Case study
Diane Jackson
Royal Australian Air Force veteran, Warrior Games alumni
overview
Di joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1990 as a supply clerk serving in Darwin and Amberley doing roles such as procurement, air movements and squadron logistics. In 2001 she commissioned to become a logistics officer serving in Darwin, doing roles such as tri-service logistics, catering, base operations and air movements. Her final posting to Canberra in 2010 saw a shift in skill set, with her taking on a role in work, health and safety. Di held the position of hazardous chemicals project manager until her medical discharge in 2017.
challenge
Di was medically discharge from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 2017 due to hereditary spastic paraplegia, a degenerative condition that progressively weakens the lower limbs.
“Building muscle capacity really helps me face the challenges of my illness, the theory is that you can delay progression by increasing muscle mass,” she said.
Despite facing the challenges of her diagnosis, like spasticity, foot drop and neurogenic pain, she remained committed to staying active. Upon her discharge from the RAAF, Di took to lawn bowls and powerlifting to keep her active, strong and connected post service.
Journey
Di’s drive to stay active led her to the DoD Warrior Games Florida in 2024, an adaptive sports competition for current and former military personnel. The experience not only reignited her competitive spirit but also reconnected her with the camaraderie of service.
“The military is your family. When you discharge, it can feel like that family is gone. Sport helps you find that group again, where people understand military service, share your interests and support one another.”
Initially hesitant to apply for the Warrior Games, Di was encouraged by her physiotherapist, who urged her weekly to submit her application. “She nagged me every week to put it in. She said I should just put my name forward and see how it goes, then I got accepted!”
Getting into the team and competing alongside other veterans proved life changing for Di. “They [the team] challenge you and inspire you to try things you never thought achievable,” Di said.
Since discharging, Di has explored multiple sports to remain active, lawn bowls keeps her engaged with her community, archery and hand cycling help her focus on upper body precision and control, while powerlifting has pushed her to new personal bests.
Since Warrior Games she competed in powerlifting at the Pan Pacific Masters Games 2024 alongside 64 other veterans competing in Team Veteran with the support of Invictus Australia, taking out the gold in her category.
For Jackson, archery and hand cycling were new sports discovered during the Warrior Games. Now a key focus, archery has seen her identified through Archery Australia’s Green and Gold Talent Search as a potential Paralympic pathway athlete. She’s also pursuing opportunities in hand cycling and powerlifting, using sport to drive her recovery and future goals.
today
Post-Warrior Games, Di has stayed connected with fellow competitors, drawing inspiration from their sporting journeys. “It’s great to see what people are still doing with their sport. It really is inspiring and pushes me to step out of my comfort zone and do my best too.”
Focused on powerlifting and archery, Di remains determined to push her limits. Her next goal is to qualify for major para competitions and continue proving to herself and others that a diagnosis does not define one’s potential.
Give it a go because you’ll never look back. Find a pathway, follow it and see how far you can go. And don’t take no for an answer, just keep pushing ahead and achieving what you want to achieve.”
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With 100 days to go until the @ausmastersgames, we are counting down the days until Team Veteran connects on the ground, in Canberra.
Veterans, current serving ADF members and families are invited to join us for a week of sport, connection and community.
Team Veteran is not a specific team in any one sport of the Australian Masters Games, it offers a connection point for those who are a part of the defence community, whether volunteering or competing, to come together and cheer for each other over the course of the Australian Masters Games.
Veterans and families can compete as part of their local sport team and in addition be part of Team Veteran during the Games. Plus, those who sign up to Team Veteran get 25% off their registration.
Learn more and get involved via the link in bio
#TeamVeteran #AMG2025 #InvictusAustralia #VeteransInSport #100DaysToGo
💬 “Sport helps me manage pain, rebuild my fitness, and feel in control of my own survival.” — Captain Olivia Miley-Dyer
After being diagnosed with advanced thyroid cancer during the pandemic, Olivia turned to sport to help rebuild not just her body, but her life.
In February this year, she proudly represented Team Australia at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, competing in biathlon, swimming, nordic skiing, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing. Post Games, Olivia is using movement to stay strong, stay connected and embrace every opportunity that comes her way.
🎙️ In a powerful episode of the Enhanced Effort Podcast, Olivia joins Run Rocket Run hosts Rodney Cottam and Chris Patterson to reflect on resilience, recovery and the power of showing up for yourself and others.
Listen to the full story on Spotify.
@invictusgames25 @livvyrose00 @runrocketrun
#InvictusAustralia #TeamVeteran #RunRocketRun #VeteranStories #ResilienceThroughSport #EnhancedEffort #InvictusGames
With over 200 expressions of interest last year, the Adaptive Sports Program is incredibly competitive and not being selected can be tough.
However, there are still so many ways to stay connected through sport, with local opportunities across the country that support your recovery and growth.