2019 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival
Tuesday 3 December – 10am to 3pm

The 2019 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival promotes and celebrates physically active lifestyles for people of all abilities and will be happening on Tuesday 3 December from 10am to 3pm at Crown Riverwalk.

The festival marks International Day of People with Disability and includes a variety of fun and challenging activities, featuring three activity zones and over 30 exhibitors, offering a range of exciting, inclusive and modified sports for people to come and try and learn about programs you can get involved with in your community.

“Our vision is a Victoria where there is better choice and access for people with disability who want to meaningfully engage with sport and active recreation,” said Richard Amon, CEO of Disability Sport and Recreation.

“Through our festival, we hope to see more Victorians with disability finding an activity that’s right for them and taking part in their communities.”

The Law Enforcement Torch Run, with over 100 Victoria Police and Special Olympics athletes running from the Victoria Police Centre with the Flame of Hope to light the cauldron at the Festival, will be a highlight of the day’s events.

Another drawcard is the AFL Wheelchair Corporate Challenge which pits corporate teams against one another after a training session with AFL Wheelchair players.

Specialist schools are invited to take part in the Get Active Challenge which allows students with disability to engage and learn about sport and recreation through active participation at the festival.

There will also be Paralympians to meet, giant wheelchair puppets and the Vision Australia Radio live broadcast.

Jason Lees is a two-time Paralympic wheelchair rugby player with the Australian Steelers and will be running the wheelchair rugby come and try activity at the Festival.

Maria Strong is competing at the upcoming 2019 World Para-athletics Championships in Dubai and will be helping with the Race Running come and try activity at the festival.

The Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival offers Victorians with, and without, disability the opportunity to explore and experience accessible and inclusive sport and recreation through hands-on activities and information sharing.

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Come and celebrate International Day of People with Disability by getting active!

For more information, please visit:

https://dsr.org.au/about-the-festival/

Event details:

Where: Crown Riverwalk, Southbank (between Queensbridge Street and Rockpool Bar & Grill)

When: Tuesday 3 December, 2019

Start Time: 10am to 3pm

FREE

The festival is proudly supported by City of Melbourne, the Carbine Club, WorkSafe Victoria, VicHealth and Craig Wetjen Photography.

About Disability Sport & Recreation

We are a for-purpose organisation with a proud history of over 55 years of supporting Victorians with disability to get physically active. Our mission is to provide and promote positive health outcomes for people with a disability through participation in sport and recreation. Our vision is a community where there is access and equity for all.

Key stats

Over 1.1 million Victorians identify as living with disability.

Victorians with disability are 40% less likely to be physically active than Victorians without disability.

Victorians with disability are 25% less likely to feel positive about their community and half as likely to feel safe walking around alone during the day as people without disability.

75% of people with disability who already play sport, want to play more.

83% of people with disability who don’t play sport, want to become active.

In 2018, 40% of festival attendees surveyed said they had found a new sport or recreational activity to take part in.

Key barriers to participation

The attitudes of the wider community (including welcoming environments), awareness of what’s available, costs, transport, support personnel (when required), club fees and lack of peer support networks (to feel socially connected and included) appear to be major barriers to participation.

The objective of the Festival is to address some of these key barriers by providing a one-stop-shop for people with disability to become aware, explore and try different types of inclusive sport and recreational activities.

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