Veterans Health Week: How Community Sport Connects  

Between November 2025 and February 2026, Invictus Australia delivered a national series of community sporting events as part of Veterans Health Week Grants, supported by the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs. 

Under the theme Connect, Nourish and Move, Invictus Australia focused on the power of connection and movement for the defence community, bringing veterans and families together through inclusive, accessible sport across the country. 

A National Program of Inclusive Sport 

Delivered in collaboration with Invictus Australia’s Community Partners, these events across Australia created welcoming entry points for veterans and families to try something new or reconnect with sport in a supportive environment, across archery, dragon boating, bowls, pickleball and community walks.  

Through a partnership with Archery Australia, veterans and families took part in “Come & Try” archery days across South East Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. For many, archery offered not just focus and skill-building, but a calm, structured environment where connection happened naturally, with many attendees choosing to become members of the archery clubs these events were held at.  

On the water, dragon boat programs delivered alongside The Australian Dragon Boat Federation brought teams together in a sport built on rhythm and collective effort. Veterans and family members paddled side-by-side in Canberra, Townsville, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, reinforcing the sense of camaraderie so familiar to many from their service. 

Our local engagement team worked alongside Bowls Australia and Pickleball Australia to deliver come and try events. Across the country, local clubs opened their doors for social, accessible participation in lawn bowls and pickleball. These club-based sessions provided informal, low-barrier opportunities to reconnect, whether that meant returning to sport after injury, bringing along family members, or simply meeting others in the local community. 

Lastly, through a series of Invictus Australia Community Walks delivered in partnership with The Man Walk, veterans joined established walking groups in locations spanning Western Australia to Queensland. Invictus Australia representatives, including Invictus Games alumni attended each walk, inviting male veterans and family members to connect and presenting special challenge coins in recognition of service to the veterans in attendance. Post walk, the groups connected over coffee, adopting the Man Walk’s ethos of connection with no judgement, pressure or expectations. New attendees were welcomed instantly into these events, gaining support from these established groups. 

As one participant reflected: “It’s rare that you can walk into a big group of people like that and feel instantly welcomed.” 

Collaboration in Action 

By working alongside National Sporting Organisations, affiliated clubs and community networks, Invictus Australia was able to extend its reach and embed veterans and families into existing community structures. 

This approach reflects Invictus Australia’s broader commitment to collaboration as a vehicle for impact. Rather than creating isolated programs, they focus on building pathways into mainstream sport and community activity, ensuring veterans and families can continue participating in sports they are interested in by providing an avenue to sporting club membership. 

It is this kind of cross-sector collaboration that aligns strongly with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which highlighted the importance of strengthening social connection, improving preventative health approaches and fostering coordinated community responses to support wellbeing. 

Sport alone cannot solve complex challenges. But as a practical, accessible tool, it can reduce isolation, create routine, rebuild confidence and re-establish purpose, protective factors that matter deeply in the context of mental wellbeing. 

Movement as Prevention 

By creating environments where veterans and families feel welcomed, valued and understood, events like this contribute to protective networks that extend beyond the sport itself. 

Toni Cumpston, Director, Community Participation and Impact at Invictus Australia, said the impact of the program has been felt far and wide; 

Through these events, we saw how simple, inclusive sporting activities can open the door to renewed confidence, meaningful connection and a sense of belonging. When veterans and families move together, they reconnect not only with sport, but with community. That connection is powerful.”

TONI CUMPSTON

DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND IMPACT, INVICTUS AUSTRALIA

Veterans and family members interested in participating in future community sporting events are encouraged to stay connected with Invictus Australia and explore upcoming opportunities in their region by joining their local Facebook group (below);

• ACT Local Facebook group
• SA Local Facebook group
• Sth East QLD Facebook group
• Nth QLD Facebook group
• Nth NSW Local Facebook group
• Sydney and Central Coast Facebook Group
• NSW Sth Coast Local Facebook group
• Victoria Facebook Group
• WA Facebook Group
• TAS Facebook Group
• NT Facebook Group