As a kid growing up in the suburbs of Melbourne, sport was the soundtrack for Hugh van Cuylenburg’s childhood. That deep, visceral connection to sport looks different since Hugh founded The Resilience Project, but the lessons of sport continue to inform every aspect of his life.  

“I experienced shocking burnout. I wouldn’t have got through it all without track. There’s no way. I feel like [sport is] almost petrol. I feel when my tank is empty. I go the track and I fill up and go; I’m good now,” he says. 

And the broader opportunity for sport? To be the place where neurodiverse, or people with a disability, or just the less talented can also be involved.  

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.  

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find more resources at ausport.gov.au/playwell.  

Hugh van Cuylenburg is the founder of The Resilience Project and a co-host on The Imperfects.

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producers are Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager. 

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation.