The Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) is proud to officially present the WAIS Para Unit team, a dedicated team of experts designed to support Western Australian Para-athletes from grassroots to elite levels, ultimately increasing Australia’s representation and medal success at future Commonwealth Games, Paralympic Summer and Winter Games.
Meet the Team
The newly appointed WAIS Para Unit team brings together a diverse group of experienced, passionate and purpose-driven individuals. All united by the goal of unlocking opportunity and enabling potential.
- Brad Scott – Para Unit Lead and Regional Engagement. A triple Paralympic medallist and a passionate advocate for athlete development.
- Brant Garvey – Para Unit ID and Pathways Manager. Paralympian, entrepreneur and motivational speaker, known for redefining what’s possible.
- Sally Pilbeam – Para Unit Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Advisor. Paris Paralympian with a background in empowering participation through inclusive sport pathways.
- Grant Ward – Para Athletics and Multi-skill Coach. Experienced performance coach and leader in high performance sport.
Together, this team, along with Para sport specialists in Strength & Conditioning, Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement, Coaching and other athlete support services, will support up to 40 athletes per year, helping emerging and established talent grow, thrive, and chase their dreams, both on and off the field.
Delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Paralympics Australia (PA), and the Western Australian Government, the WAIS Para Unit is part of the national Para Uplift strategy – the largest investment in Paralympic sport in Australia’s history.
Located just a few kilometres from where the Australian Paralympic Movement began at the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital, the WAIS Para Unit represents a powerful full-circle moment. It honours Western Australia’s rich history in Para-sport while opening new doors for the next generation of athletes to dream, strive and train for Paralympic glory.
The WAIS Para Unit will support a coordinated, nationwide approach to reduce barriers to participation and talent identification, enhance performance pathways and develop world-class Para-sport coaches in a supportive and inclusive high performance environment. At its core, the Para Units exists to empower, develop and guide athletes toward success at the highest level.
The primary focus of the WAIS Para Unit is to boost participation and enhance performance in Para-sport across Western Australia, discover untapped talent and increase the nation’s medal prospects at future benchmark events, in line with Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy (Win Well Strategy).
The power of Para sport to change lives was reflected in the words of WAIS Paralympic athlete Jackson Hamilton, who described his first experience at a Come and Try Day as transformative experience:
“Trying para sport for the first time at a Come and Try Day was a turning point in my life. It didn’t just help me accept my disability, it empowered me to understand and embrace it. It gave me purpose, confidence, and a sense of belonging that has transformed who I am both on and off the field.”
For many athletes, that sense of purpose begins with taking the first step. As Paralympian Brad Scott explains:
“I always loved sport, but I believed my disability would limit me. The Paralympic Come and Try Day showed me it was actually the opposite. It gave me an opportunity. That day was the start of a journey I never thought possible, one that led me to represent Australia.”
Whether you’re just starting your sporting journey or looking to take your performance to the next level, the WAIS Para Unit is here to support and guide you every step of the way.
Want to join the WAIS Para Unit?
If you’re an athlete or part of a sporting organisation and would like to connect with the WAIS Para Unit, register your interest here and a team member will be in touch.
