ASP: SELECTION PROCESS, CATEGORISATION AND PATHWAYS
WHAT IS THE ADAPTIVE SPORT PROGRAM?
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Adaptive Sport Program (ASP) is a multi-sport program for wounded, injured or ill serving and former serving military personnel and includes both domestic and international events. The Adaptive Sports Program is the program from which competitors for the Invictus Games and Warrior Games are chosen.
Australia’s participation in the ASP aims to provide an opportunity for current and former-serving ADF members to develop or maintain their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration goals. It also encourages individuals to start, re-commence or continue a journey toward life-long participation in sport.
Invictus Australia (IA) works collaboratively with the ADF to support former serving members and their families to attend the Invictus Games and other adaptive sport activities, with the ADF taking responsibility for the current serving members.
The ADF is recognised as the lead agency for Australia’s participation in the Invictus Games with the Chief of the Australia Defence Force determining Australia’s participation in this event.
Invictus Australia funds former-serving competitors and support staff across a range of logistics including but not limited to; travel, uniforms, accommodation, and catering while attending training camps to prepare for the Games.
Invictus Australia also promotes the Team and Games widely to the Australian public, media, corporate, Government and other stakeholders, to gain further support.
For more information about the role Invictus Australia plays in delivering Team Australia to an Invictus Games, in partnership with the ADF, watch the short video below.
THE ROLE OF INVICTUS AUSTRALIA
Invictus Australia funds former-serving competitors and support staff across a range of logistics including but not limited to; travel, accommodation and catering to support attendance at multiple ASP training camps to prepare for an event and related to the Games outside of military resource; procures and manages logistics relating to competitor, staff and family & friend uniform and pays for all former-serving Team, family and staff uniform requirements; plus other logistics including equipment support, former-serving competitor liaison etc. As well as promoting the Team and Games widely to the Australian public, media, corporate, Government and other stakeholders, to gain further support.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Team Australia for the Invictus Games is open to wounded, injured and ill (WII) service personnel – both serving and former serving veterans of the regular or reserve Australian Defence Force who have become wounded, injured or ill during or as a direct consequence of their service.
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process for the Australian Invictus Games Team, and the other Adaptive Sport teams starts with a call for nominations by the ADF. Interested competitors will complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. The selection process aims to identify the individuals that would benefit most from the experience in their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts – taking into account attitude and behaviour, commitment and sportsmanship and to a lesser extent – readiness for competition.
In previous years, over 200 applications have been received. For The Hague Games in 2022, a team of 32 were selected. For the Dusseldorf Games in 2023, a team of 31were selected. It is important to note that most that apply will not be selected, and those that do attend a Games have a high chance of not being selected for a second Games regardless of their performance.
With the criteria weighted toward identifying those who would benefit from sport for recovery and rehabilitation, traditional ‘success’ (i.e. medals) is not an indicator of likelihood of attending another Games. By selecting new faces, it is also viewed as an opportunity to share the incredible Games experience with as many veterans as possible to maximise the benefits across the Defence community.
The stages of Team Australia’s Selection Process are as follows
STAGE 1 – Expression of interest submitted to ADF
STAGE 2 – EOIs reviewed to create a “short list” to participate in the program activities. Those not selected will be notified by the ADF
STAGE 3 – Shortlist members invited to take part in further selection and program activities – depending on the sports and events in their EOI
STAGE 4 – Australian Team Selection Policy implemented by Selection Panel
STAGE 5 – Final Team Selected
Team Australia selection criteria and principles
The Invictus Games is different to other sporting competitions in terms of its unique aims. Specifically, team selection criteria and principles adhere to the following;
1 | Selection for Team Australia is based off of the objective of Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reintegration
2 | Attitude and Behaviour. To ensure that the selected Australian Team will represent the Australian Defence Force values of Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Excellence, and operate effectively in the multi-sport team environment to support.
3 | Commitment and Sportsmanship. To ensure the selected Australian Team upholds the Australian Defence Force values as a group and as a Nation; and operates as a united team that appreciates the privilege to represent the Australian Defence Force and Invictus Australia.
4 | Readiness for Competition. To ensure individual members of Team Australia are: (i) ready for the particular environment; (ii) can compete confidently and safely; and, (iii) are able to maximise sport for their rehabilitation and recovery.
Categorisation
The Categorisation process is run independently by the Invictus Games Foundation, uses a more subjective approach to enable wider participation, and differs from International Paralympic Committee sport classes in number, format, naming and inclusivity, such as including psychological injuries and chronic health conditions. The aim of the IGF Categorisation process is to ensure that it is robust and fair in keeping with the ‘Spirit of the Games.’ It ensures individuals are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by their impairment(s) and that a consistent approach is adopted across all the nations.
The system used is ‘functional’ – this means that the main factors that determine category are not diagnosis and medical evaluation, but how much the functional impairment of a person impacts upon sports.
WHO SELECTS THE TEAM?
The Selection Panel will select competitors to make up Team Australia to compete in a specified event. The Selection Panel will consider all relevant information including the individual participant profile, selection criteria and principles, and additional factors it deems necessary.
HOW MANY GAMES CAN I ATTEND?
As previously stated the Invictus Games Foundation have recently introduced a rule where by, competitors may attend a maximum of two Invictus Games, which helps to promote diversity and maximise the influence of the Games. To reiterate, it is important to note that being selected for Team Australia, or winning medals, in one Games does not guarantee a spot in the following Games given the focus is on recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration.
WHAT IF I MISS OUT?
Positions are limited on the Australian Team and not everyone can attend the Invictus Games.
This is where Invictus Australia can support alternative sporting pathways that mirror the outcomes of a Games, ranging from international competitions such as the Lifesaving World Championships as part of Team Invictus Australia, joining Team Veteran as part of the National True Grit calendar of activities, or attending Master’s Games as part of Team Veteran, powered by Invictus Australia. There are a range of other free, local sporting opportunities made possible through Invictus Australia’s network with Local and National Sporting Organisations including Rowing Australia, Archery Australia, Dragon Boat Federation, Table Tennis Australia, Water Polo Australia and many others. All events can be viewed here.
CURRENT EOIs FOR THE ADAPTIVE SPORT PROGRAM
