jim xinos

Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026  
 
ADF Service: 
I enlisted in the RAAF in January 1986 as a Technologist Apprentice. After 3 years of general and specialist training at RAAF Base Wagga, I worked on F/A-18 Hornet aircraft avionics systems and aircraft operations at RAAF Bases Williamtown and Tindal until qualifying as a Systems Technician in 1994. I then supported air mobility systems at RAAF Richmond, before deciding to Commission as an Engineering Officer in 1996. From there, I had an extremely diverse career spanning most of our Australian bases and military assets, including senior engineering and maintenance roles for aircraft, ground support equipment and airbase infrastructure. 
  
There have been numerous highlights during my career, but to pick a few, I would say:  
My deployment to Iraq in 2004/5 as part of an Iraqi Elections Think-tank, leading to my appointment as the Multinational-Force Liaison Officer to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq;  
My Command of 383 Squadron, a rapidly deployable, agile unit designed to establish ADF airfield operations in any location at very short notice;  
My role as Chief of Staff and Deputy Head of Australian Defence Staff at the Australian High Commission in London, where I was the primary military liaison to the UK Royal Household and Queen's Guard, and organiser of ADF involvement in commemorative events including the Queen's Jubilee, the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh and the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen herself.  
 
 Unfortunately, more than a decade of high-pressure jobs eventually took its toll, resulting in a breakdown in 2023 and a long period of care and attempted rehabilitation before I was medically retired in February 2025, having completed 39 years and 1 month of Service. 

Other Information
Outside of the Christmas season, when I magically transform into Santa Claus, I’m now fully retired. I love being part of the joy that Christmas brings to children and adults alike. 
These days, our world revolves around home renovations, motorcycling, adaptive sports, and our two beautiful doodle dogs, Archie and Molly. 
 
We have six wonderful children whom we’re incredibly proud of, and two of them were recently married, a milestone that has brought even more joy into our family. 

Age: 58       
        
Hometown: While I was born in the UK, I lived in East and South Africa before my family immigrated to Australia when I was 5 years old. My formative schooling years from age 7-17 were in Townsville, which I consider to be my hometown.  

Current town: Ipswich, QLD

What is the nature of your injury/ illness? 
In the last few years of my career, my mental health deteriorated due to stress and cognitive decline. My conditions were attributed to prolonged stress, but may also be attributed to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from numerous concussions over my career, including from a mortar explosion in Iraq.

What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? 
Sport has always been an important part of my life. Growing up, I was involved in team sports including soccer and baseball, and I have always enjoyed the sense of belonging and camaraderie that comes from being part of a team. 
Since my injuries, sport has taken on an even greater meaning, and it has become an important part of my rehabilitation. I currently play sledge hockey, and whenever I can get on the ice, I enjoy it immensely. While the physical benefits of getting back into sport have been important, it is the friendships and social connections that make the greatest impact. 
Being around people who are motivated, resilient and determined to challenge themselves encourages me to do the same. When you surround yourself with people who believe in their own ability to improve and overcome challenges, that attitude becomes contagious. It makes you want to push yourself, set new goals and become a better version of yourself. 
 For me, sport has provided more than physical rehabilitation. It has given me a community, renewed confidence, a sense of purpose and most importantly, friendships with people who understand the challenges of adapting and moving forward. 

How have you stayed connected to sport? 
Involvement with Invictus Australia activities makes you part of the IA family. We stay in contact through our various sports, social media and chat apps, sharing our activities, successes and challenges freely within a community we understand and trust. This remains both a source of comfort and empowerment, which is difficult to describe. 

How did it feel being told you will compete for Team Australia? 
Being selected as part of Team Australia for the Invictus Germany Sports Festival was a moment I was truly proud of. My wife Debbie, who is also a veteran, was unfortunate not to be selected on that occasion, but we supported each other throughout the journey, and this time around, I’m excited that we’ve both been chosen for the Invictus Australia Sports Festival in Perth. I’m really looking forward to supporting Debbie in her training and competition, just as she has always supported me. And I’m quietly hoping we’re teamed up in the Pickleball doubles as the formidable team DJX, that would make the experience even more special. 


What will 'winning' look like for you at the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026? 
If I can leave Perth feeling even a fraction of the warmth, positivity and gratitude that I felt after Germany, I will consider that success. Winning a gold medal in the Sitting Volleyball (after taking the silver medal in Germany), smashing my PB in Indoor Rowing and putting in a strong performance in Pickleball wouldn't go astray either.