Swimming Australia embraces 'Project Para' Coach Development Program

Swimming Australia has embraced Queensland Academy of Sport’s ‘Project Para’ Coach program to ensure the country’s Para athletes have access to the world’s best coaches in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

A cohort of four new swimming coaches - David Heyden, Rick Pendleton, Ethan Forge and Toby Fitzgerald - have entered an exclusive, four-year program to become world-class Para sport coaches.

The project aims to reduce barriers for participation and talent identification and enhance performance pathways for Para-athletes.

Through the Queensland Academy of Sport’s ‘Project Para’ Coach Scholarship; coaches from athletics, swimming, table tennis and cycling are put through a tailored four-year program that supports and elevates coaches currently supporting Para athletes.

General Manager Paralympic Program Anna Johnson thanked the bold vision and support of the QAS, the Australian Institute of Sport and Paralympics Australia, to help ensure Para athletes - and coaches - reached their full potential.

Johnson enthused “I am thrilled to announce the exciting learning journey David, Toby, Rick, and Ethan are about to undertake. This tailored program offers them a unique opportunity to not only refine their skills, but also advance para coaching in swimming, and encouraging innovative thinking about the future of coaching.

“Our ambitious vision in to become the world’s leading Paralympic swimming nation in the world, uniting communities, and inspiring Australia to swim, and empowering our coaches achieve their goals and reach their full potential is critical to our success.

“I am deeply grateful to the QAS for this world leading program and for their commitment to supporting our talented coaches pursue careers in High Performance Para-swimming. My thanks also go to PA, AIS and Queensland Government for their significant contribution in bringing this vision to life.”

Inductee and University of Queensland head coach Heyden, who coached Paralympic swimmer Jack Ireland to silver and bronze at the 2024 Paris Games shared “like swimmers, we are always looking for opportunities to be better and stay ahead of the game, be innovative and world leaders in what we do.

“This is an opportunity to expand my coaching horizon and learn new things and adapt and change and continue to improve as a coach.

“I’m excited about being able to be exposed to those new learning opportunities and hopefully the knowledge I can gather over the next couple of years can lead to some successful outcomes for 2028, 2032 and beyond.”

Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander, who acknowledged the collaboration of Paralympics Australia, the QAS and National Sporting Organisations, said the program would be a game-changer for Para-sport.

“We’re serious about making Queensland a world leader in Para-sport and to do that, we need world-class Para-sport coaches,” added Minister Mander.

“This innovative program will nurture a new wave of high-performance experts with the skills to discover and support the next Alexa Leary. Program participants come from a range of backgrounds, including retired athletes, teachers and allied health professionals.

“Graduates of this program will create new opportunities for Para-athletes, build our pipeline of Queensland talent in the lead up to the LA 2028 and help make Brisbane 2032 our most successful Paralympic Games ever.”

Image. Credit: Queensland Academy of Sport