Discovering Identity in Powerchair Football: Chris and the Power of a PhD
July 1st, 2026
By Jaxon Taylor
Sometimes the most fascinating subjects can become more than just a passion. They can become your whole world.
Chris is an MDNSW community member who is currently undertaking a PhD, exploring powerchair football and its impact on identity.
And for Disability Pride Month, we’re highlighting the achievements of people such as Chris, diving deep into his accomplishments.
Chris at the Asia Pacific Oceania (APO) Powerchair Football Cup Champions in Brisbane 2025.
Chris describes his PhD as “a player perspective on powerchair football to look at how it impacts someone’s identity, how they feel about themselves, and what impacts it has on their life.”
His research investigates the finer details of the sport that many would not consider, asking questions such as “Does it lead them to job opportunities?”, “Does it lead them to having better social networks?” and “Does it increase their confidence?”
Chris is exploring these topics on local and international levels amongst his peers. Alongside this research, he is undertaking an autoethnography. This involves taking his personal experiences and analysing them as a researcher.
His work also investigates public perception of the sport by considering “What does the general public think about people with a disability?” and “What does the general public think about people that play powerchair football?”
With just under a year of his studies to go, Chris has his eyes set on the light at the end of the tunnel. “The focus now is to work on all that… I’m writing a journal article about my results… We can use that research to promote the sport and try and push it forward in any way possible.”
Despite the significant progress and success that Chris has experienced so far, choosing the topic of powerchair football was not always the plan. For many years in his previous studies, online gaming was a consistent theme, particularly Call of Duty and FIFA.
His supervisors urged him to explore his other interests. They knew he was an avid powerchair football player. And once he adjusted, he realised how strong an idea this was.
Powerchair football is consistently on the rise. The sport has around 150 players in Australia alone and new players are fighting for state and national spots year-on-year. Chris is taking advantage of this rise, both to develop the sport and himself as an academic and as a person.
“My main focus is to push powerchair football forward as much as I can in my own abilities.”
When reflecting on his aim and how he has contributed to the sport, he was quite proud of how he has progressed as a role model.
“I’ve become a little bit of an advocate or representative of the sport… I’ve done a few different presentations externally at some sporting forums and events.”
His progression to a role model in the community has been natural and almost accidental. “I’ve started to feel that [role model identity] too… I’ve been playing for a while. I should be able to help newer or younger players, right?”
These presentations have been transformative for him too. “I spoke at one of the NSW board meetings about the sport… I gave a bit of an overview about my research… that’s a big deal because… I’m not like a public speaker or very confident like that.”
Chris’ skills and success in Powerchair Football saw him selected as one of eight Australians to be representing their country in Argentina in the FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup this October.
Poweroos, Asia Pacific Oceania (APO) Powerchair Football Cup Champions in Brisbane 2025.
Yet representing his nation was, for a majority of his career, not something he yearned for. “I didn’t really have aspirations about playing for Australia. I didn’t even see it as a possibility. At the time, I was purely playing with friends and enjoying the sport and doing my research.”
Something he’s observed, both from undertaking a PhD and being a powerchair footballer, is this:
“This sport is actually transformational in people’s lives.”
He was fascinated by the true realisation of the global connections this sport generates.
The most important take away from this discussion? If you ask Chris, it’s “the importance of people with disability being involved in society… Whether that’s getting out and about with friends, trying to find employment, trying to find relationships… [it’s important to] have some involvement in society.”
Postal Address: PO Box 3071, North Strathfield NSW 2137
Muscular Dystrophy NSW would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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