Introduction . Thank you very much, everyone, for joining
us today. We have got a stellar lineup ready to rock
'n' roll and talk to you about Paralympic Pathways and classification. A big thank you to VicHealth and sport and
recreation Victoria for supporting the festival and also to Paralympics Australia for supporting
the panel today. I would like to start off by acknowledging
the traditional owners of the land on which we are meeting today, wherever that may be,
and pay my respects to Elders past, present, and imagine, and acknowledge that sovereignty
of this land was never receded. I will hand you over to Tim Matthews who is
a Paralympic extraordinaire who will take you through the panel for the day. TIM MATTHEWS:
Thanks, Megan. Thank you, everyone, for joining us and thank
you to Disability Sport & Recreation Victoria for putting on the festival. It is great to be part of it. Today we will talk about classification and
the process for classification across multiple impairment groups and sports and we will touch
on parasport pathways. I look forward to chatting to you today. We have got a couple of great panel members
as part of the team. We have got Josh Hose, who is a wheelchair
rugby gold medallist and also has participated in para athletics. Marty Jackson is a gold medallist in the short
but and initialled in representative in para ice hockey and also from Parasport for Paralympics
Australia and has competed in a few Paralympic Games quite some time ago now. 1st to you, Josh. Joshs story Thank you for joining us. You have had a great career in Paralympic
sport until this point. It all started when you suffered a spinal
cord injury in 2005 in a motor vehicle accident. Can you take us through what happened and
what has happened following. JOSH HOSE:
I was in a car accident. I grew up in south-west Victoria and on Australia
day, 2005, my friend was driving and lost control of the vehicle. I was seriously injured and going through
rehab and all of that stuff is when I came across wheelchair rugby and we will touch
on that more later on but I went back home for a couple of years and just did my physiotherapy
and rehab. In 2009, I moved out to Melbourne. TIM MATTHEWS:
And you got involved in wheelchair rugby around that time. JOSH HOSE:
Yes. Funnily enough, it was in rehab when I first
saw wheelchair rugby and I was 18 years old and had been playing AFL and I loved the physical
side of sports so having suffered the early injury, I thought it may not be possible but
when I saw the physicality of wheelchair rugby, I was hooked. TIM MATTHEWS:
And you competed in London. Tel is about what London was like as an athlete. TIM MATTHEWS:
London came around after the 2010 Worlds. They announced the team six months out and
you got all the buildup and all the adrenaline leading up to it. The Opening Ceremony was amazing and if you
can picture a field the size of the MCG just packed and rolling out to represent your country. It was surreal. TIM MATTHEWS:
And you went across and you have been pursuing athletics for a while. Tell us how you got involved in athletics. JOSH HOSE:
I started by taking it up as something recreational, to stay fit, after I stepped back from wheelchair
rugby in 2006 after Rio de Janeiro. I really enjoyed the individual side of it
and the individual athlete side of things. I enjoyed it and I got to do some travel and
I competed in Switzerland and interstate as well and I enjoyed the whole process of learning
a new craft, if you will. TIM MATTHEWS:
And you are back in the squad for Tokyo now. We will touch on that shortly. In terms of when you started after your accident,
how did you make a decision in terms of which sports you wanted to pursue? JOSH HOSE:
As I mentioned, I saw the wheelchair rugby and I was taken by the physical nature of
the sport and the group of guys were very supportive and it was great that DSR who were
doing this in coordination with today and it was more grassroots for a local competition. I got involved with that initially and it
fed from there and I was invited to selection camp with the Australian team and it built
through there. Initially, it was just the local competition. TIM MATTHEWS:
And following your career with the head coach of the Paralympic wheelchair repeat team who
was a former athlete, what do you think about athletes giving back and ways to contribute
when you finish competing? JOSH HOSE:
The Paralympics, disability sport, a lot of it is best for new individuals coming through. There are different things when you first
come through with equipment, technique, all these things. The guys who are experienced and going through
those hurdles, to help you figure it out, it is nice to go back and help the new individuals
coming through. I have definitely found that with the rugby
and the athletics. If you and I have reached out to have been
more than supportive and I encourage the new individuals coming through and the coaches
to reach out to all the individuals. Everyone is more than helpful with your time. TIM MATTHEWS:
Thanks, Josh. We will come back with more questions as we
come through. Over to you, Marty. You were a grid iron legend. Martys story Tell us about how you sustained your injury
in terms of playing sport and the damage that was caused which then enabled you to be eligible
for parasport. MARTY JACKSON:
