Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences

The Para START Program

The Para START Program is a sports training program for people eligible to participate in the Paralympic Games.

START stands for Sports Training And Research Team.

Developed by Associate Professor Sean Tweedy, Dr Emma Beckman, Dr Mark Connick, Dr Leanne Johnston and a team of PhD candidates from the UQ School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, the team is exploring the therapeutic benefit of sports training for people with high support needs.

Meet the Para START team

The Para START squad provides people with severe impairments and high support needs with the support they need to train safely and effectively for physically demanding, para sports. Find out here how Jamie, Nate, Kunal and others are chasing their Paralympic dreams.

Read about their inspiring story.
Get involved
Para START provides one-on-one and group-based training to anyone with a disability for the sports of swimming, track and field. Our qualified staff can work safely and effectively with anyone with a disability, regardless of diagnosis or impairment severity, including those with high support needs.

Donate now

With high support needs athletes come high support costs. Your donation can assist these hard-working and dedicated athletes get the best training possible. If you would like to support the Para START Program, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Your donation will assist young people with cerebral palsy get the best training possible, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for a Paralympic team.

Donate