Para Sports
Para Sports
Want to take the next step in your sporting career?
The IAS is committed to providing equal opportunity for Para Athletes to achieve sporting excellence through the facilitation of appropriate sports development programs that support and enhance the athlete’s potential and sporting opportunities. Scholarships are offered for a 12-month period commencing in October and concluding September.
The purpose of the Para-sports program is to identify and connect pre-categorised Para-athletes (with potential to progress to Emerging/Developing Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Categorisation within 2 years) to athlete servicing and support provided through the Illawarra Academy of Sport, with the goal of supporting athletes to be National Institute Network (NIN) ready by the time they achieve categorisation.
The IAS Para Sports Program (formerly Athlete with a Disability) is designed to support the developmental needs of the regions talented Para Athletes by providing industry leading high-performance sport development programs by offering scholarships to access strength & conditioning support, education, and additional targeted development opportunities.
The program is supported and endorsed by Paralympics Australia and will aim to complement and elevate an athlete’s current training program.
2023/24 Staff
Kurt Freeme, Head Coach
2023/24 Squad
Eddie Clare
Oskar Driscoll
Jarred Dyer
Jack Gibson
Athlete Profiles
1
2024-25 Scholarship
Athlete Eligibility
To be eligible for an IAS Para Sports Scholarship, athletes must:
- Reside in one of the five local councils within the IAS catchment area. These include Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee
- Have an eligible physical, vision, and/or intellectual impairment for Para-sport, based on previous national or provisional classification: https://www.paralympic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PA_Para-Sport_WhatImpairments_A4_new_May23.pdf
- Be aged between 13 – 18 years in 2025 (born 2007-2012). Special consideration may be given to some athletes falling outside of this age limit due to the nature of para-sport. This remains subject to the approval of IAS board in consultation with Paralympics Australia.
- Be representing at a state or national level within their Para-sport or show appropriate talent potential as determined by the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) for their sport and Paralympics Australia.
- Be representing one (or more) of the 28 Para-sports and events competed at the Paralympic Games. https://www.paralympic.org.au/play-para-sport/
2
2024-25 Para Sports
Selection Criteria
Satisfy the eligibility criteria and demonstrate the following qualities;
- – Be representing at a state or national level and meet minimum-level performance outcomes within their Para-sport or show appropriate talent potential as determined by their sport and Paralympics Australia.
- Affiliation to a sporting association associated with chosen sport
- Evidence of classification or ability/capacity to gain/ seek a confirmation of disability whether it is physical or intellectual
- Capacity to represent at State and National level within 12 months
- Display an ability to apply coaching and technical instruction
- Display attitude, commitment and dedication to improving performance
2024-25 Para Sports
Selection Process
Applications Close: 30 August 2024
Athlete Interviews: Mid-late September
Athletes will be selected for the IAS Para Sports program by Paralympics Australian and Illawarra Academy of Sport.
3
2024-25 Scholarship
Fees
IAS athletes are required to purchase the IAS squad uniform, they also are required to contribute to additional components of the programs such as camps.