Visit Sunshine Coast
In July 2026, Deaf Sports Australia will host the Australian Deaf Games (ADG) on the Sunshine Coast, the pinnacle multi-sport event for Deaf people in Australia and her Pacific neighbours. In preparation for these games, Deaf Sports Australia will be engaging with and increasing the understanding of the Sunshine Coast community and surrounding regions, about creating a welcoming environment for those participating in the games and to encourage people to be part of the games.
This will be done through Deaf Sports and Disability Awareness workshops and resource sharing with schools, businesses, and the local sports ecosystem. These workshops will run between September 2025 and June 2026.
In planning for this initiative Deaf Sports Australia and the 2026 ADG Games Organising Committee are pleased and excited to announce a ground-breaking sponsorship with the Queensland Department of Education.
The funding will be used to:
1.1 Increase Participation of Queensland Deaf Students in Sport
1.2 Statewide School Engagement Across Queensland
1.3 Promotion of Queensland’s Leadership in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education at the Australian Deaf Games
1.4 Deaf Culture and Auslan Awareness in School Sports
1.5 Improved Transition Pathways and Work Experience
1.6 Participation in Ceremonies and Entertainment
1.7 Sport Pathway Development Through School Games
1.8 Collaboration in Regional Queensland
We thank the Department of Education for such belief and commitment to the Games that will aim to support Queensland school students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing to pursue sporting participation opportunties with at the same time developing ongoing resource legacies for future students and the Queensland community at large.
For additional information please contact:
Garry West-Bail – Games Project Manager – garry.west-bail@deafsports.org.au
