Progress in Play: The future of inclusive sport – Webinar Invite

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Date: Monday, 1 December 2025
Time: 12.00 to 1.30 pm AEDT
Format: Online via Zoom (free)

Introduction

Sport4All invites you to Progress in play: The future of inclusive sport, a national webinar marking International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) 2025.

The session aligns with this years theme, Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress. We will reflect on the progress being made across Australian sport and explore practical, community-led approaches that help more people feel they can take part.

This webinar also includes an exclusive first look at our new Sport4All impact video, premiering at the start of the webinar.

Speakers

Our panel represents a cross – section of the sport system, bringing lived experience, research expertise and on-ground perspectives from community organisations.

What we’ll explore

Across 90 minutes, our speakers will share lived experience, research insights and practical examples from community sport, inclusive design, First Nations perspectives and local government.

The conversation will focus on:

What progress in inclusive sport looks like in 2025
Small, meaningful steps clubs and schools are already taking
The role of lived experience in shaping safe, welcoming environments
What councils and community partners are learning through Sport4All
Emerging research influencing inclusive practice
Opportunities for collaboration and long-term change

Meet our panellists

Our panel brings together expertise across research, inclusive design, lived experience, First Nations perspectives, community sport and local government. Each speaker contributes a distinct lens on what progress in inclusive sport looks like in 2025 and beyond.

Dr Katherine Raw

Senior Lecturer – Sport Management, Deakin University Senior Research Fellow – Australian Sports Commission

Meet Katherine

Dr Katherine Raw is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Management at Deakin University and a Senior Research Fellow with the Australian Sports Commission’s Play Well Research Unit. Her research explores how sport can drive meaningful social impact, particularly through participation, inclusion and equity. Katherine examines how organisations design, manage and evaluate programs that foster diversity and social cohesion while balancing governance and performance demands.

She has led and collaborated on projects across Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia with partners including Tennis Australia, the NRL, Netball Australia, North Melbourne Football Club, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Australian Sports Commission.

Joel Emmett

Inclusive Design Consultant – Get Skilled Access

Meet Joel

Joel Emmett is an Inclusive Design Consultant at Get Skilled Access, specialising in digital accessibility, inclusive design and WCAG compliance across sectors including technology, insurance and healthcare. With more than four years of experience in disability inclusion, Joel works with organisations to create digital environments that genuinely include and support people with disability.

As a person of short stature and a marathon runner based in regional Victoria, Joel brings a unique perspective on community connection and participation. He has represented Australia in basketball at the World Dwarf Games and continues to challenge perceptions of disability and sport. His insights help shape conversations about inclusive design, both online and on the ground.

James Catterall

Social Policy and Sport Planner – City of Salisbury (SA)

Meet James

James Catterall is a sport and recreation planner with the City of Salisbury, specialising in partnership management, community engagement and program delivery. He has led projects across recreation centres, aquatic facilities, golf, athletics and club development, with a strong focus on increasing participation and strengthening community capability.

James is currently a partner in delivering the Sport4All program, supporting inclusive practice across local clubs and schools. He represents the City of Salisbury across regional networks and contributes to sector-wide initiatives through the Local Government Recreation and Sport Network and Parks and Leisure Australia.

Sam Cawdron

Game Development Manager – Baseball Queensland

Meet Sam

Sam Cawdron is an experienced participation and game development professional with more than a decade working across rugby league and baseball in Australia and New Zealand. Before joining Baseball Queensland, Sam spent seven years with the NRL delivering community and school programs, followed by his role as Participation Manager at Auckland Rugby League, where he led region-wide participation growth initiatives.

Sam is strongly committed to inclusive sport. At Auckland Rugby League, he played a key role in establishing the ARL Wheelchair Rugby League program, an achievement he remains particularly proud of. At Baseball Queensland, he has continued this work by partnering with Sport4All to build staff capability and lead the development of the Junior Coaching Handbook, which embeds inclusive coaching practices for young athletes and first-time coaches.

Sam is passionate about creating welcoming, accessible sporting environments and supporting organisations to build inclusive pathways from entry-level through to long-term participation.

Meet our hosts

Our hosts bring lived experience, community connection and a deep understanding of inclusive sport across Australia.

Johnny Boland

State Manager VIC/TAS/SA, Sport4All

Meet Johnny

Johnny Boland is the Sport4All State Manager for Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, leading disability inclusion work across community sport. Johnny has low vision and has been part of the Blind Cricket community for several years. He is currently the Head Coach of the Victorian Blind Cricket Team, bringing both technical experience and deep community connection.

With a background in disability access, inclusive sport development and community engagement, Johnny supports clubs, schools and workplaces to remove barriers and embed long-term inclusion. His combination of lived experience, coaching leadership and practical knowledge makes him a trusted partner for communities working toward more inclusive sport.

Ruve Kent

Sport4All Inclusion Coach – Rockhampton, Queensland

Meet Ruve

Ruve Kent is a proud First Nations woman from the Kooma people of the St George – Cunnamulla region, now living on Darrumbal Country in Rockhampton. She brings strong cultural knowledge, community connection and lived experience to her work with Sport4All. Ruve also draws from her personal journey with ADHD, strengthening her commitment to inclusion and accessibility.

As a mum, she is closely connected to community sport through her daughter’s involvement in gymnastics, swimming and horse riding. Ruve is passionate about her own wellbeing through gym training and dance, giving her a broad lived connection to sport, health and community life.

Alex Woodward

Sport4All Inclusion Coach – City of Darwin, Northern Territory

Meet Alex

Alex Woodward brings lived experience, passion and a deep understanding of neurodiversity to her work in inclusive sport. Having grown up playing AFL and now training in Muay Thai, she blends firsthand sporting experience with a strong commitment to creating welcoming spaces for everyone.

With a background supporting children and adults with disability in school settings and the NDIS, and coming from a proudly neurodivergent family, Alex offers insight grounded in empathy and authenticity. She also draws on extensive customer service experience and a natural ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Her love of pop culture, music and wellbeing adds warmth and relatability to her role as she continues to advocate for more inclusive sporting communities.

Ankit Singh

Marketing Manager – Sport4All and Get Skilled Access

Meet Ankit

[Webinar Moderator]

Ankit Singh leads marketing, storytelling and community engagement for Sport4All and Get Skilled Access, delivering national campaigns that embed disability inclusion across sport, government and workplaces. With a background spanning elite sport, digital strategy and social impact, Ankit focuses on lived-experience storytelling, accessible content design and meaningful partnerships. His work spans brand, creative, media and stakeholder engagement, with a commitment to using sport and culture to influence lasting inclusion.

Who should attend

This session is designed for:

State and National Sporting Organisations
Local government teams
schools, PE staff ann teachers
Club committees and volunteers
Disability organisations and advocates
Researchers, students and practitioners
community development and policy professionals

Whether you are beginning your inclusion journey or strengthening existing work, you’ll take away ideas ready to apply in your own community.

Progress in Play: The future of inclusive sport – Webinar Invite

Introduction