What’s Happening?
The Queensland Academy of Sport held Queensland’s first YouFor2032 Regional Para Testing Day in Townsville on 29 July.
The event gave aspiring North Queensland athletes access to face-to-face talent testing closer to home. Academy staff assessed their potential and considered para sports that may suit their abilities.
This expanded statewide talent identification into North Queensland ahead of the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Why It Matters
Regional athletes can face long travel to reach high-performance testing and support. Bringing the program north gives them a fairer opportunity to enter the Paralympic pathway.
The Para Unit supports athletes from grassroots participation through to elite competition. The Crisafulli Government delivers the unit with the Australian Institute of Sport and Paralympics Australia.
Tim Mander, Minister for Sport and Racing and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said regional access mattered.
“We know outstanding Para sporting talent exists right across the State, and today’s event is about making those opportunities more accessible for all Queenslanders,” Mr Mander said. “The Crisafulli Government is working to ensure Queensland is a world leader in para sport and in the past 12 months, the Queensland Academy of Sport has expanded its Para Unit to record levels and strengthened talent pathways.
“Taking the first regional Para Talent Search to Townsville is the next step.”
He said future Paralympic stars should have access to identification programs regardless of where they live.
Local Impact
Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole said Townsville was a fitting location for the first regional testing day.
“It’s fantastic to see the Queensland Academy of Sport bring the YouFor2032 Regional Para Testing Day to Townsville, creating more opportunities for talented people in North Queensland to explore a future in Para sport,” Ms Poole said. “Regional communities are home to incredible athletes, and initiatives like this help ensure geography is not a barrier to pursuing sporting dreams.”
She said direct community testing gave more Queenslanders the chance to be identified and supported.
Queensland Academy of Sport chief executive Troy Ayres said geography should not restrict access to a Paralympic pathway.
“Hosting the YouFor2032 Para Talent Search in Townsville is an important step towards making sure geography isn’t a barrier to reaching the Paralympic pathway,” Mr Ayres said. “We’re seeing incredible potential right across Queensland. We want to connect people who may not realise there’s a pathway into Para sport and give them every opportunity to compete at the highest level.”
Paralympian and Queensland Academy of Sport Para Unit lead Blake Cochrane said Townsville reduced major travel demands.
“For many people in regional communities, travelling to access high performance programs can be a significant barrier. By coming to Townsville, we’re helping remove that barrier,” Mr Cochrane said.
“You don’t need an elite sporting background. We look for potential and connect athletes with the sport where they can thrive. It’s incredibly rewarding to see athletes we’ve identified already competing nationally and internationally. We’re excited to see what this next group can achieve on the road to Brisbane 2032.”
By The Numbers
- Since launching in 2025, the Para Unit has identified 64 athletes across 18 sports.
- The unit recently welcomed 24 athletes, its largest intake recorded so far.
- With less than six years remaining, the unit is on track to more than double Queensland’s future Paralympian pool.
Zoom In
RACQ drives the YouFor2032 Talent Search, which begins with initial testing through the YouFor2032 app.
Applicants can then progress to face-to-face testing with the Academy Talent team. The team matches each athlete with sports that best suit their abilities.
An elite sporting background is not required, as assessors focus on each participant’s potential.
Zoom Out
The Crisafulli Government said the event supports its plan to make Queensland Australia’s sporting home and a para sport leader.
It also forms part of the government’s commitment to deliver the Brisbane Games for all Queensland communities.
The announcement repeated the government’s claim that Labor caused 1,200 days of Games chaos. Queensland also aims to build Australia’s strongest Paralympic pathway.
What To Look For Next?
Townsville participants showing strong potential may enter sport-specific development through the Academy and its partners.
Successful matches could add more North Queensland athletes to state, national and international competition pathways.
Their progress could also support the Para Unit’s goal of more than doubling Queensland’s future Paralympian pool before Brisbane 2032.
