Cutting-edge innovation in Paralympic sport performance will soon enter a new era after an agreement was signed between Paralympics Australia and key Queensland-based sporting and research bodies, including USC Australia.

The Queensland Network for Paralympic Performance Enhancement and Applied Sports Research signals the next generation of collaboration between Paralympics Australia, the Queensland Academy of Sport and teams from USC, The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association.

USC academic Professor Brendan Burkett, who is the Head Coach of the Australian Paralympic Swim Team and a four-time Paralympic swimmer, said the benefits of the agreement would extend well beyond supporting para-athletes.

“Australia has a proven track record in Paralympic sports and the knowledge generated from working with Paralympians can help guide the decision making on how to best support all people with a disability,” Professor Burkett said.

“The unique and strong relationships between industry partners with some passionate researchers and practitioners are the key ingredients for a successful network.”

Representing Paralympics Australia at the announcement on Friday was Chief Executive Lynne Anderson and Paralympic Innovation Lead Dr Ross Pinder.

“There have been multiple collaborations in place for some time between the different organisations, but this agreement brings those links together and takes advantage of the expertise available to form a world-leading para-sport research network,” Dr Pinder said.

“The network will allow us to continue to evolve how we work with sports, how we collaborate with coaches and athletes, and how we seek out the best researchers and practitioners in the world.

“Three of the best universities to work with in para-sport are in South-East Queensland. The agreement will allow us to access more expertise, embed more students in our sports and better answer the questions that our athletes and coaches want to ask.”

USC Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett signed the agreement on behalf of USC Australia. More information on the agreement is available here.