Australia’s Invictus Games bid intentions strengthened by strong alumni support 

Australia’s intention to submit a bid to host the Invictus Games 2031 has gained strong and immediate support from its alumni community. Having experienced the Invictus Games and the impact it’s had on their health, recovery and rehabilitation, competitors want to pay it forward and have others experience the same. 

For many Alumni, the Invictus Games were a pivotal moment in their recovery journey – a catalyst for improved health, renewed purpose, and strengthened connection following physical injury, illness, or mental health challenges. Their support for this  venture reflects a shared desire to ensure future competitors and their families can experience the same lifechanging impact. 

Since the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014, 227 Australians have had the honour of representing the nation on the Invictus stage. Of these, 72 experienced the extraordinary privilege of competing at home during Invictus Games Sydney 2018. 

Alumni voices underscore the transformative power of the Games 

“For some people, the Games are a sporting event. For those of us who have lived it… they are something else entirely,” Team Invictus Australia alumnus Rachel Kerrigan said.    

The Invictus Games Orlando 2016 competitor is a powerful example of the influence of the Games to spark a passion for sport, and a new path after navigating trauma and transition. 

“I had completely lost my sense of identity and purpose,” Kerrigan continued.   

“I was trying to work out where I belonged again. 

“Invictus opened a door I didn’t know existed. 

“Through the Games – and later through working with Invictus Australia – I was surrounded by some of the most extraordinary people I have ever met. Athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, veterans, supporters and staff who quietly demonstrate what courage and resilience actually look like. 

“Invictus reminded me that recovery isn’t about going back to who you were. 

“It’s about discovering who you can become. 

“Bringing the Games back to Australia would create that opportunity for so many more veterans and their families. 

“And I will be cheering this bid on every step of the way. Because I know what these Games can do. 

“They don’t just change lives. They help people rebuild them,” she said.  

You can read more about Rachel’s extraordinary journey, here 

Olivia Miley-Dyer, a member of the most recent Australian Invictus Games Team in Whistler–Vancouver, is equally supportive of Invictus Australia’s bid intentions. She emphasised the importance of ensuring both competitors and their families can experience the same transformative journey. 

“Being part of the Invictus team gave me connection, purpose and wellbeing at a time in my life when cancer had taken so much from me and I was struggling with the realities of ’learning to live with cancer,” Miley-Dyer said.  

The Invictus Games Family & Friends Program – a unique component of the event – allows each competitor to bring two supporters with them. This ensures the impact of the Games extends far beyond the competitors themselves, strengthening relationships and supporting recovery at a family level. 

A legacy already written – and ready to grow 

The impact of hosting the Invictus Games is already evident in Australia. The formation of Invictus Australia was the key legacy outcome of Invictus Games Sydney 2018. Now in its eighth year, the organisation has established a national footprint, partnering with sport and community organisations to deliver opportunities for all veterans and their families. 

In 2025, Invictus Australia’s team of eight Veteran Engagement Specialists – based in communities with high veteran populations – facilitated more than 300 sport events, enabling almost 9,000 veterans and family members to participate. This takes the total number of veterans and families supported through Invictus Australia’s work since 2018, to almost 30,000. 

What makes the Invictus Games unique is that it is not about winning – the Games are fundamentally about recovery and rehabilitation, and what comes next. The Invictus Games Foundation stipulates that a competitor may attend a maximum of two Invictus Games, helping to promote diversity and maximise the reach and influence of the event.  

For the Australian alumni – veterans and serving personnel who have previously represented the nation on the Invictus stage – the Games are a catalyst for rehabilitation, connection, and renewed purpose. 

“The Invictus Games helped me on my recovery journey, it gave me back community and generated the strength I needed to continue my fight,” said Invictus Games Vancouver-Whistler 2025 competitor and Team Australia co-captain, Doug Griffiths.  

“I’m backing Invictus Australia’s intention to bid for 2031 so more veterans and families can experience that same life-changing impact that sport can provide,” he said.  

A call for national support 

As momentum builds, Invictus Australia is inviting the public, partners, and stakeholders to learn more about the bid and demonstrate their support. Broad community backing will play a vital role in determining if Invictus Australia moves ahead with a formal bid submission.   

You can learn more about the bid and show your support: https://invictusaustralia.org/our-bid