First of all, thank you for having me, guys. It is a pleasure to be here. I played American football for 14 years. It was a regular home game. We were doing quite well. I think my injury was a result of knowing
the game too well and I pre-read the play and new credit was going and I made a beeline
for the tackle and unfortunately one of my teammates at common law as well. -- Had come in law. His helmet went straight into my knee and
dislocated my leg from the knee. I sustained some nerve injuries. From that point on, I never felt it again. TIM MATTHEWS:
And at what point did you become aware that you might be eligible for Paralympic support? You had the injury but you did not lose your
leg and you were not in a wheelchair and your leg is obviously affected. At what point did you understand that you
might be eligible for para support? MARTY JACKSON:
I have told this story many times but never with you sitting in front of me so this is
great. I love sports and sports are my life and I
have just committed myself to it. The doctors did the first initial assessment
following my injury and they always give you the worst-case scenario on whether or not
you might walk or you might not work directly and from that point I was not ready to throw
in doing sport, just not for me. The following morning after the injury, lying
in hospital, feeling sorry for myself, I started looking up parasport on Google and some of
the impairments that fit and I giggled -- search for your name and I sent you an email saying
who I am and what I do and what had happened. TIM MATTHEWS:
I can remember your email because it stood out for me and there was one line which said,
"I train like a third string and I play like a king." MARTY JACKSON:
That is my motto. I was always told to train like you have got
to fight for your position and let you have got to fight for selection and then when you
are out there, you can play like you are a king and enjoy the moment. TIM MATTHEWS:
In terms of you getting involved in para athletics, how did that start? How did that come about? MARTY JACKSON:
I arranged a meeting with yourself and I hobbled out on my crutches to the Paralympics office
in Essendon and we had a chat about sports that we would possibly be eligible for because
obviously did -- different sports have different criteria. I could not see myself sitting in a new because
I was 112 kg. -- Sitting in a canoe. We looked at athletics and there were quite
a few guys with similar impairments and I remember you showing me a video of Dan Greene
doing the discus, the British Paralympian. I thought those were the guys I wanted to
compete with. We chose athletics. TIM MATTHEWS:
And you have ventured across to the cold side, if you like, with para ice hockey. Tell us about your experiences there. MARTY JACKSON:
One of the hardest things for me was going from a team sport into an individual. I love athletics and the sport I miss that
physicality and I think Josh touched on that before about the physicality of his sport. There was a come-and-try Day 4 para ice hockey
and I thought I had better check it out. I was not sure if I would classify but we
went along and committed and kept training and I was prepared for opportunities and if
you are ready, it will happen. TIM MATTHEWS:
And we will come back to that later but in terms of having the opportunity to compete
at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, I was part of the team, great event, and she did pretty
well for yourself there. MARTY JACKSON:
Yes I did, it was 40,000 Aussie fans packed in the stadium. Nothing prepares you for walking into the
stadium and seeing kids with drawings of Marty with a shotput as you are walking around. I love that moment, I prepared really well
and I was really happy with my performance. Parasport has given me such great opportunities. I got to share opportunities with people like
(unknown term) and (unknown term), and have a beer with them afterwards. TIM MATTHEWS:
In terms of getting involved with parasport, has anything that has been frustrating? MARTY JACKSON:
Earlier on, it was understanding where I fit in the scheme of things. I think I've been classified into different
sports about five times, but the classification is in an evolving document. Athletes present with every injury and every
disability is different, and I think we all form part of that document. I can see some changes since I have been in
the sport as well, with the F latex classification. -- Athletics. It is just understanding how you fit into
it. Two and a touch on a piece of advice for young
athletes about getting involved in parasport? MARTY JACKSON:
The best time to start yesterday, and get involved today. There are so many opportunities out there. I could not have drained -- dreams what my
life over the last five years have been like. Six years, wow that has gone quick. Get involved, be a part of the group. Share with other people with disabilities,
and also able-bodied athletes. If you want to go all the way, get in there
with the best of them and learn from them. Go chase it. TIM MATTHEWS:
Thanks, I will come back to you when we progress Classification with the presentation. Moving onto classification explaining what
it is in parasport, essentially what it does is provide a structure for fair competition. It is not always even, but the aim of the
system is to ensure that competition is fair. Classification is already common across many
able-bodied sports. For example, sports might use weight classes,
