DWA's Next Chapter

Building a strong and sustainable future for adaptive snowsport

For more than 45 years, Disabled Wintersport Australia has created opportunities for people with disability to experience the freedom of the mountains.

From our beginnings as a volunteer-led organisation, DWA has grown into a national community of members, families, volunteer guides, staff and partners working together to make snowsport more accessible.

Throughout that time, DWA has continually evolved. We now need to make another significant change.

Why DWA needs to change

The environment in which DWA operates has changed considerably.

The cost and complexity of delivering our services have increased, while the way organisations like DWA are funded has also changed. Membership and participant fees have never been intended to cover the full cost of delivering our services, and government funding is increasingly directed towards specific programs, projects and outcomes rather than the core costs of running the organisation.

While these projects create valuable opportunities, they can also require additional people, administration and resources to deliver. At the same time, the cost of maintaining the people, systems, insurance, equipment, facilities and organisational capacity behind DWA has continued to grow.

Over a number of years, DWA's operating costs have exceeded its income. Our current operating model is no longer financially sustainable, and we need to change it.

What we are doing

Our immediate priority is to stabilise DWA and establish a sustainable way forward.

The Board and management are reducing expenditure, reviewing staffing and operations, carefully managing our finances and considering how DWA can operate more efficiently in the future.

The Board has also engaged independent specialist restructuring advice to ensure we understand the options available to us and continue to meet our financial and governance responsibilities throughout this process.

At the same time, we are looking beyond the immediate financial challenge.

We are considering how DWA delivers its services, what we should continue to do ourselves, what could be delivered differently or in partnership with others, how we best combine our extraordinary volunteer community with the professional capability the organisation requires, and how we build a broader and more sustainable income base.

Nothing has been predetermined. Our focus is on finding the model that delivers the best long-term outcome for our members and for adaptive snowsport.

DWA is not closing its doors

We want to be clear about this.

This process is about building a sustainable future for DWA, not closing the organisation.

There will be changes to how DWA operates, and some of those changes will be significant. But DWA has an enormous amount worth protecting and building upon: more than 45 years of experience, an extraordinary volunteer guide community, specialist adaptive equipment, relationships across Australia's alpine resorts, and generations of members and families who are at the heart of our organisation.

These are the foundations on which we want to build DWA's next chapter.

How you can help

We cannot build that future alone.

Over the coming months, we will be asking the wider DWA community to help – through volunteering, introductions, partnerships, sponsorship, fundraising and donations.

For now, one of the most valuable things you can do is stay connected, share DWA's story and think about the people and organisations in your networks who may want to be part of our future.

We will provide more information shortly about the different ways you can support DWA.

Together, we believe we can build a stronger, simpler and more sustainable DWA for the next 45 years and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DWA closing?

No. The purpose of the work currently underway is to stabilise DWA and establish a financially sustainable future for the organisation.

DWA does face significant financial challenges and we do not want to understate them. Our current operating model cannot continue unchanged, which means there will be changes to the way DWA operates.

The Board and management are actively working through those changes and considering the best long-term model for DWA.

Why is DWA in this financial position?

There isn't one single cause.

DWA's operating costs have exceeded its income over a number of years. At the same time, the cost and complexity of running the organisation have increased and the funding environment has changed.

Membership and participant fees cover only part of the cost of providing DWA's services. Government funding is increasingly focused on specific programs and projects rather than supporting core organisational costs, and those projects can themselves require additional resources to deliver.

Together, these factors mean DWA needs a different operating and funding model for the future.

Is this because of the 2026 snow season?

The difficult 2026 season has placed additional pressure on DWA, but it is not the underlying cause of our financial position.

The challenges with our operating model have developed over a number of years. That is why our response needs to address the underlying structure of DWA rather than simply reducing costs for one season.

Didn't DWA already make changes after 2025?

Yes.

Following the 2025 season, DWA implemented a number of financial and structural changes intended to improve our position. Those changes were necessary, but they have not been sufficient to address the underlying gap between our costs and income.

More significant structural change is now required.

What changes are being considered?

We are reviewing the organisation broadly rather than starting with a predetermined solution.

This includes how DWA delivers services, staffing and administration, the role of volunteers, our resort operations, partnerships, how services might be shared or delivered with other organisations, and how DWA generates income.

The guiding question is simple: what structure gives DWA the best opportunity to sustainably deliver adaptive snowsport into the future?

Will DWA still provide adaptive snowsport programs?

That is absolutely the objective.

There may be changes to how some services and programs are delivered as we develop the future model. Our priority is to preserve the opportunities, expertise, equipment and volunteer capability that enable people with disability to participate in snowsport.

What does this mean for DWA members?

For now, members should continue to engage with DWA in the normal way.

As decisions are made that affect future programs, services or membership arrangements, we will communicate those changes directly and give members as much notice as possible.

What does this mean for volunteer guides?

Our volunteer guides remain fundamental to DWA.

DWA was built by volunteers, and we expect volunteers to remain central to the organisation's future. We are also looking at how we can better support, train, engage and involve our guide community as the future model develops.

Our guides have already received a more detailed communication about the current position and will continue to be kept informed.

What role does government funding play?

Government remains an important partner to DWA.

However, the nature of government funding has changed. Funding is increasingly directed towards particular programs, projects and outcomes rather than the core costs of operating the organisation.

Our future therefore cannot be based simply on securing grants to cover ongoing operating deficits. We need a model that combines appropriate government investment with partnerships, fundraising, sponsorship, earned income and efficient service delivery.

Is DWA looking to merge with another organisation?

No decision has been made to merge DWA with another organisation.

We are exploring a range of partnership opportunities across the snowsport, disability, government and community sectors. These could include sharing resources or expertise, collaborating on programs or finding more efficient ways of delivering particular functions.

Nothing has been predetermined.

Has DWA sought professional advice?

Yes.

The Board has engaged independent specialist restructuring advice to help it understand DWA's financial position and options, meet its governance responsibilities and make informed decisions about the organisation's future.

What is the Board doing?

The Board is actively overseeing DWA's stabilisation and future planning.

This includes reviewing finances and cash flow, reducing costs, considering organisational changes, engaging with funding and industry partners, seeking specialist advice and developing a more sustainable operating model.

The Board is also looking at how its own members and networks can contribute more actively to DWA's future.

Why don't you just increase membership and participant fees?

Fees will form part of the broader review, but simply passing the full cost of DWA's operations onto members would conflict with the accessibility objectives at the heart of the organisation.

We need to look at the whole funding model – including fees, partnerships, sponsorship, fundraising, donations, government support and the cost and structure of delivering our services.

Can I donate now?

Yes. Donations to DWA are welcome and will help support the organisation as we work through this transition.

[DONATE TO DWA]

We will shortly launch a broader campaign explaining how individuals, families and organisations can support DWA's next chapter.

What else can I do to help?

Financial support is only one way to help.

You can volunteer, share DWA's story, introduce us to potential sponsors or partners, connect us with philanthropic or corporate organisations, identify fundraising opportunities or simply open a conversation with someone who may be able to help.

If you have an introduction, partnership opportunity or other idea, please contact us at info@disabledwintersport.com.au

When will we know more?

This work is already underway and will continue over the coming months.

We will communicate regularly as decisions are made and will provide updates on both the changes within DWA and the opportunities for our community to participate in building the organisation's future