The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has announced that four-time Paralympian Mitch Gourley has joined the team working to make the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics Australia’s most successful Games ever.

Gourley will play a vital role in the Para Uplift, a nation-wide initiative funded by the Australian Government’s record investment in Para-sport to address better classification opportunities, specialised coaching and performance support, and access to fit-for-purpose training environments.

As AIS Para Unit System Lead, Gourley will work with State and Territory Sport Institutes and Academies to establish multi-Para-sport hubs around the country.

Gourley brings incredible experience to the role. Since making his first Australian team at age 15 in 2006, he has served in various athlete representative roles both in Australia and with the International Paralympic Committee, played a crucial part in the formation and implementation of Australia’s Win Well High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy (Win Well Strategy), and is a member of the Play Well Leadership Group.

“I'm excited to be joining the Para Uplift project and play a role in building holistic systems to support the sustained success of our current and future Para athletes through our brilliant National Institute Network partners,” Gourley said.

“It's a pivotal moment to be involved in Para sport and disability sport more broadly, with so much opportunity and a real willingness to collaborate, learn and grow together across the high performance sport system.”

The first Para Unit was announced at the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) in December 2024, with units to be launched in other states and territories in the coming weeks.