or age groups, or even the historical performance such as the golf handicap. To ensure the competition is fair amongst
a group of people that have similar levels of ability. In weightlifting, use weight categories. In boxing, we use weight categories again
stop in school sport, we use age categories. It is just a simple or different way of separating
individuals to ensure that competition is fair. Classification is no different to that. Aims In terms of the aims of classification and
Paralympic sport, as I mentioned to start with what we want to do is determine if the
athlete has an eligibility, or is eligible to compete in that sport. Not all impairments are eligible for Paralympic
sport. That is not meant to say that you cannot participate
in sport, but in terms of the para pathway, we'll touch on it shortly. There is also an impairment criteria. Just having an impairment or disability does
not mean you are actually eligible in the criteria, and its impact on your sport for
that to be considered enough to be eligible the Paralympics port. The reality is in parasport that some sports,
or some classifications, might seem to be fairer than others. I will explain that a little bit in a moment. Classification rules also very different for
each sport, they might be similar if it is for the same impairment group, such as vision
impairment or intellectual impairment. But for athletes with a physical impairment,
classification rules are different in each sport. And they are relevant to those sports. Some sports have just one classification group
or class, and to be eligible for para ice hockey, you need to have a leg impairment
and you need to meet the minimum criteria, and that if you do you are essentially in
that one class. Marty, you have played para ice -- hockey,
and energy into yourself and how that might deem to be fair,... MARTY JACKSON:
Para ice hockey is a lower leg impairment, I still have both my legs, just nerve issues
in one, but it varies some single amputees to cerebral palsy, and many of those sort
of things. There are double amputees. Everybody is on a sled at the end of the day,
and the legs are out of action if they are there. You are strapped into a sled, and to be honest,
having to legs is probably a little bit more of a disadvantage because of the extra weight. You are right, just one classification. TIM MATTHEWS:
There are other sports have multiple classifications, like athletics, they currently have 31. Most of the parents across a range of sports,
can be brought up into subcategories, if you like, within sports that have multiple classes. In athletics, there are lots and lots of 100
m races, whether it be wheelchair or vision impaired, but then in another sport, there
are very few. That is just the nature Paralympic sports. The system is held to the rules of that sport
to make sure that the competition is fair. The next light, then we go. Impairments -- Slide. In terms of the payments that are eligible
to prolific sport, and Natalie needs to be -- an athlete, let's have one of the following
impairment types, with as I mentioned a minimum level of criteria to be eligible for Paralympics
port. The first one is Lynn deficiency, so not might
be through trauma, or congenital, at birth. Hypotonia, or common health conditions with
people whom I have several palsy or MS, or in Marty's case, some nerve damage. Also short stature is eligible for parol export,
there is a maximum height restriction in terms of being eligible, also reduce muscle power. That would affect someone who might have had
a spinal cord injury such as yourself, Josh. Reduced range of movement, and also leg length
differences. So someone, to be eligible for parasport,
you need to have a leg length difference of greater than 7 cm to be eligible for that
classification. Intellectual Impairment In terms of athletes with intellectual impairment,
you need to have an IQ score of 75 or lower on an internationally recognised test. You need to have demonstrated limitations
in terms of your social or interpersonal communication skills, and self-care skills. The need to be evidence of the impairment
as I being identified before the age of 18 years. Spore inclusion Australia management process,
-- sport, there is a modified system the school's book, -- for school sport, but essentially
that process is pretty similar. Athletes with an intellectual impairment are
not eligible for every Paralympic sport, that does not mean that to say that they are able
to play lots of different sports, but from a Paralympic perspective currently only table
tennis, swimming and athletics include athletes with intellectual impairment at the Paralympic
games. Vision Impairment Athletes with a vision impairment or who are
blind, to be eligible for parasport, it is not means to say that you cannot participate,
you can be sported any level from an able-bodied participation perspective, but to be eligible
for parasport, you need to have an impairment that affects both eyes. You cannot have an impairment in one eye and
full vision and the other, then you will not be eligible. In simple terms, what someone might see from
a normal vision's perspective, and what might we see at 60 m, an athlete who is eligible
for probe export might only see that at 6 m. Although might have a visual field that is
less than the diameter of 40°. Athletes are tested on width without correction
to the eyes, and the athletes classification is determined by what the vision is in the
