colleague. Kieran was a five- and makes Paralympics Australia performance sport over the next two I was delighted to host Mr Parsons the special place it is. Across Paralympics Australia we time Paralympic gold medallist, but years provided much needed certainty during his visit to Australia, the continue to lead the way in gender his positive impact on the Australian to our national sporting organisations. first by an IPC President in more equality. Apart from the Board, Paralympic Teams he featured on than a decade. The IPC is currently women represent 55 per cent of the between 1988 and 2016 went so far It has enabled our Para-athletes undertaking a Governance Review, Senior Executive Team and 64 per beyond his competitive performances. to stay focused on what they do which PA is contributing to, which has cent of the Athlete Commission, The loss of both Glenn and Kieran best - striving for excellence as they two simple objectives: to listen and to Jock O’Callaghan including the Chair and Vice Chair. devastated our Movement and we work towards the rescheduled Tokyo learn from key stakeholders in order President On International Women’s Day we will always be indebted to the Games, the Beijing Winter Paralympics to ensure the IPC is more membership Paralympics Australia were honoured by the International contribution both of them made to and the Birmingham Commonwealth focused and athlete-centred. Mr Paralympic Committee for our global Australian Paralympic sport. Games. Parsons certainly took that opportunity leadership in this area. The IPC with both hands during his time on our It has certainly been a year like no The Minister’s commitment was recognised Paralympics Australia as shores. Among several important and other. Without doubt, further major backed by the Australian Institute the world’s best National Paralympic productive engagements, together we challenges lie ahead, not least of Sport, which announced that Committee for promoting women in met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison Summer and Winter Paralympic an additional $1.5 million would be sport in 2020. 4 Paralympics Australia ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 5 produced by PA that features input core organisations forming a key peak In September 2020, we all received a Message from the Chief from experts from a range of high- agency for sport and physical activity huge boost when we had the honour performance fields and the best table for Australians with a disability. The of naming our first 10 Para-athletes for Executive Officer tennis knowledge in Australia. Alliance is supported and funded by next year’s Games. Having launched our wonderful Tokyo 2020 uniforms Sport Australia and I thank Chair John Despite being confined to online before the event, we announced Para- Wylie and his Board for their backing. sessions, our Paralympic Education athletics competitors who had earned Program has advanced, educating One of the things I love most about at the Para-swimming World For all our achievements over the past qualification through their results at students Australia-wide about the the magnificent Para-athletes we Series in Melbourne in February. year, it would be false to say it’s been the World Championships in Dubai. It Paralympic movement and teaching was an exciting reminder that, despite support is that they are champions all smooth sailing. Our athletes and at finding the silver lining in any When the 2020 Games were them about inclusion, resilience and the hitches and hindrances, we will staff have done it tough. Sometimes situation. postponed, we gave our unequivocal disability. never sway from our target. As I said that silver lining has been hard to find. support to the IPC and IOC for the at the time, the message is clear: we’re As part of the ethos of inclusivity It is by their example that our decision and vowed to leave no stone But I’m immensely proud of the way in full swing for Tokyo and we’ll be that’s entrenched in our DNA, we organisation has been guided in the unturned to provide an optimal we have forged ahead regardless.