Para super coach to help drive coaching expertise ahead of Brisbane 2032

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has appointed renowned coach Jenni Banks OAM to spearhead the push to ensure the nation’s Para athletes have access to the world’s best coaches in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

Banks, who was Paralympics Australia Director of Sport during the Sydney 2000 Games and a former UK Athletics Wheelchair Racing Coach, will lead the newly established Project Para, one of the key initiatives of the record $54.9 Para Uplift funding from the Australian Government to address systemic and structural barriers to performance for Para athletes.

Guided by the AIS HP Coach Development Strategy, Project Para has two aims – support and elevate the coaches currently supporting Paralympic athletes, as well as double the number of Para coaches in Australian sport.

Australian Sports Commission Executive General Manager of AIS Performance Matti Clements said: “The historic investment made by the Australian Government into Para sport gives us the opportunity to ensure sustainable sporting success that will inspire and motivate Australians for generations to come.

“The sports, the National Institute Network and Paralympics Australia are all aligned through the Win Well High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy to get the results our Paralympic team deserves on the road to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”

Banks, who has coached athletes - including Australian legend Louise Sauvage - to more than 40 Paralympic, Olympic, and World Championship medals, said she is looking forward to being part of what is a critical period for Para-sport.

“Currently there is not enough Para coaches to provide support to the planned increase in the number of Paralympic athletes in the lead up to Brisbane 2032,” Banks said.

“It's really important that we're able to not only increase the number of coaches but also increase the expertise of the coaches.

“If we're going to get the best results, we need people that have got really strong sports specific expertise, but also that Para specific expertise. So, my role will be not only to help increase the number of coaches but also increase the capability of the coaches that we already have.”

Five-time Paralympian and Australian Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Coach Brad Ness OAM said: “With 2032 coming up, we are going to need more coaches, but we need the right coaches and we need the level of coaching to be the highest it can be to help drive these athletes to the pinnacle of where they want to get to.

“It's a really important piece and if we don't start doing it now, it's going to be too late. And that that time frame of being too late will come very quickly.”

As well as Project Para, the $54.9 million Para Uplift initiative includes the establishment of dedicated Para Units in the state and territory sport institutes and academies and work to streamline and improve the classification process.

For more information about the Para Uplift, visit www.winwell2032.au