best eye. From a vision impaired perspective, Paralympics
Australia managed classification process at a national level, but internationally is a
different organisation. Athletes in the sports all these events may
compete on a tandem, or they might compete completely independent depending on their
level of vision. Classification Pathway In terms of the actual classification pathway,
with in Australia, to start with there is a visual process for regional athletes or
for someone who doesn't have an opportunity to get to a classification. I guess through the COVID related shoes this
year, there are a number of sports that have tried delivering ossification via zoom, across
a range of sports -- ossification -- classification, but is a challenge with anyone with an underpayment. -- Impairment. For example an applet with an amputee, being
able to demonstrate whether amputation is is quite employment. -- Important. It might be that more challenging to deliver
at a provisional level. In Australia, the National classification
may be required to complete a domestic competition, such as state championships or national championships,
and may also be required by the sport to be eligible to be considered for international
competition and international classification. International classification is required,
it is basically the same process as the National classification, but we deliver, where possible,
the international process within the Australian context because that will ensure the accuracy
of the classification is as reliable as possible. The international competition, whether that
is regional World Cup, world championships, Paralympic Games, you will certainly require
an international classification. You need to be supported by your National
Federation to go through that process. The reality of the sport turning on the impairment
of that athlete, the athlete may be classified multiple times over their career. I guess, Josh, in terms of wheelchair, specifically,
can you maybe take us through the process that you went through to get classified? And have you only been classified once, or
have you been classified more than once? JOSH HOSE:
To get my classification overall, it was done three times. It was four times in total, but my first one
was done with in Australia. I could you say at a state base. And then when I made the Australian team,
you get done once, and then you have to get done 10 months later, and then after that
when you have to get it done again in another 10 months. So it was three all up, and it was an interesting
process. Generally it is done by physios or those with
a medical background that do it, and it is quite interesting the process they go into. It was actually quite intriguing that you
said it was done on -- zoom, and is adjusting to see how that worked out over zoom. TIM MATTHEWS:
Yes, because some of those tests might be able to be done with the physio, for instance,
via zoom. Because if I might be communicate with the
physio, so there are some of those things in play. And you mentioned you need a classification
for times, but a particular process specific to rugby. An wheelchair. In terms of yourself, mate, you might be considered
a borderline athlete in some respects in terms of your impairment. Can you take us through that process for yourself
and whether you are confirmed or reviewed of field you are in terms of your classification. MARTY JACKSON:
I'm looking at the slight and I have gone through all of that. I was classified very early in the national
classification and I was classified in a separate class. That was more about me not understanding my
disability as much as I do now. I think with the document being reclassified,
all of the 30 classes in athletics, ataxia, different classes, that was all changed and
I had to be reclassified again. I ended up in that class at that whole class
is under review so I think you have to be classified, I think I don't have to be classified
until 2023 or something. It is not likely to change for me. That is why they have that in place. With regards to para ice hockey, that was
an interesting situation. We were going to travel to Finland for the
world Championships and fortunately Paralympics Australia setup a pre-classification day to
see whether it was likely if we were going to pass because in the para ice hockey, we
are very on the fringe. We travelled to Finland and there was no classification
worries. You get yourself a bit worried when you do
not have a clear disability like an amputation or something like that. When it came down to it, the instrument worked
very well. It demonstrated exactly how it affects me
for that spot. JOSH HOSE:
I would like to make a couple of points. I had my classification done 10 years ago
and it was mentioned that if you were to sustain another injury that you would have to go for
a review. Also, within the classification being done,
and Marty mentioned he might beyond the fringe, you can protest the classification so that
you and your coach and your team can assess that and there are many pathways within the
classification process that can be sought out. TIM MATTHEWS:
Good point, Josh. Like everything, classification is based on
a set of rules that must be followed and they might be interpreted in different ways depending
on who is classifying someone. There are principles and I will get onto this
