For parents of students and adult athletes with an intellectual disability or autism who want to compete through Sport Inclusion Australia, 2026. Covers II-1, II-2 and II-3 criteria, registration types, evidence, the application process, timing and renewal.
Sport Inclusion Australia (SIA) supports people with an intellectual impairment in sport. Its services include creating pathways with sporting, government and community bodies, athlete eligibility, capacity building for organisations, and sport pathways advisory. It also runs a School Sport Program.
Athlete eligibility is how SIA helps athletes with an intellectual impairment meet the requirements for competition. SIA says eligible athletes must have a valid athlete registration card to compete.
Sources: https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/ and https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/eligibility/
II-1 (intellectual disability) requires all of:
Evidence: Wechsler (WAIS/WISC) or Stanford-Binet IQ scores; a Vineland, ABAS or AAMR adaptive behaviour report and score summary; and IQ or other relevant scores or a diagnosis from before age 22. For Virtus international II-1 eligibility, testing must be within the last 5 years.
II-2 is for intellectual disability with significant additional impairment.
Evidence: genetic testing or a physician statement (blood test); AAI status signed by a physician, plus AAI exam results if available; and, for the FAST pathway, FAST screening plus medical evidence of additional impairments and sporting performance history. SIA says FAST is only an initial screening.
II-3 requires a formal diagnosis of Autism or Asperger's syndrome. The evidence is a diagnosis by a qualified professional using accepted tools (for example ADOS, ASRS, CARS or DISCO). In some cases, multidisciplinary evidence mapped to ICD-11 or DSM-5 may be accepted at the eligibility panel's discretion.
An athlete may need to submit at least two forms if they progress from national to international competition.
SIA says to apply at least 3 months before competition. Processing usually takes several weeks, and II-2 (FAST) and international applications can take several months. Fees vary by application type; the eligibility page does not list amounts.
Registration cards show an expiry date, and a valid card is required to compete. Renewal is done through the athlete renewals page on the Sport Inclusion Australia website. SIA says there is a small ongoing renewal fee but does not list an amount on the eligibility page.
Sources: https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/eligibility/ and https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/athlete-renewals/
Phone 03 5762 7494 or email eligibility@siasport.org. Completed applications are also sent to that email address.