In 2018, Squadron Leader Belinda 'Bel' Culley had the privilege of working as a part of the public affairs team for Invictus Games Sydney.
As the digital and social media lead, she was surrounded by a group of talented individuals whose job it was to tirelessly share incredible stories about wounded warriors overcoming adversity through courage, resilience and the healing powers of sport.
Fast forward almost seven years and the Royal Australian Air Force officer has come full circle - lining up for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 as an integral member of the 33-strong Australian team.
Starting her career with 28 Squadron after commissioning in 2015, the proud South Australian was appointed the Air Warfare Centre public affairs officer at RAAF Base Edinburgh, then moved to 464 Squadron Military Public Affairs after the public affairs function was transferred.
She then worked at Joint Operations Command (JOC) as the senior public affairs officer for the Indo-Pacific region and has recently posted into a new role based in Canberra that highlights another passion: Air Force Adaptive Culture.
While her career went from strength to strength, Squadron Leader Culley faced her own personal challenges as she recovered from a significant back injury.
'Immersing [myself] in a program like this as a gateway to build confidence and strength has been highly rewarding and reminded me that if you put your physical and mental health first, then the rest of your life improves as well.'
The avid runner and aspiring ballerina first noted issues with her back after completing the New York Marathon in 2015. What started out as a gradual decline culminated quickly in 2023 after her L4 and L5 vertebrae were crushed and a disc ruptured, leading to major back surgery resulting in a spinal fusion and having to re-learn how to walk.
She recalls her rehabilitation as being quite tough at the outset, partly because of the limited network of family and friends around her due to her recent posting to Canberra.
"It's been a bit of a challenging journey for me," said Squadron Leader Culley (46).
"Of course I had my wonderful husband, Terry, but I had to really dig deep and find that inner strength to push forward in my recovery. And then, as you get stronger and you build up your networks, it got much better.
"Looking back, I was very lucky. I had a fantastic medical team to support me, an amazing husband, and family and friends supporting me from afar, and my chain of command at JOC as well.
"My rehabilitation is still an ongoing challenge, but Invictus has given me a platform to have a go; really have a crack at some new sports that I never thought I'd be able to do, such as winter sports.
"You wouldn't think it would be a natural progression to go to the snow with a back injury, but it's really given me the confidence to try new activities. Having a supportive community around me has made a huge difference."
'I'm also looking forward to being part of a like-minded international community that is the Invictus Games.'
The supportive Invictus community and the rest of Australia will rally behind this keen sportswoman as she tests herself in indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming and Nordic skiing between February 8 and 16.
"[In 2018] I really connected [with] and admired what Invictus does for our wounded warriors, which is why I decided to apply," said Squadron Leader Culley, who will have her husband and mother to support her in Canada.
"The experience has already exceeded my expectations. There are many people who contribute their time to support, mentor and enable the competitors to shine and feel comfortable during this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"Immersing [myself] in a program like this as a gateway to build confidence and strength has been highly rewarding and reminded me that if you put your physical and mental health first, then the rest of your life improves as well."
So what is Squadron Leader Culley looking forward to most as she reconnects with Invictus after a seven-year hiatus?
"Walking side-by-side with my team and sharing this incredibly unique, amazing experience to serve my nation through the power of sport," she said.
"I'm looking forward to cheering them on in all their individual sports and helping them to achieve their goals.
"I'm also looking forward to being part of a like-minded international community that is the Invictus Games, and meeting so many amazing athletes from around the world and listening to their inspiring stories."