in terms of training, but it is not an exact Classification Training science. Rules change within sports and the changes
to the rules might mean someone who is not previously eligible might become eligible
but someone who is eligible now might not be in the future. That is something to consider across the range
of sports. In terms of classifiers, they are trained
to assess athletes using the classification rules within the sport. The classifiers either have medical expertise,
so might be a doctor or physiotherapist or they might have some technical expertise in
the sport or might be associated with the sport. Classifiers generally work together in a panel
of 2-3 and particularly for athletes with a physical impairment and the assessed athletes
and provide an assessment and I will touch on that shortly. Paralympics Australia works with national
sports organisations to train classifiers and also the National Sporting Organisations
for the Disabled and there are currently 170 classifiers working across 22 Paralympic sports
and some of them are international classifiers and also we are quite lucky in Australia to
have a great level of experience with classifiers in the country and some of them are also heads
of international classification for their respective sports. We have typed in the process briefly. Classification Process To start with, you need to provide medical
evidence of your impairment and then athletes are scheduled to be assessed by the classifiers
and that generally occurs out of competition and there are a couple of reasons for that. -- Occurs at the competition. There are a couple of reasons for that. Once the competition is complete, the outcome
is provided to the spot and there might be a review status and it might be stable or
it might be a degenerative condition. The classification might be reviewed or might
be confirmed. If someone is a below-the amputee who have
lost their legs and it is not coming back, it is clear that will not change. They might come back to be classified if they
require another impairment or if the sustain another injury but to be eligible for the
para sport, that is the process. There is bench testing which is done after
they have reviewed the medical information that has been provided and they will conduct
a range of test based on the impairment and then they will undertake a technical assessment
and watch you participate in the event or the sport, not in competition at this stage. They will just observe you playing or in the
case of athletics he might observe you through and the shot but, Marty, or Josh, we might
what she catching a ball. -- Shot put. It depends on the situation. Then what they might also do, depending on
the impairment, is observe you in competition to check that what we have seen in terms of
the medical evidence and testing all matches and then they will come together and make
a decision in terms of where you fit in terms of that sport from that point. I will touch on mainstreaming of sport in
Australia and we have got a great history Mainstreaming in Sport of disability sports organisations throughout
the country and across all different impairment groups doing a great job in delivering opportunities
for people to participate in parasport across all sports. We have got what might be considered an mainstreaming
philosophy where most of the national high-performance sports programs are managed by the national
sport organisation for that spot and with athletics that would be Athletics Australia
who manage and deliver the high performance program. At the lower levels, the specific impairment
groups are involved and there might be a range of providers delivering opportunities to participate
in sport and hopefully they are connected to the batteries. -- To the pathways. They might be delivering opportunities for
wheelchair rugby or participation opportunities in a range of different sports or it might
be Blind Spots Victoria or other opportunities including private enterprise or groups that
might be funded through the NDIS councils to deliver participation opportunities. Anyone can participate and then once you compete
and get involved at a higher level in most sports, it is the national federations and
organisations that deliver the high performance program and often with funding provided by
the Australian Institute of sport and the high performance funding is provided to support
the delivery of high-performance teams and ultimately we are hoping to win World Championships
and Paralympics. We encourage collaboration between a range
of organisations and there might be different levels of knowledge or expertise or different
experiences to programs and we support the development of club-based initiatives because
at that level, we cannot have Paralympic teams and successful Paralympic teams if they are
not opportunities to participate at lower levels of the pathway. This is a description of the pathway. Pathway Feel free to jump in. If we start from the bottom, we have got some
com-and-try participation programs and on the left that is the state sporting organisations
in the green for being involved at this level. To participate in sport you do not have to
be classified. There is no requirement to be a competitor
at the local athletics club. You don't need a classification. If you compete in a parasport pathway, a school
sport through School Sport Victoria for some of their programs, primary or secondary level,
