Sport and the Global Invictus movement support the recovery journey of injured veteran
For many veterans, the battle does not end when discharged from the military. The physical and mental toll of serving can lead to a long, and at times difficult post service journey. This is all too familiar for RAAF veteran Daniel when a service-related accident left him with both physical and mental wounds, resulting in a long and arduous recovery. Eventually, Daniel learnt he could use sport to aid his recovery, which is where he discovered the Invictus movement.
Daniel’s Story
Daniel served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for seven years. Starting in the RAAF’s Security Police before transitioning to the Air Force Police, he performed a variety of duties, from general policing tasks to security work. He deployed both domestically and internationally, experiencing the camaraderie and purpose of military life.
In 2013, while deployed, a non-combat accident shattered Daniel’s world. The car he was driving flipped multiple times after it was pushed off the road by another vehicle at high speed. The incident left Daniel with a range of injuries to his knee, shoulder and spine, which inevitably caused his mental health to deteriorate, eventually leading to a diagnosis of PTSD and depression. Despite surgeries, physiotherapy and rehabilitation efforts, his mental and physical health continued to worsen, due to the aggravation of these injuries and his poor headspace.
This feeling began to weave its way into the rest of Daniel’s life, leading to social isolation, the breakdown of relationships and several hospitalisations to acute psychiatric care.
With time, work and medical intervention, Daniel’s mental health began to slowly improve. While he still had daily struggles and tough periods, he was able to strengthen his headspace and foster self-belief. This newfound self-confidence pushed Daniel to join a gym in late 2022 and from there his recovery journey took off. His physical fitness is now comparable to his pre-accident years – a level he never thought it would be at again, and he has learnt to work around his ongoing injuries that previously restricted him.
Finding Strength in Sport
Sport has always been a large part of Daniel’s life. When he served in the RAAF, he routinely took part in social competitions. When he was injured and discharged from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), he no longer considered himself well enough to continue to partake in the thing he loved. He began to miss the camaraderie the RAAF had provided. However, by using physical activity to aid in the improvement of his physical and mental health, he has discovered his love for sport again. He began coaching his son’s junior touch football team, which “gave [him] a sense of being involved in the team environment… it filled a hole [in his life].”
He is also heavily involved in his local functional fitness gym, which has had a massive impact on helping him to strengthen his body and restore his confidence. However, Daniel knows that the greatest impact has been on his mental health
The support, encouragement and motivation at the gym, it is reminisce of the military environment. It has allowed me to have the confidence to try new things.”
It was from the confidence he gained through engaging in sport that led him to discover the Invictus local and global movements.
A New Chapter with Invictus Australia and the Invictus Games Foundation
In August of last year, Daniel attended his first Invictus Australia event after he connected with his local Veteran Engagement Manager, Justine. Funded by the Invictus Games Foundation, Daniel received free entry to his local True Grit obstacle course, where he competed alongside Aussie veterans as part of Team Veteran, established by Invictus Australia. For Daniel, attending this event was a huge step in his recovery journey, and one that paid off.
“The opportunity to be in that environment with Justine and other current and former serving veterans was something else. It really revitalised me. It made me realise how much I missed that environment and motivated me to try and chase that feeling and look at what else was around.”
Since then, Daniel has been a regular at Justine’s local Invictus Australia community sporting events. He brought his 5-year-old son Ares along to a Community Day in Springfield, has been entertained by wheelchair rugby and has grown to love an Invictus Australia community favourite, pickleball.
This was not where Daniel’s Invictus journey ended. While on the Invictus Games Foundation’s ‘We are Invictus’ app, an online community for wounded, injured or sick veterans, he applied to attend a trek in Borneo. His application was successful, and Daniel found himself preparing to follow the Sandakan-Ranua death marches and hike Mt Trusmadi.
Daniel knew nobody attending this event, which saw veterans from the UK, NZ, Germany, Canada and America meet in Malaysia for this Invictus Adventure. His anxiety was high, however Daniel also felt “an air of confidence. [He] was looking forward to the challenge and being around other veterans again.”
The trip was transformative for Daniel and made him realise he can gain the camaraderie and support the defence force gave him through sport.
“The journey to the top, as well as the trek through the death march route, the stories shared along the journey, the laughter and tears, the pain and discomfort, it really was worth every moment. It was an environment that I really craved and enjoyed. The support and encouragement, non-judgemental environment, – it was amazing. Can’t really put it all into words how I felt.”
Looking Forward
Daniel’s story is a testament to the transformative power of sport, community, and the Invictus movement. He continues to turn to sport daily for his overall health and wellbeing.
“Sport has always had a role in my life. It always provided a sense of belonging. It is the closest I have come to the environment of being in the military.”
A completely different man to the one who was medically discharged from the military 10 years ago, Daniel’s future is looking bright. He is keen to continue to challenge himself and has been inspired by his connection with both Invictus Australia and the Invictus Games Foundations. After building solid foundations through sport and his health care providers, he has set himself a new goal: qualifying for the Invictus Games Team Australia for 2027.
This has proven to me that I am not alone, I am capable, and I am enough. Now I want to chase my goal and test myself.”
Looking to get involved in sport in your region? Connect with our staff through your regions Facebook group or email support@invictusaustralia.org
