Disabled Wintersport Australia celebrated during National Volunteers Week

As part of National Volunteers Week Snow Australia is recognising those that give up their time to make snowsports possible.

Snow Australia is lucky to have volunteers at all levels of our sport but when it comes to para wintersports, the partnership with Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA) has been instrumental in making the sport more accessible.

Since 1978, DWA has operated across Australian resorts with their volunteers living their motto of ‘finding freedom on the snow.’

Disabled Wintersport Australia CEO Rick Coate said he’s honoured every day to lead such an organisation.

“We’re a really proud organisation and we love being able to allow disabled athletes to find their freedom on the snow,” Coate said.

“We’re also really unique in that we cover the grassroots, right through to the elite - we’ve been around since 1978 and pretty confident in saying that every Winter Paralympian has come through our program since then.”

DWA facilitates camps and programs that allows people onto snow for the first time, with over 40 per cent of attendees being first timers.

“It’s all about helping them to build their confidence and foster determination,” Coate said.

“What we’ve found is their confidence on snow has a butterfly effect into the participants wellbeing both physically and mentally and instills in them the confidence they need to achieve.”

2018 Winter Paralympian Sam Tait understands the benefits of DWA better than most, having been involved in their program since 2013.

“Disabled Wintersport Australia were the ones who taught me how to ski, they even gave me my first sit ski,” Tait said.

“They give up their time to help disabled people get on snow and are a vital part of our community. What we do wouldn’t exist without them.”

It’s the relationship between DWA and athletes which continues to provide positive outcomes for everyone.

“We see the athletes come through our doors as participants, and then we see them come back as ambassadors,” Coate said.

“Sam, as well as Mark Sawyer, Joany Badenhorst and Mitch Gourley, just to name a few, have all been fantastic to work with and are all great role models for those starting on their journey,” he said.

“The stories of our para athletes really resonate with everyone in the snowsports community, and they’re so inspiring - they are a big part of why I love this sport and this organisation.”

Snow Australia would like to say thank you to Disabled Wintersport Australia, and the many volunteers that always support our para snowsports athletes.

Want to show your appreciation towards our sporting volunteers? Wave a special smile of appreciation from your own home - upload your wave photo to social media and share using the hashtags #NVW2020 and #waveforvolunteers, and tag Volunteering Australia.

For more information about National Volunteer Week - click here