2025 Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Forum: Belonging in Sport

CMSport is a proud member of Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Alliance (DISA) and is hosting a hybrid forum in partnership with Play by the Rules, Pride in Sport, Australian Sport Commission, Victoria University, Monash University, Tennis Australia, Queensland Government, NSW Government Office of Sport, SportWest and VicHealth.
Join us at the AO!

• Tuesday 21 January – AO All Abilities Day*
• Wednesday 22 January – DISA forum (in person or online)

*In-person tickets include an optional ground pass for the Australian Open on Tuesday 21 January . This a great chance to immerse yourself in a world-class inclusive event!
If you purchase a streaming ticket, online engagement will run between 10:30am – 12:45pm and then 1:30pm to 3:45pm (all times AEDT).
Belonging in Sport

On Wednesday 22 January, the forum will bring together leaders from across the Australian sport sector to discuss the 2025 topic – belonging in sport.
Belonging is basic human need – a feeling of joy, safety and connection with other members of a group. By tackling the barriers to belonging and fostering cultures of respect, fairness and curiosity, sport can use belonging as a framework for greater inclusion of Australia’s diverse communities.
We’ll be discussing the concept of belonging from various angles: what is it? How do we eliminate the barriers to belonging? How can we foster cultures of belonging in community sport? We’ll share case studies from both Australia and overseas, and, following the 2024 DISA forum about intersectionality in sport, the Australian Sport Commission will launch their new intersectionality framework for a more inclusive approach to governance in Australian sport.
You can register for the online stream or for the in-person event. The in-person tickets are limited and include:

• Ground pass to All-Abilities day at the Australian Open: Tuesday 21 January (day prior to Forum)
• Smoking ceremony
• Morning tea
• Networking lunch
  

Hosted by Shelley Ware (she/her) (media presenter and MC), we will be joined by:

• Rana Hussain (she/her) – Thought Leader in Leadership, Culture, Belonging and Inclusion
• Sanjay Bhandari (he/him) MBE – Chair, Kick it Out (speaking from the UK)
• Elle Steele (she/her) PLY – Athlete, Award-winning Disability Consultant and Inspiration Speaker
• Joel Wilkinson - True Impact Policy, Cultural and Athlete Advisor
• Professor Karen Farquharson (she/her) - Professor of Sociology at the University of Melbourne
• Mitch Gourley (he/him) – Paralympian and General Manager for Sport4All at Get Skilled Access
• Mitch Nivalis (they/them) - Photographer and Filmmaker with a Strong Commitment to Social Change
• Jade Narkle (she/her) - Aboriginal & Diversity Programs Specialist, West Australian Football Commission
• Bianca Broadhurst (she/her) OLY – Executive General Manager People & Culture, Australian Sport Commission
• Ricky Baldwin – CEO Koorie Academy Basketball
• Maria Dimopoulos (she/her) – Principal Consultant at Myriad Kofkin Global
  If you are from a small community-based organisation we are offering limited discounted tickets to ensure the event is accessible for all to attend. Please email [email protected] for further information.
  We are also offering mob tix (click on ‘Get tickets’).

Host or Publisher CMSport