AISL and the Australian Sports Commission are currently conducting surveys to determine the status in Australia. Explanation letter Club Survey Individual Survey Australia is recognised as a world leader in the development of opportunities in sport for people with a disability. It was clear after the dust settled from the Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000 that sport for people with a disability is progressing rapidly across the world and that Australia will need to make changes to maintain its place at the top. Following the announcement of the Australian Government's policy document, Backing Australia's Sporting Ability - A more active Australia in late 2001, the Australian Sports Commission, our Principal Partner, began to examine what measures were required to ensure Australia remained at the forefront. As a result, Project CONNECT was launched in October 2002. CONNECT stands for Creating Opportunities Nationally through Networks in Education, Classification and Training. Project CONNECT aims to provide national sporting organisations with assistance in meeting the needs of people with a disability within their sport. Its two main focus areas are:
~Creating athlete pathways for people with a disability by
~Breaking down the barriers within disability and non-disability specific sport structures for people with a disability.
It does this by forming partnerships at national, state and local levels to address critical issues that affect the participation of people with a disability. These issues are being addressed in Disability Action Plans, which form the basis of support services provided through Project CONNECT. We are one of over 15 National Sports Organisations (NSOs) who have been successful in a bid for Project CONNECT funding through our Principal Partner, the Australian Sports Commission, to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in their sports. For the latest information about Project CONNECT sports and fact sheets, visit the Australian Sports Commission's Project CONNECT website | 
