Pete o'connell

Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026

ADF Service:   
I joined the RAAF in 1992 , serving initially as an Air Surveillance Operator for eight years before transferring to be an Air Traffic Controller Officer (ATCO) in 2001.  I enjoyed postings to RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Williamtown, Amberley, Glenbrook, Darwin, Townsville and East Sale.  
 
I also served operationally as part of Operations Falconer and Catalyst in Iraq in 2003.   
The majority of my career was as an operational ATCO. However, I also served as an ATC Instructor at the School of Air Traffic Control (SATC) for three years, and then as the Chief Instructor for the final 12 months of my four-year posting at SATC.    
 
My final posting was as the Flight Commander of Townsville ATC, where I was responsible for the management of all ATC operations in the Townsville region.   
 
I have several highlights from my 31 years in service; however, the one that stands out is developing an entirely new traffic management plan for the Townsville aviation region. This project took me five years and resulted in a complete revamp of all departure and arrival routes in, out, and within the Townsville region. The most significant outcome from this work was the safety improvements it delivered for aviation safety in Townsville.    
 
I separated from the ADF in August 2023.  
 
I was also fortunate to represent the ADF in two sports, these being AFL and Touch Footy. The complexities of life over the past decade have resulted in me becoming quite isolated from the 'world'; however, my memories of these experiences remind me of the intrinsic value that team and community sport activities can have on both physical and mental wellbeing.   
 
The opportunity to be an Invictus competitor excites me to no end, as it has become the catalyst for me to reintegrate back into the community.  
 
Other information:  
I’m now retired and volunteer as the secretary for a local veteran support agency, a role I find genuinely rewarding. It allows me to support others who need it while also giving me a renewed sense of purpose after three decades in the ADF. 
 
I love mountain biking, dabbling in a bit of music, and spending time with my family. 
 
Age: 54 
 
Hometown: Numurkah, Victoria. 
 
Current town: Townsville, Queensland 
 
What is the nature of your injury or illness?   
 My 'situation' is a little bizarre, to me at least.  I have multiple mental health diagnoses, which include service-related PTSD.   
And along with several physical conditions (which include knee, elbow and neck injuries), I have complex facial pain which is worsened by stress and anxiety.   
Exercise goes a long way in helping me manage the facial pain, but it can sometimes worsen my physical injuries. It's a tricky balancing act. 
 
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? 
Exercise in general has been a lifeline for me since leaving the ADF. The short-term benefits that flow from being 'active' serve as a natural painkiller for some of the chronic conditions I live with, and it also provides me with a small sense of purpose, something I lost after leaving service and have since been struggling to rediscover.  
 
Prior to my participation in the Invictus Germany Sports Festival, the exercise I completed was solely individual-based, and whilst it provided a myriad of physical benefits, it didn't help with my increasing tendency to withdraw from the community. Since Germany, I have found a local community through Invictus, which has been the missing string in my bow. 
 
Being introduced to the Adaptive Sports Program (offered by Invictus Australia) has shown me the incredible benefits that come from a team/community focussed sporting mindset, and I am now enjoying the many benefits that come from being active within a community of like-minded individuals. In terms of rehabilitation, this has been the one component that was lacking for me until now. 
 
How have you stayed connected to sport? 
Although it has been a little while since I attended due to injury, I am now actively engaged in a regular rowing activity with Invictus North Queensland, and I also catch up with teammates and other people I've met through Invictus on a semi-regular basis.             
 
 
How did it feel being told you will compete for Team Australia? 
A mixture of great pride, nervousness and even a little bit of imposter syndrome, mainly because I didn't feel worthy of such a great opportunity. It felt like there were plenty more people out there more suited and deserving. Having had some time to process the selection, the overriding feeling is gratitude for the opportunity, and a sense of pride in being able to represent my community in such a worthy endeavour.      
 
What will 'winning' look like for you at the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026? 
Watching the joy that my teammates and other participants get from being involved in 'community' and the sense of purpose this concept provides me.