particularly in athletics or swimming, for those programs, you have to be classified. The important of classification in parasport
is it provides context of where you fit and what the opportunities might be to participate
at higher levels if that is your desire or interest. I would say that the earlier you get classified
or take that opportunity to get classified then the better off you will be in terms of
understanding where you fit. In some cases, you might want to play wheelchair
basketball with your mates and have a great time and that is great for those who have
a performance mindset or might have come from elite able-bodied spot and acquired an impairment
or just love to come eat at higher levels, then it is important to get classified. Then we can work out which sports you might
be eligible for and also which sports you may or may not be competitive in and the reality
is just because someone is eligible for a sports does not mean they are competitive
and does not mean that you will go to a Paralympic games but it might give you an idea like the
process we went through initially with Marty to work out which sports you are eligible
for and you can take off the ones you are eligible for and then I know Marty was keen
to compete at a high level and so then it is a matter of working out which sport you
might be best city to to be able to compete at a high level. JOSH HOSE:
And then the weeks of training. TIM MATTHEWS:
That is right, Josh. Having a disability and playing sport does
not mean you are a high-performance athlete and I am often speaking to groups or individuals
who assume that because they have a disability and want to play sport that they will end
up at the Paralympic Games but it's a massive commitment particularly internationally with
high-performance parasport and the level of competition has gone through the roof. 20 years ago I remember saying how hard it
had got from four years before that and it has progressively got more difficult and it
really is the best of the best at that level. There is obviously a process to get to that
point and you compete with the local school sport competitions if you are gone and then
you might be eligible to qualify for state championships and state-level competition
and then your performances there will determine if you are eligible for national competition
and sports with categorised athletes depending on their potential. Depending on your potential, you might receive
additional support, whether that is with a National Institute network such as the Victorian
Institute of or others and there might be some emerging talents clubs and athletes might
proceed to a high performance squad and then you might receive some funding, some athletes
support, to help you commit to training and you will be supported to travel internationally
to competitions and events. At that level, the high-performance end, you
have to seek that international classification and you will be supported to obtain that and
then at the World Championships obviously want the best Paralympic team possible and
so those who are committed and work hard and are in the right spot and are supported, ultimately
we want to see the efforts compete at the Paralympic Games. Josh and Marty, have you got any comments
or suggestions around any of that pathway? Getting classified early MARTY JACKSON:
You mentioned getting classified earlier if you want to participate and particularly in
the athletics and throwing events, I could have competed as an able-bodied athlete at
local competition but without the classification I would not be throwing the right implement
and so it would be hard to gauge where I sat in the scheme of things and my F 38 classification
allows me to throw a 5 kg shot putt which is a huge difference to being able-bodied
with the 7.26 kg, which is what they throw in the Olympics. It can make a difference
and allow you to see where you sit and how far you can progress. JOSH HOSE:
You can get access to dietitians, physios, the whole thing. It really opened your eyes early on as an
athlete, and to have an understanding of what it may take to reach those levels. TIM MATTHEWS:
We have got a question coming in, around a couple of the new sports introduced into the
Olympic games, including breakdancing, if there were some non-traditional sports to
come into the Paralympics beer, -- sphere, what would you like to see? I'm sure you have got lots of ideas on this
one, Marty. JOSH HOSE:
(Inaudible) MARTY JACKSON:
Well, Paralympian American football be fantastic. Mind you, there are some pretty high level
college athletes and amputees in that area, so... -- TIM MATTHEWS:
There are some pretty high-level athletes in that area who I amputees. MARTY JACKSON:
Yes, (unknown term) is one. Actually, one of the NFL quarterbacks had
a recent injury, similar to mine, he is probably not as affected but yes, it is out there. TIM MATTHEWS:
What about you, Josh? JOSH HOSE:
Nothing comes to mind, but for Victorians, I know the AFL wheelchair is growing, so that
might be an option, maybe. TIM MATTHEWS:
I did want to just touch on that, there are obviously lots of sports that individuals
can participate in, at a range of levels and not necessarily Paralympic sports. Wheelchair AFL has really taken off and Victoria
has done a good job in terms of their involvement and development and support of that league. From Paralympics Australia perspective, we
are really supportive of that, we want more people disability playing sport and being
