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Aiming to support para-athletes in competing at the highest level, the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) has announced the launch of a new SASI Para-Sport Unit.

Looking to create additional opportunities for people with a disability to be discovered and to provide world-class services which supports athletes on their pathway from identification through to the Paralympics.

The Para-Sport Unit is part of the Federal Government’s commitment of $54.9 million in additional para sport funding, doubling the existing support, as announced by Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells in June and forms part of the South Australia Government’s new $88 million SASI facility.

Partnering with Paralympics Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), this initiative will see new Para-sports incorporated in SASI’s training environment, in line with Australia’s 2032+ High Performance Sport Strategy.

The unit will consist of a new team of Para-sport professionals including a Wheelchair Skills Coach, Physiotherapist and Classification Lead, Engineering and Equipment Specialist, Athletics Coach and Learning Design Specialist.

The first staff member to join the unit is Paris 2024 Paralympic gold medallist Jed Altschwager who has commenced as the Para-sport transition coach this week.

Altschwager will play a lead role in the identification, recruitment and support of Para-athletes, finding the sport that best aligns with their interests, strengths and skillset.

The Para-Sport Unit was announced at today’s Paralympic Talent Search testing session, hosted by SASI at the new world-class facility in Mile End.

SASI is working with Paralympics Australia and the AIS Future Green and Gold campaign to discover athletes that have the potential to compete at the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.

This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity for participants to engage with Para-sport experts, classification specialists and SASI Para-athletes and coaches.

To support the development of future Paralympians, SASI Para-Sport Unit athletes will utilise the facilities within the Mile End sports precinct including the new SASI build, the Australian Centre for Sports Aerodynamics and the redeveloped SA Athletics Stadium.

Commenting on the new SASI Para-Sport Unit, Minister Wells stated “we invest in facilities like this because they will create more Paralympians and more gold for Australia on the path to Brisbane 2032 and those successes create even more pathways for the kids who are inspired by Alexa Leary or Curtis McGrath.”

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard added “the SASI-Para Sport Unit will position South Australia as a leader in Paralympic sports through increased opportunities for Para-athletes to be discovered and then supported through every stage of their development.

“Significant investments in the $88 million South Australian Sports Institute precinct, which includes the redeveloped SA Athletics Stadium provides Para-athletes with the training environments required to reach their full potential.”

Image: Paris 2024 Paralympic gold medallist Jed Altschwager (right), the first staff member to join the SASI Para-Sport Unit. Credit: South Australian Sports Institute.

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