DEFENCE MEDIA ALERT
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 6946
MSPA 156/10
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Launch of the Australian Defence Force
Paralympic Sports Program and Association
What:
The official launch of the Australian Defence Force Paralympic Sports
Program and Association.
Where:
R1 Theatrette, Russell Offices, Department of Defence, Canberra.
When:
1300h, Wednesday, 12th May 2010.
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, will tomorrow launch the
Australian Defence Force Paralympic Sports Program and Association -
a joint initiative
between the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Paralympic Committee.
A signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Paralympic
Committee will also occur. The MOU will deliver a number of enhancements to the physical
rehabilitation services available to ADF members who have acquired a disability during their
period of service.
Current serving Defence member and Beijing Paralympian Private Stephen Osborne will be
available to the media.
Drawing on the specialist sports science and sports medicine knowledge of the Australian
Paralympic Committee, ADF members will now have their rehabilitation enhanced in a
number of groundbreaking ways, including:
specialised physical fitness training and rehabilitation
sporting pathways – rehabilitation services from hospital discharge allowing ADF
members to regain their physical fitness and mobility, right through to selection in the
Australian Paralympic Team
specialist advice in equipment and prosthetics
specialist training for Defence Physical Training Instructors and Physiotherapists
access to Australian Paralympic Committee programs, including talent identification
programs.
Media Note:
Media wishing to attend the official launch should arrive at the R1 Theatrette, Russell
Offices, Department of Defence, Canberra no later than 1240 for a briefing.
Media contact:
Kel Watt (Joint Health Command): 02 6266 2246 or 0411 707 489
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999
NEWS 
