Unconquerable, undefeated, Invictus.
This definition is exactly what defines the Invictus Games, and everything associated with them. I was lucky enough to sit down with Debbie Dimmock, the regional manager of Invictus Australia for the ACT and southern NSW regions, to learn more about the events associated with such an important organisation.
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event, much like the Olympics, held for sick, wounded and injured soldiers. Events such as the ones organised by Ms Dimmock are an extension of these games and provide more informal, family-friendly activities for these soldiers and their families.
In the brief time I was able to spend with Ms Dimmock, she was able to provide a deeper insight into just how important events like Invictus Australia are to the community, veterans and the people around them. Throughout the interview, Ms Dimmock was also able to explain how key donations and fundraisers are to continue to provide events such as these.
Ms Dimmock has been actively involved in the defence and mental health community within the ACT for many years prior to the establishment of Invictus Australia, having previously been the Centre Manager and Programs officer with Soldier On. She continues to build on her previous work in organising local, national and international events
Q: Ms Dimmock, please explain what exactly your role is in the operation of the Invictus Games.
A: I’m the regional manager for the ACT and southern NSW, so that means that I have staff in different areas to run community programs within those areas and those community programs are all with our sporting partners, so we facilitate sporting opportunities for the defence community to get involved in.
Q: What was your journey towards working with the Invictus Games?
A: I was really lucky, I used to work for an organisation called Solider On and I used to run all their activities and events in the Canberra region, and then Invictus Australia were looking for somebody to start up a program down on the South Coast in Nowra, and they needed someone with a bit of experience, so luckily I was hired to set that up down in Nowra, and I’ve been with them for three years now.
Q: What do you believe the Invictus Games represents?
A: With Invictus Australia, we’re the not-for-profit charity that has started off the back of the Sydney games that happened back in 2018. Invictus Australia has two streams. We have the games in which we have a team of employees who look after the competitors who go to the games, so we pay for all their accommodation and transport, as well as look after them while they’re competing, which happens every two years. The other stream that we have are the community programs and that’s the side that I’m involved in, I organise the sporting opportunities for the defence community to get involved in.
Q: How important are these games to not only the competitors but also to their families and everyone involved with them?
A: It’s huge, our first priority for the people we look after, are the injured, wounded and ill. So people that have been adversely affected through service. Now when someone has been adversely affected through service whether it’s a physical or mental injury, it really affects the whole family. We look after the defence community, so that’s serving, former serving and family members. It is really important for families; spouses, partners and kids, to find their place within sport as well as the serving or former serving members themselves.
Q: We have some professional athletes at some of the events today. Do you find that these athletes are eager to be a part of and participate in events such as today’s?
A: Absolutely, we actually have Senator David Pocock here, so he’s been a sportsman his whole life, and now he’s here today to promote sport, but also to get to know the defence community as well.
Q: How important are donations and fundraising to be able to operate events like this?
A: Extremely important. It’s good to mention fundraising. We have a massive fundraising event happening in the first week of June. It’s called 0600, and that’s where we encourage everyone to sign up and fundraise for Invictus Australia. It’s called 0600 because we rise at 6 am every day, go outside and do some physical activity.
Another reason why it’s six is on average, six veterans commit suicide per month. We’re really working hard to prevent veteran suicide. So we get up at 6 am every day to raise money for Invictus Australia.
Q: From a first-hand perspective, how has the public received the games?
A: I think the public has received it really well. It’s a really heartwarming event because the stories are so personal. It really showcases where somebody has hit rock bottom, through either mental or physical illness and found sport as a way of reconnecting again with the community and finding their well-being through sport.
Q: What is something that you want everyone to take away from this event?
A: I think what I’d like everyone to take away from this event today is to really take the time away to prioritise yourself. As an example, I start every morning with some sort of physical activity, and that can just be going for a 3-4km walk. It’s something that helps me with my own personal well-being, helps me get my mind in the right place, and I absolutely cope with the day much better if I’ve done some sort of physical activity so I would encourage everyone to take a look at all the sports here today, have a go, and really find something that you’re going to be able to be involved in.
What’s next for Invictus
The next major event for Invictus will be the first-ever Winter Invictus Games held in Vancouver, Canada. Aiming to “offer a global platform to expand the range and profile of winter adaptive sports”. These games will demonstrate on a much larger scale exactly what sports and community can do to aid returning veterans. To find out more click the link here, or search “Invictus 2025”.