Invictus Australia invited the Defence Community, including former and current serving members and families, to join them for the inaugural Defence Community Sport Day on Saturday 5th November 2022. Soldier On, among other Defence support services were invited to take part in the event, making it a true collaborative effort for the Canberra region.
Invictus Australia’s mission is to improve the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of current and former serving veterans and their families through ongoing involvement with sport and recreation. Sport is a powerful tool in aiding veterans in all aspects of life – from rehabilitation to tackling social isolation and finding purpose.
Debbie Dimmock Veteran Engagement Specialist (Canberra) at Invictus Australia and Defence spouse commented, “Defence life can be a great adventure and it can also be really tough. It’s so important to find your tribe and sport can be one of the best ways to do this”.
Special guests from the NRL showcased Wheelchair Rugby League, while Archery, Pickleball, Bowls, Indoor Rowing, Table Tennis, and more were also available for everyone to try. Ben Farinazzo, Invictus Games Medallist and Soldier On Ambassador was out and about talking to those in attendance and even challenged a few on the rowing machines. Soldier On joined with Totem Tennis, Totem soccer and lawn Jenga, which were a big hit with the families attending on the day.
Amanda, a current serving Defence member spoke to the Soldier On team and said, “the day has been really enjoyable. We came out for a day with the family, and all the kid-friendly activities have been great. The free aspect was also a massive draw card!”.
Soldier On promoted the benefits of engaged in Social Connection activities, including building a network that provides support from the community, other Defence families and ultimately building meaningful connections with people.
To get involved or find out more about Soldier On’s Social Connections program, reach out to activities@soldieron.org.au.
