Para Sport Uplift and First Nations Leadership Highlight Horizon 1 of Australia’s High Performance Strategy

Australia’s sporting system is celebrating a landmark step forward following the release of the Win Well Horizon 1 Report, marking the completion of the first phase of the High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.

Launched in December 2022, the strategy has united 61 sports and organisations under a shared ambition to not only win, but to Win Well. The Horizon 1 Report outlines significant achievements, including record federal funding, unprecedented support for Para sport, and groundbreaking cultural initiatives.

At the centre of progress was a record $489 million federal investment secured under the new High Performance Investment Framework. The funding covers the first two years of the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, providing stability and resourcing across the high performance system.

Alongside this, the Para Sport Uplift delivered an additional $54.9 million, doubling government support to address systemic barriers faced by Para athletes. This commitment represents one of the most significant advances for Paralympic and Para-sport development in Australian history.

The Horizon 1 phase also saw the launch of the first-ever Connection to Country Action Plan, designed and led by First Nations athletes. The plan embeds cultural safety, recognition, and reconciliation into high performance environments, ensuring Indigenous perspectives are integral to the nation’s sporting journey toward Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

Progress was also made in planning and accountability, with a new Planning, Monitoring and Review framework helping sports set clearer performance targets, align resources, and build trust through stronger collaboration.

With Horizon 2 now underway, focus shifts to embedding reforms ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games and Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Key priorities include elevating coaching as a profession, strengthening Para pathways, enhancing collaboration across sports, and identifying innovations that can deliver a competitive edge on the road to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Don’t miss out on the latest in sports business – Subscribe today to the free Ministry of Sport newsletter and stay ahead of the game. For even more exclusive insights, event tickets, professional development and networking events, become a MoS Member today!.