July 29, 2026
Invictus Australia and Freedom Sports Foundation partner to expand adaptive sport opportunities for veterans and families
Invictus Australia and Freedom Sports Foundation have announced a new partnership to create more inclusive and accessible sporting opportunities for current and former serving veterans and their families.
Freedom Sports Foundation will join Invictus Australia as a Community Partner, with both organisations working together to introduce more members of the defence community to adaptive sport and support ongoing participation through inclusive and community-based programs while ensuring local clubs are ready to welcome veterans and families safely.
Sport can be a powerful place for connection, confidence and belonging, but the first step into participation is not always simple.
For current and former serving veterans and their families, barriers to sport can look different. Injury, illness, disability, transition from service, loss of confidence, social isolation or uncertainty about whether a club or community environment will understand their experience can all make it harder to get involved.
Defence families are often an important source of wellbeing, recovery and connection throughout these experiences, making it equally important that they feel welcomed and supported to participate.
The partnership between Invictus Australia and Freedom Sports Foundation is designed to help lower these barriers for the whole defence community.
Together, the organisations will leverage Invictus Australia’s understanding of the defence community’s needs and unique barriers to participate, with Freedom Sports Foundation’s expertise in adaptive sport and practical program delivery, supporting sport environments that are welcoming, veteran-aware and accessible to people of all abilities.
This approach helps more veterans and family members experience the research-backed benefits of sport, including connection, confidence, routine, purpose and a renewed sense of belonging.
Freedom Sports Foundation is a disability-led, lived experience charity committed to building inclusive and connected communities through adaptive sport. Through school, community, corporate and defence programs, the Foundation uses sport to break down barriers, challenge perceptions and create opportunities for people of all abilities to participate, belong and thrive.
The collaboration will also support inclusion education, using sport as a practical way to build understanding, empathy and connection.
Invictus Australia Director Community Participation and Impact, Toni Cumpston, said the partnership reflects the importance of creating the right environment around sport, not just the opportunity to participate.
“Sport has enormous potential to support connection, confidence and wellbeing, but participation needs to feel possible,” Ms Cumpston said.
“For veterans and families, that means knowing they will be welcomed, understood and supported, particularly if they are navigating injury, illness, disability, transition from service or a loss of connection.
“Working with Freedom Sports Foundation allows us to create more opportunities for the defence community to experience adaptive sport in an environment that is practical, inclusive and grounded in community.
“This partnership is about opening doors, reducing barriers and helping more veterans and families see a place for themselves in sport.”
Freedom Sports Foundation Interim Chair Nic Paramanis said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to inclusion, participation and community connection.
“Being part of a Royal Australian Navy family for more than 30 years has given me a deep appreciation of both the strengths and the challenges that many veterans and defence families experience,” Ms Paramanis said.
“I’ve also seen how important it is for children to grow up feeling connected, supported and part of their community. That’s why I’m so proud that Freedom Sports Foundation is partnering with Invictus Australia.
Together, we’re creating opportunities where current and former serving veterans, their families and children can experience the physical, social and emotional benefits of adaptive sport, while discovering the confidence, connection and sense of belonging that comes from being part of an inclusive community.”
Freedom Sports Foundation Founder and Athlete Chris Henderson said his own experience had demonstrated the transformative potential of adaptive sport.
After acquiring a disability later in life, I experienced firsthand how adaptive sport can rebuild confidence, restore connection and open doors you never thought possible,”
“That’s why Freedom Sports Foundation was created to ensure more people, including veterans and their families, have the opportunity to experience those same benefits.
“We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with Invictus Australia to create welcoming environments where people feel supported, included and empowered to discover what’s possible through sport.”
To launch the partnership, Invictus Australia and Freedom Sports Foundation will host a wheelchair sports event in the Mitchell Shire in August, giving current and former serving veterans and their families the opportunity to try adaptive sport in a supportive and inclusive environment. The event marks the first initiative under the partnership, and the beginning of a longer-term collaboration between the two organisations who are dedicated to providing sporting opportunities for veterans and families
No previous experience is required, and the event is open to people of all abilities.
Current and former serving veterans and their families are encouraged to come along to this FREE event, connect with others, and experience wheelchair sport in action. With event details still to be confirmed, join Invictus Australia’s Victorian local Facebook group to secure your spot when event registration goes live:
Stay up to date with the sporting events in your local community by joining your local Facebook group.
related stories
Rodney ‘Rocket’ Cottam, Resilience Through Running
