ANDI KAUER

Invictus Germany Sports Festival 2026

ADF Service: I joined the Army in 1995. During my service, I worked across a range of roles, including as a Driver with 26 Transport Squadron (ARA), and in the GRES as part of 1 Joint Movements Unit and 3rd Military Police. In those roles, I carried responsibility far beyond the wheel—supporting operations, moving personnel and equipment, and ensuring the mission continued no matter the conditions. 
 
After a period away from service, the call to serve never left me. In 2004, I rejoined the Reserves, serving with JMCO Melbourne and later with 3MP at Simpson Barracks.  
In 2010, I was medically discharged from the Army.  

Other information: I am married to my wife Maria, and have 2 boys, Maxx and Jaime. We do everything together.  

My grandmother met the Queen and received an OAM for her volunteer work. I also heard that she and her sister used to play tennis with Errol Flynn, before he became famous! 

Age: 50 

Hometown: Melbourne (Collingwood) 

Current Town: Mordialloc, Victoria 

What is the Nature of your injury or illness?  
During my service, I endured traumatic experiences, which left lasting psychological scars and led to PTSD. The pain I carried was not only physical, but emotional and mental, affecting every part of my life long after my service ended. As a result, I suffer from PTSD, depression, anxiety; lower leg injuries, including knees; hips, back and shoulder injuries. 
 
Sporting background:  I grew up riding horses and kayaking. In 1990, I was then asked to join the first junior women's team for Victoria, for canoe polo, and played with Victoria for many years, then going on to play for Australia in 2017. After my injuries became too much to continue to play, I moved to Wheelchair AFL, and played with the RSL team, and Hawthorn. I've now taken up sitting volleyball. 

When did you first connect with the Invictus Movement?  
In 2025, while playing sitting volleyball for the Australian Sitting Volleyball Championships  in QLD. I have done other local Invictus Australia events with my kids, like Archery, gaming etc. 

What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? 
Sport has made me reconnect with the defence community again; it's shown me what it's like to be able to play with disabilities, and to be able to make new friends and connections I wouldn’t have had anywhere else. Being involved in sports has given me a new goal and new challenges. It has helped me find my assistance dog, and a feeling of family again, as after discharge, I had lost my army family. Now I have a new sports family. 

What is your greatest achievement to date?  
Getting into this team, also winning the first year player for the Hawthorn Victoria Wheelchair AFL team, and also winning the National Wheelchair Comp with the RSL team. 

How did you feel when you were told you would make the team? 
I was so excited to be on the team and be a part of this wonderful program.  
I got straight into training (lucky for me, I'd just finished my "don't do anything" time after having a hysterectomy and a double mastectomy) 

What will ‘winning’ look like for you at this event? 
Just being on the team is winning for me but also connecting with the international community and showing that we are more than our injuries. It's about competing alongside my teammates, sharing our journeys, and supporting each other, regardless of who crosses the finish line first or who wins.