Sport Inclusion Australia to Lead  Australia-India Leadership Exchange Through Maitri Partnership 

Sport Inclusion Australia will strengthen collaboration between Australia and India through a new international capacity and leadership exchange after receiving support through the Australian Government’s Centre for Australia–India Relations Maitri Grant Program. 

The Included Through Sport India – Capacity & Leadership Exchange Project is a three-year initiative that will bring together Australian and Indian leaders, coaches, sporting organisations, psychologists, educators and government representatives to strengthen inclusive sport systems for people with an intellectual impairment. Across four cities – Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat – we will deliver a series of workshops and leadership forums focused on: 

• Inclusive coaching for athletes with an intellectual impairment

• Athlete eligibility and classification pathways

• Inclusive leadership and organisational capacity 

• Australia–India partnership development through the Inclusion Matters seminar series

• Sport diplomacy and international collaboration through a dedicated roundtable with government and diplomatic representatives. 

Strong sporting systems rely on skilled people. When coaches, leaders and sporting organisations are better supported and connected, more opportunities open for athletes with an intellectual impairment to access safe sport, progress through pathways and pursue high-performance environments. 

As Australia prepares for Brisbane 2032 and India continues to grow its presence in international sport as the host for the 2030 Commonwealth Games – the project will create opportunities for both countries to share expertise, strengthen relationships and learn from one another to improve access to inclusive sport. 

Sport Inclusion Australia CEO Chantel Lewis said the project demonstrates the power of sport to build relationships that extend beyond the playing field. 

“Sport creates connections that cross cultures, languages and borders. When we invest in the people who deliver sport—our coaches, leaders, educators and organisations—we create stronger systems that provide more opportunities for athletes with an intellectual impairment,” Ms Lewis said.  

“It creates connection in ways few other things can, helping people build relationships, trust and understanding through shared experiences.” 

The project will be led by Sport Inclusion Australia’s International Engagement Advisor, Robyn Smith OAM, who has spent decades working in sport both in Australia and internationally. 

“Australia and India share a strong connection through sport, and there is enormous value in working together as both countries continue to grow their sporting systems and international engagement,” Ms Smith said. 

“With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon and India expanding its role in global sport, projects like this help strengthen the people, partnerships and pathways that support the future of inclusive sport across both countries.” 

A three-year delivery model provides the time needed to move beyond awareness and create meaningful change. It is designed to strengthen capability over time and allows relationships to be built, knowledge to be understood and applied, confidence to grow and helps organisations to put new approaches into practice with ongoing support.  

This sustained approach will help embed more inclusive practices that endure well beyond the life of the project. Our team will hold the first set of workshops for the project in August 2026. 

Sport Inclusion Australia thanks the Centre for Australia-India Relations for its support through the Maitri Grant Program and for helping strengthen friendship, understanding and collaboration between Australia and India. 

To learn more about the Centre for Australia-India Relations, visit the Centre for Australia-India Relations website.