VESPA Mission Statement
“To provide a platform to support adaptive athletes from the ADF, the Veteran community, Emergency Services personnel, and their families, in learning, mastering and competing at all levels in the sports of Biathlon and Nordic Skiing.”
“Transitioned ADF who were medically discharged were more likely to report poorer mental and physical health compared with those who were not medically discharged.” (Van Hooff et al, 2019).
Biathlon is the combined sport of Nordic (Cross-country) Skiing and rifle-shooting. Shooting can be with .22 calibre live ammunition or with laser-rifles, while skiing is practiced both on traditional (narrow!) snow skis and on roller-skis. Adaptive skiers my use a sit-ski frame and Visually Impaired skiers utilise a guide and sonic- sighting technology.
The sport is rooted in military origins and is difficult to master; highly suitable for military veterans, while Emergency Services such as Police, Firefighters and Paramedics often endure similar health predispositions as those quoted above. Veterans & Emergency Services Parabiathlon Australia was conceived and registered as a wellbeing vehicle for members and their families to provide an opportunity to take part in and/or master an incredibly challenging sport.
Our partners at the University of South Australia, the Invictus Pathways Program, are a sports science entity providing a training program for Veterans with a view to participation in The Invictus Games. They have offered VESPA not only cross-publicity opportunities but also give our biathletes access to their gym, Physio- and Occupational therapists and initial mental health screening, to help ensure the safety of our members.
We are also proudly supported by Military and Emergency Services Health Australia, or MESHA, whose staff include an internationally renowned researcher of military and emergency services mental health. Along with research opportunities with Universities such as Uni SA, MESHA also provide us with a Q-account, which ensures that any donations and expenses are managed appropriately and transparently.
Another partner, Disabled Wintersports Australia are keen to progress access to parabiathlon across Australia and we are proud to be in discussion regarding how we can assist their goals. DWA are also an important link to Sport Australia and the Australian Paralympic Committee.
This is of importance as having witnessed VESPA’s proof of concept in 2019 (see separate page for details), we were approached by the Australian Biathlon Association to recruit a base of Veterans with a view to elite adaptive Nordic ski training, laser and biathlon air-rifle training and competition; up to and including one of our goals of providing a veteran-based team to compete in the 2026 Paralympic Games in Isolaccio, Italy, and Parasnowsports World Cup events.
In order to make this a possibility, we are collaborating with these existing high-quality organisations in Australia and also the Brazilian Para-Nordic Skiing Team and the Great Britain Armed Forces Para-Snowsports Team.
Please read on to discover how we intend to meet these goals and for an opportunity to donate to VESPA or to sponsor an athlete toward the Paralympics.
WE ARE PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY OUR COLLABORATORS…
VESPA are grateful for support by means of a grant from the Government of South Australia
Reference: Van Hooff, M., Lawrence-Wood, E., Sadler, N., Hodson, S., Benassi, H., Daraganova, G.,
Forbes, D., Sim, M., Smart, D., Kelsall, H., Burns, J., Bryant, R., Abraham, M., Baur, J., Iannos, M., Searle, A., Ighani, H., Avery, J., Hansen, C., Howell, S., Rosenfeld, J., Lawrence, A.,
Korgaonkar, M., Varker, T., O’Donnell, M., Phelps, A., Frederickson, J., Sharp, M., Saccone, E., McFarlane, A. (2019). Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme Key Findings Report. Canberra: Department of Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
abn 52 936 877 433
VETERANS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES PARABIATHLON AUSTRALIA 