From discovering new talent to breaking down 160+ identified barriers preventing Para-athletes from entering or progressing through high-performance sport, the WAIS Para Unit has spent its first-year building more than a program. In the birthplace of Australia’s Paralympic movement, the Unit has built a pathway that is helping shape the next generation of Para athletes who dream of competing on the world stage.
Designed to support up to 40 athletes with coaching and performance support services, the Unit forms part of the national Para Uplift aiming to grow the talent pipeline ahead of a home Games in Brisbane 2032. In just 12 months, the WAIS Para Unit has already identified 24 athletes.
WAIS CEO Matt Fulton said partnership is the foundation of the program’s success. “Led by the Australian Institute of Sport and delivered in partnership with Paralympics Australia, the Western Australian Government and the National Institute Network, alongside sport partners, disability organisations and families, we’re supporting athletes every step of the way, driving pathways forward while changing lives.”
Before joining the Unit, Paralympic hopefuls take their first step with WAIS through the six‑week FastTrack program, designed to identify emerging talent, introduce athletes to multiple sports, and provide exposure to a high‑performance environment. Some arrive having never identified as a person with a disability; others bring with them a lifetime of overcoming significant and often life‑threatening challenges.
WAIS Para Unit Lead, Brad Scott PLY said this diversity of experience has shaped extraordinary resilience and grit.
“These traits translate directly into their performance, their mindset, and the way they show up every day. Every participant through FastTrack has shown immense courage and been willing to give everything a go.”
“Beyond performance outcomes, the WAIS Para Unit is creating a strong sense of belonging and independence – an environment where athletes feel seen and supported in building their capacity in para sport and life,” said Scott, who is also a three‑time Paralympian and medallist.
One of the most powerful parts of the WAIS Para Unit is the fact that four of the nine team members are Paralympians.
“That lived experience of our Paralympians matters,” said WAIS CEO Matt Fulton. “It gives our athletes role models, mentors, and people who truly understand the journey.”
Since launching, the Unit has already shown what is possible when talent is matched with the right environment, the right people and the right support.
Inspired by 2‑time Paralympian David Bryant PLY, father of two Taryn Purea joined the WAIS Para Unit in September 2025. Within four months, he was lining up at his first Road Cycling National Championships in Perth – finishing second.
After years of not fully accepting his double club foot disability, Taryn said training alongside fellow Para Unit athletes has reframed how he sees himself.
“At the end of the day, we’re all just elite athletes wanting to get on that world stage.”
Another FastTrack success is 18‑year‑old Olivia Riley, now a WAIS Para Unit athlete, who has been selected in the Australian team for the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin this month.
“I was in Year 3 when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It was heartbreaking because I was really sporty. I had to learn to blink and to walk. I started doing frame running and would really love to go to the Paralympics one day,” said Olivia.
“The Unit and our team behind these aspiring athletes, is something we’re incredibly proud of,” said Fulton. “The work of the Para Unit is about much more than today’s outcomes. We’re building something sustainable for the future, for Brisbane 2032 and for Western Australia’s continued place in Para sport nationally.”
One year on, the Unit recently marked the milestone with the release of its mini‑documentary FastTrack: Discovering Tomorrow’s Paralympians, now available on the WAIS YouTube channel. The short film follows the journey of the inaugural FastTrack cohort, including Taryn and Olivia, and is a powerful reminder that this is only the beginning.
