November 5, 2026 — 6:00am
Para athletes will receive hundreds of thousands in extra federal government funding as they train for the Brisbane Paralympic Games, less than six years away.
Sports and Communications Minister Anika Wells will confirm $427,000 in the next round of the Para Athlete Barrier Fund in a speech at the Queensland Media Club at lunchtime on Thursday.
The funds will support 144 sportspeople competing in 22 disciplines.
Grants up to $4000 will go to athletes in sports including wheelchair rugby, table tennis, climbing and taekwondo.
“These investments aren’t simply removing financial barriers, they are unlocking potential and helping more Australians achieve extraordinary things,” Wells will tell the audience.
Wells will describe the Brisbane 2032 Games as a collective North Star to guide athletes on their “journey from playground to podium”.
Added to previously committed funds, the investment will support 68 high-performance programs, up from 54, and seven more national teams, including lacrosse and blind football.
“More than 1000 athletes across 41 sports are receiving direct support through … grants paid directly to athletes,” Wells will say.
“Elite athletes should be able to focus on training, competing and performing, not wondering how they are going to cover expenses.”
Announcements of other programs are likely during the speech.
The federal government says it is investing more than half a billion dollars over the next two years into Australia’s high-performance sports system.
In remarks provided ahead of Wells’ speech, Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieren Perkins welcomed the extra money.
“Every athlete should have the opportunity to focus on what matters most: training, competing and performing at their best,” he said in a statement.
“The AIS Para Athlete Barrier Fund helps remove some of the practical and financial challenges that can stand in the way of that journey.
“We want Australia’s para athletes to have the support they need not just to compete, but to thrive, from Glasgow and LA through to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”
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Source: The Sydney Morning Herald · William Davis
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