About
Welcome to the Australian Pole Sports Federation!
We are a not-for-profit federation dedicated to promoting Pole as an athletic sport. Our aims include:
1. Providing the pathway for Australian pole athletes to qualify for the World Pole Sports Championships (WPSC).
2. Achieving recognition of pole as a sport with the Sports Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee, enabling our Australian athletes to enter the Olympics when pole reaches this ultimate goal.
3. Bringing together Australian pole athletes as a community, supporting one another in our passion for pole sports.
4. Promoting this fitness activity, which incorporates physical and artistic skills, throughout the age span, from kids to masters.
The APSF is a proud member of the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) who governs pole internationally, by setting in place a structured competition, coaching and education format that has been accepted by international sport governing bodies. The IPSF has been awarded Observer member status of the Global Association of International Federations (GAISF), and are Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA). The goal of the IPSF and the APSF is for the Olympic committee to recognise Pole as an official sport and in turn eventually become part of the Olympic Games.
Meet the committee
Deb Roach - Treasurer
Deb Roach became an IPSF judge in 2022 and had the honour of undertaking the role of technical deductions judge at the 2022 Australian Pole and Aerial Championships. Deb herself is 3 times Ultimate Pole Champion in the International Pole Championships’ disabled category. She showcased para pole at the IPSF World Pole Sports Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Deb toured the world with the Extraordinary Bodies Circus throughout 2015 and 2016 and presented a TEDx talk on where the disabled and able-bodied worlds intersect. Today, she is the owner of Stargazer Pole Studio in Blacktown and – alongside pole and flex – teaches barre, pilates and yoga in Sydney’s North West.
Amy Stutt
Dave Wilson - Vice-President
Dave’s pole adventure/addiction started in 2013 after being introduced to his first pole class. He relishes the complete physical and core strength training pole requires, the endless challenges available, and the general inclusive nature of the sport. Dave is a strong believer in the positive influence on self-confidence, self-image and personal development pole provides. He performs together with his doubles partner, Tasmin.
Dave has a PhD in biochemistry and a MBA and currently works at James Cook University, Cairns, Australia. Dave shares the drive of the other members of the APSF committee to see pole sports recognised nationally as an official sport, and introduced into the Olympic Games on the international arena. He is thrilled to be involved in working towards goals for the benefit of the Australian and international pole sports communities.
Christie Kurrle
Christie discovered international pole sports in 2015 and began competing in 2016. With a career in sport, sport’s science and teaching, Christie found Pole Sport to be the perfect fit to challenge the body physically and creatively. Experiencing inter-national competition made Christie acutely aware of how popular Pole and Aerial Sport’s are worldwide and the wonderful camaraderie that exists between athletes irrespective of language, country or culture. Through her involve-ment as an athlete and committee member, Christie seeks to raise the profile and visibility of Pole and Aerial Sports in this country so that Australian athletes of all ages may experience this sport and develop their skills to compete at regional, national and international level.
Suvarna Variyar - Secretary
Suvarna first started pole in 2017 to improve her overall fitness in an interesting way, and was instantly drawn to the creative potential of the sport. She began Aerial Hoop in 2020 as a way to supplement her pole training. Suvarna has a passion for teaching and for diversifying approaches to pole and aerial sports.
Suvarna was introduced to IPSF Pole and Aerial Sports in late 2020, and found Pole/Aerial Sports and Artistic Pole/Aerial Hoop a perfect fit for her love of codes and passion for storytelling. Suvarna is a keen competitor, and holds the 2022 national titles in the categories of Amateur Senior 18+ Women’s Pole Sports, Amateur Senior Women’s Artistic Pole, Amateur Senior 18+ Women’s Hoop Sports, and Amateur Senior 18+ Women’s Artistic Hoop. Suvarna is Australia’s first Aerial Hoop athlete.
Anita O'Donnell - President
