KATIE LUFF

Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026 
 
ADF Service:   
I was in personnel capability in the Royal Australian Air Force until the end of 2024.  
  
One of my career highlights was on my birthday in 2023, when I had a joy flight in a Herc and got to sit out the back of the plane, flying over Port  Stephens.
 
Other information:  
I am learning to speak Auslan (Australian Sign Language) , and I am studying a Certificate II in Auslan. I hope to continue my studies so I can contribute to making life more accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community.  
 
I have two fur children who run my house. 
 
Age: 31 
 
Hometown: Portsmouth (UK) or Melbourne, Victoria  
 
Current Town: Newcastle, New South Wales  
 
What is the nature of your injury or illness?   
I had ankylosing spondylitis, which may have been triggered during an incident during service. It is a permanent, progressive autoimmune disease that affects my spine and some peripheral joints. I also have PTSD due to a deployment during service 
 
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? 
Sport has played a huge role in my rehabilitation. As I have slowly been losing mobility, I have been exploring different adaptive sports and discovering new ways to stay active, challenge myself and continue to compete. 
 
One of the biggest challenges I have faced is finding somewhere that I fit. In many able-bodied sports, my reduced mobility mean I simply cannot compete on an equal footing. At the same time, in many para-sports, I don’t meet the eligibility or classification requirements. Invictus has given me a space in between - a place where I can compete alongside people who understand the challenges of rehabilitation and disability.  
 
Para Ice Hockey has been incredible for me. I was fortunate enough to be selected for the Australian Women’s Para Ice Hockey Team, travelling to Slovakia last year, and this year we have the incredible opportunity to host the World Championships in Newcastle. 
 
I was first introduced to Para Ice Hockey through my local Invictus Australia representative, who encouraged me to give it a go. That introduction has had a much bigger impact on my life than I could have imagined. Without the support of Invictus Australia, I genuinely believe my physical and mental wellbeing would look very different today. 
 
Attending the Invictus Sports Festival in Germany also reaffirmed just how much adaptive sport means to me. Through the camps leading up to the trip, I was able to try sports and activities that I had previously thought I might never be able to participate in again. Sport has helped me focus on what I can do, rather than what I have lost. 
 
Most importantly, adaptive sport has given me a sense of community. It has helped me socially, rebuilt my confidence and reminded me that I am not alone in navigating changes to my body and mobility. Invictus has given me somewhere I can compete, challenge myself and feel like an athlete again. It has given me opportunities I never expected, friendships I may never otherwise have made, and a reason to keep pushing myself forward. 
 
How have you stayed connected to sport? 
Since the Invictus Germany Sports Festival, I have continued to attend as many local Invictus events that I can and our Germany team group chat is still going strong.  
 
How did it feel being told you will compete for Team Australia?  
I am incredibly honoured to be selected for Perth 2026, and I am excited to reunite with some of my teammates. We all became a big crazy family during that trip and the camaraderie felt very familiar.  
 
What will 'winning' look like for you at the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026? 
Being selected feels like I have won already. While winning a medal would be nice, spending time playing sports with other veterans post-service is the most incredible feeling