WAIS Unveils New Para Unit To Align With High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy

The Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) has launched the state’s first dedicated Para Sport Unit, marking a major step in enhancing the prospects of Australian Paralympic athletes ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.

Located near the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital, historically significant in Australia’s Paralympic Movement, the WAIS Para Unit is set to honour the legacy of Western Australia’s Para-sport achievements while providing a modern training hub for emerging Paralympic athletes.

In partnership with the Australian Government, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), and Paralympics Australia, the WAIS Para Unit forms part of the national Para Uplift strategy, the largest investment in Paralympic sport in Australian history. 

 Commenting on the partnership, Matti Clements, executive general manager of AIS Performance at the Australian Sports Commission said, “Australia is acknowledged as a global leader in creating optimal environments and resources for our Para-athletes,” 

“Our goal is for Brisbane 2032 to be our most successful Paralympic Games yet, with the Para Uplift initiative and sport units playing a crucial role in achieving that goal.” Clements said.

Matt Fulton, chief executive officer of WAIS, added: “While Para-athletes serve as an inspiring force, many still face substantial challenges that hinder their involvement in community and high-performance sport,”

“Deliberate measures are essential to address these challenges, which, if ignored, will perpetuate inequities and restrict our pathways to success not just for Brisbane 2032, but for future generations.” Fulton said.

“It pays homage to local visionaries such as Sir George Bedbrook, a pioneering spinal surgeon, former Paralympic team manager Johnno Johnson, and gold medallist Elizabeth Edmondson, while reigniting the spirit of the Paralympic Movement at its birthplace.” he added.

The WAIS Para Unit will play a pivotal role in talent identification and increasing Para-athlete participation in Western Australia, aligning with the High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy, also known as the Win Well Strategy.

The launch follows the establishment of similar units at the Queensland Academy of Sport, South Australian Sports Institute, NSW Institute of Sport, and Victorian Institute of Sport, uniting the country in a national effort to elevate Para-sport and build a dominant Australian team for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

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