Australian Sitting Volleyball Championships: A community through sport
The 2024 Australian Sitting Volleyball Championships, held in Bendigo from 15-16 September, showcased the power of sport to bring people together, regardless of their ability. This open event welcomed teams from across Australia to participate in an inclusive and competitive environment, encouraging players of all backgrounds to connect through the game. The final day of competition delivered an unforgettable display of skill and camaraderie, highlighting the growing influence of sitting volleyball.
For competitors like Carrie-Anne Bishop, the event was more than just a tournament—it marked a continuation of a personal journey that began with the Invictus Games. Carrie-Anne’s involvement in the Games sparked a love for sitting volleyball that has become a vital part of her recovery and life after service.
From the Army to the Sitting Volleyball Court: Carrie-Anne’s Story
Carrie-Anne joined the Australian Army in 2002, fresh out of high school, where she found purpose and pride in wearing the uniform. Serving in the Corps of Transport, she quickly rose to the rank of Corporal and was involved in operations such as border protection in 2003, deployment to Timor-Leste in 2006, and support for the G20 summit in 2014. “I wanted to be in the Defence Force because it gives you an opportunity to help people in ways you don’t get in a normal job,” she recalls. “It was a huge pride to wear the uniform.”
However, her military career took a challenging turn early on when she injured her shoulder during her first year of service. The injury progressively worsened over time, and years of physically demanding work also took a toll on her hips, leading to multiple surgeries. These injuries not only impacted her physically but also disrupted her ability to engage in the sports she loved. When she was discharged from the Army, she faced a difficult transition. “When you leave the Army, where you have a stable job, friends, and support, there’s this big blank space. You have to figure out what to do with the rest of your life,” she explains.
Adding to the challenge was the isolation that often accompanies injury. “Not being able to work and dealing with constant pain makes you feel disconnected, like you’re not needed anymore,” Carrie-Anne says. That’s where sport—and the Invictus Games—played a critical role.
A New Path Through the Invictus Games
Carrie-Anne’s love for sport was rekindled when she learned about the Invictus Games in an unexpected place—on holiday in Canada in 2017. There, she saw posters promoting the upcoming Invictus Games Toronto 2017. The excitement surrounding the Games and the support for military personnel struck a chord with her.
Many months after returning to Australia she connected again with the Invictus Games, this time in an article in a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) newspaper about applying for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. She eagerly submitted her expression of interest and was thrilled to be selected.
Already a seasoned athlete before her injuries, the Games offered her a chance to get back into competitive sport in a new, adaptive way. She applied for the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney and was selected to represent Australia, competing in sitting volleyball as captain of the team, as well as competing in seated discus and shot put.
Carrie-Anne remembers being chosen filling her with a sense of pride, she’d already felt this in serving for her country, but to be able to do that again in sport was elating. The Games provided a platform for Carrie-Anne and others like her to come to terms with their injuries, find a new sense of purpose and a pathway to recovery, all whilst building her social circle back up through the community that sport brings.
The Rise of Sitting Volleyball
It was during her time preparing for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 that Carrie-Anne discovered sitting volleyball. Though she had played indoor volleyball since she was 14, she had never heard of the adaptive version of the sport until then. To her surprise, Australia hadn’t fielded a para sitting volleyball team in 18 years. Embracing this new version of the game, she quickly fell in love with the sport and its inclusive team dynamic.
After the Games, Carrie-Anne joined a local sitting volleyball team in Queensland, but participation was initially low. Determined to grow the sport, she reconnected with a former volleyball teammate who was working with Volleyball Australia to expand the sitting volleyball community. Today, her team meets weekly, and the number of participants has steadily increased, with 40% of the players being veterans. “It’s a great opportunity for veterans to connect with like-minded individuals through sport,” she says.
Bendigo Championships: A Celebration of Inclusion
At the 2024 Australian Sitting Volleyball Championships in Bendigo, Carrie-Anne was proud to see so many veterans competing.
Sport is crucial for veterans, not just for our physical health but for our mental wellbeing. It keeps us engaged with friends and the community.”
she explains. “Many veterans may no longer be able to play traditional sports due to their injuries, but adaptive sports like sitting volleyball give us the chance to stay active and involved.”
The Championships were a celebration of this inclusivity, with teams of all abilities coming together to compete. The final day of the event ended with an exhilarating series of matches, showcasing the diversity and resilience of all players. For Carrie-Anne, the event was a reminder of how sport, whether under the bright lights of the Invictus Games or on the courts of Bendigo, continues to play a crucial role in her recovery and in the lives of so many others.
Since getting back involved with sitting volleyball socially, Carrie-Anne has seen her passion for coaching return, whereby she has recently become requalified, and she is now helping with the coaching of her local team.
Through sitting volleyball, Carrie-Anne and fellow veterans are not just competing—they are building communities, reclaiming their physical and mental health, and proving that resilience extends far beyond the battlefield.
Looking to get involved in sport in your region? Connect with our staff through your regions Facebook group or email support@invictusaustralia.org.
