PARA SPORTS

Para Sports Program will focus on removing barriers for para-athletes in regional areas by offering Academy Scholarships to access strength & conditioning support, education, and additional targeted development opportunities.

The program is supported and endorsed by Paralympics Australia and will aim to complement and elevate an athlete’s current training program.

The 2024 Para Sports program will run from October 2023 to July 2024. Athletes will graduate from the program at the 2024 Presentation Night in July.

NOMINATION INFORMATION

Nominations for the 2024 Para Sports Program are now open.

Athletes interested in nominating should read the para-sports background information prior to completing the nomination form.

To nominate for the 2024 program, please click here.

Nominations will close at 9am on Wednesday 30 August.

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION PROCESS

To be eligible for selection in the 2024 program athletes must:

turning 13 to 18 years of age in 2024 – Special consideration may be given to some athletes falling outside of this age limit due to the nature of para-sport. This remains subject to the approval of WRAS in consultation with Paralympics Australia.
have an eligible physical, vision, and/or intellectual impairment for Para-sport, based on previous national or provisional classification. https://www.paralympic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PA_Para-Sport_WhatImpairments_A4_new_May23.pdf
be regularly competing at state and national events in one or more of the 28 para-sports and events competed in at the Paralympic Games. https://www.paralympic.org.au/play-para-sport/
be representing at a state or national level within their Para-sport or show appropriate talent potential as determined by the NSO for their sport and Paralympic Australia
be representing NSW and aspiring to or already representing Australia in a para-sports competition in their chosen sport
must be living or attending a school within the WRAS catchment area
must complete the WRAS nomination form before the closing date/time.

Each athlete nomination for the para-sports program will be assessed on its merits.

ATHLETE BENEFITS

The purpose of the Para-sports program is to:

Identify and connect pre-categorised Para-athletes (with the potential to progress to Emerging/Developing Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Categorisation within 2 years) to athlete servicing and support provided through the RAS, with the goal of supporting athletes to be National Institute Network (NIN) ready by the time they achieve categorisation.

Selected athletes will receive support tailored specifically to their needs.