In August, veterans and their families across the country came together through sport, building connections within their local communities.

Last weekend, our Defence Community Sports Expo headed up north for the first time, welcoming over 350 veterans and families and 30+ organisations to the Townsville Sports Precinct for the first time. Thanks to the local and national sporting partners, defence community members had the chance to try out sports like pickleball, indoor rowing, archery and wheelchair basketball, with many looking to sign up to their local clubs post-event.

We have extended our national community partnership with parkrun Australia, reinforcing a joint commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families through movement, connection and community.

Join the Team Veteran parkrun group
to be part of a community that celebrates service, fosters belonging and allows participants to connect with each other and the broader community.

After an Invictus or Warrior Games, competitors stay connected to sport in many ways, whether by returning to old passions, embracing new challenges, or inspiring their communities.

Excitingly, this month saw Invictus Games alumna Rachel Kerrigan appointed to the new Disability Sport Advisory Group, formed under the Australian Sport Commission's Play Well Strategy. Congratulations, Rachel, we look forward to the positive impact your leadership will have on adaptive sport.

And, with six months now passed since the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, we checked in with members of Team Australia to hear how they’ve continued their sporting journeys.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide highlighted the urgent need for more targeted, evidence-based approaches to improving veteran wellbeing.

To meet this need, Invictus Australia has commissioned two foundational studies: one exploring how sport supports wellbeing during transition, and another quantifying the economic benefits of sport-based initiatives. 

Follow our LinkedIn below to be the first to receive these reports when they launch on the 4th of September. 

"Pushing myself to my physical and mental limits for those who no longer can."

- Rodney Cottam, Veteran & Invictus Australia Ambassador -

For the past three years, veteran and Invictus Australia fundraising ambassador Rodney Cottam has pushed his body to the limit, running hundreds of kms to raise awareness around the power of sport for the defence community.

Next month, on World Suicide Prevention Day Rodney and the Run Rocket Run team will be taking on another challenge, running for 24hrs straight. Learn more about the challenge and how you can support below.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? 

If you’re inspired by the above activities, you’ll want to join your Local Facebook group below to keep up to date with all our FREE activities. 

We see a world in which all members of the Australian Defence community are active and connected through the power of sport and recreation to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing throughout their lives.