active. Ultimately, some of those individuals may
progress into wheelchair AFL and get to a level where they want to taste that international
level of competition, and may transition across to other sports, but we are certainly fully
supportive of everyone participating in a range of sports be at Paralympic sport or
not. The important thing is to be active and get
out, and keep fit. That is the most important thing. In terms of contacts, relative contacts for
beyond today, if you got any questions about Contact details classification, there is an email there, classification@paralympic.org.au. At our website to do with classification,
if you have any Pathways questions, feel free to forward them to pathways@paralympicdog.au. If you don't have any questions before we
wrap it up,...? MARTY JACKSON:
If you decide that this is something you want to do, before going into classification, the
documents are available online. For any of the sports. Particularly for athletics, I know that document
backwards, but have a look at it. See where you fit. You will be able to see some of the tests
that they will be doing, and may not be very specific ones, they are always a little bit
different. You can always have someone in there to support
you. I have had my coach, he was a Paralympic athlete
himself, in discus, and he was a great support for me. He could communicate how my in parent -- impairment
affected me in that sport. You can be a little bit nervous, even myself,
I was a bit nervous, but having John there as a backup, was really good for me. Know your disability, no documentation, get
yourself some support and classification is not someone to be worried about. TIM MATTHEWS:
Would you have come on the website, some really basic fact sheets in terms of who is eligible
for each spell stop -- sport. I really want to reiterate, just because you
may not be eligible for a para pathway, does not mean to say that you meet may not be able
to participate in play that sport. It is just once you progress on a para pathway. It is just a thing to be aware of. I doesn't ask you, Josh, a question around
some of the barriers that you found to participate in parasport? What are some of those critical ones that
you face? JOSH HOSE:
With sports in general, wheelchair Rugby and then with track, it is the apparatus that
you have to use. Whether it be a wheelchair for the track race,
or a track racing chair. They can be quite expensive. I was quite fortunate because I am TSC, -- TAC,
but now with the NDIS they are able to help us, and make a plan. But taking a step back, it is good to reach
out to those who are experienced. Again, with those chairs, there is a lot of
biomechanics and set up to go into it. I guess reaching out to yourself, Tim, or
looking for individuals who have a better understanding of a chess set ups and how they
should be back and be really integral to a person developing in those sports. -- Chair set ups. -- TIM MATTHEWS:
Arm from Paralympic perceptive, we have grants that, and for that equipment for
some of the disability needs to participate in sport but unable bodied aptly would not
necessarily be required to use. That might be wheelchairs, prosthetics, and
that is been really successful program. -- Able-bodied athletes. MEGAN STEVENS:
Absolutely, I might just do a reminder here, that later on today, if you are tuning in
from the Disability Sport and Recreation festival, there is going to be webinar on using NDIS
to support your sporting goals. Tune in for that if you are tuning in after
our festival, that will be available on a YouTube channel as well. We have got a question here, if you are happy
to answer that, people entering Paralympics for the first time, how does that align and
categorise the sport, like, for example... (inaudible). Two -- TIM MATTHEWS:
Badminton has been around for a number of years, other 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo,
badminton along with tae kwon do other new supports on the program. -- New sports. Badminton has a classification system that
is managed and the work and research for that system has been managed by BWS, the international
body. There is a range of classes depending on the
impairment, whether that be ambulance or (inaudible). Spitting on the impairment as well, badminton,
not all of the court is used unlike it might be for able-bodied players. Some of those considerations and changes for
parasport, within the rules of the sport, but in addition to the classification process. After Tokyo, it is just another sport on the
Paralympic Obama it is great to see a new sport like that -- program. It is great to see another sport coming in,
and we are really looking forward to having some pad mentor players -- badminton players
qualifying to Tokyo next year. MEGAN STEVENS:
Thank you so much for that, Tim. He might be a great chance for us to wrap
up. I want to say a huge thank you to Josh and
Marty for coming along today and having a chat, it has been really, really interesting
to hear your pathway and your experience. Also a huge thank you to Tim for helping put
this information together and presenting today. Huge wealth of information there are no that
this will be a great resource for everyone to come. Thank you so much, again, and I hope you enjoy
the rest of the festival. TIM MATTHEWS:
Thanks Megan, thank you Marty and Josh, and thanks everyone to being online. MARTY JACKSON:
Thanks, cheers.