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NDIS Champions

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Jonathan Goerlach

Hampton, VIC

AFDO NDIS Champion Jonathan Goerlach

It’s not often you come across a combination of raw talent, steadfast focus and sheer determination, but in Jonathan Goerlach, you’ll find this and more. As a relative newcomer to the sport of Paratriathlon, it’s hard to decide what’s more inspiring – his achievements with his disability or the fact he’s made such incredible progress as a paratriathlete in such a short time. It’s probably a bit of both.

Visually and hearing impaired Paratriathlete Jonathan Goerlach, suffers from Usher Syndrome Type II, meaning he has moderate hearing loss, no peripheral vision, is night-blind and has only tunnel vision. But having discovered a passion for Paratriathlon, he’s also discovered a passion for winning. And with the Paralympics firmly in his sights, he’s working hard to get there, one race at a time.


About the NDIS Champions program

Would your business, organisation or community group benefit from a free information session on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), delivered by a person with disability in your local area?

Do you want to know more about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)? Do you want to understand what it will mean for people with disability?

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) has recently employed and trained 30 people with disabilities from all over Australia to become NDIS Champions - to deliver reliable, fact-checked information about the NDIS in their local communities.

NDIS Champions presentations have answers to the most frequently asked questions, including:

  • What is the NDIS?
  • Who can access it?
  • Why do we need it?
  • How does it work?
  • What do I need to do?
  • NDIS Plans
  • And more

If your business, organisation, or community group would benefit from a free information session on the NDIS, you can fill out an Expression of interest form (online or PDF), or contact your local Champion directly using the contact details on the Champions' page. 

Note: NDIS Champions presentations were free during late 2016, but the project funding for this has ended. The Champions we trained are now working independently as presenters, and are charging modest fees to cover their time, expenses and expertise. Contact your local NDIS Champion to find out more. 


Contact details

If you would like Jonathon to make a presentation about the NDIS to your organisation, business or group, you can contact him using one of the methods below:

Phone: 0402 489 671
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jonathangoerlachathlete 
Twitter: @ausparatrijono
Instagram: @ausparatrijono

Download Jonathan's NDIS Champions flyer (PDF, 1 page, 160kb)


Jonathan in the media: 

YouTube video: 
Jonathan Goerlach - Paratriathlete User Experience with ReSound Smart Hearing

Blog post on Save Sight Institute website: 
How I see the world

Sydney Morning Herald article:
Two of us: Jonathan Goerlach and Corey Bacon