Disability Sport & Recreation Festival
Our annual celebration of physically active lifestyles for people with disability.
Exhibitor Application
Exhibitor applications for the 2023 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival have now closed.
Lord Mayors Address
The health benefits of being physically active are widely known, and the City of Melbourne is proud to support the inclusive activities organised by the Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival. Everyone in our city should have the chance to explore accessible recreational activities.
At Southbank, Victorians with or without disabilities can have a go at a range of sports designed for our diverse community. All the festival highlights are back this year. Don’t miss meeting Paralympians, watching the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and learning more about the many organisations exhibiting at this family-friendly festival.
Congratulations to the organisers and I wish everyone a terrific day at the Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival.
Inclusive, family-friendly and a lot of fun!
The Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Festival began in 2010 and promotes and celebrates physically active lifestyles for people of all abilities on International Day of People with Disability each year.
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It offers Victorians with, and without, disability the opportunity to explore and experience accessible and inclusive sport and recreation through hands-on activities and information sharing.
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Activities commence at 10am and end at 2pm. We look forward to celebrating International Day of People with Disability with you!
To download the address [Accessible Text PDF Version], click here. To download the plain Microsoft Word version, click here.
Event Details
Date
Friday
1 December 2023
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Time
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Event details
What to expect at our festival
In 2022, 62% of attendees surveyed said they had an excellent festival experience, with 87% indicating they are likely to attend the festival again in future.
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There will be approximately 25 exhibitors and three activity zones where you can try different inclusive sport and recreational activities and learn about programs you can get involved in within your community. Other perks include meeting Paralympians and ambassadors, tuning into the Vision Australia live broadcast and witnessing the Flame of Hope light the cauldron at the finish point of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Come and celebrate International Day of People with Disability by getting active!
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Photography
There will be photographers at the event. Please let us know if you do not wish to be photographed or have any issues with flash photography.
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Accessibility
Please click here for accessibility information at the VDSR Festival.
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Getting to the Festival
Please click here for information on how to get to the VDSR Festival.
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Exhibitor List
Please click here for the full list of exhibitors attending the 2023 VDSR Festival.
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Activity Schedule
Please click here for the 2023 VDSR Festival activity schedule.
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Hand sanitiser will be provided throughout the event stations on the day. While masks will not be compulsory outdoors, we do recommend bringing one with you due to it being a high-density area and some attendees potentially being immunocompromised.
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My Sport Live's festival experience
Our partner, My Sport Live, captures the crowd, activities, excitement and colour of the festival in this short highlight video from 2022.
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If you experience issues with our video player, you can view the video on YouTube by clicking here.
Major supporters
Associate supporters
Event supporter
NDIStv's festival experience
NDIStv visited the festival in 2016. Look at what you can expect to see at the festival and learn why being active and finding the right sport for you is important.
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Click here to download NDIStv transcript (Word document).
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If you experience issues with our video player, you can view the video on YouTube by clicking here.