Backing for the ParaSTART Program and UQ Sports Achievement Scholarships helps today’s athletes achieve tomorrow’s victories.
Every athlete has a story of perseverance, dedication and passion. At The University of Queensland (UQ), we are committed to nurturing these stories and providing athletes of all levels the support and encouragement they need to achieve their ambitions.
That's why we are raising funds for 2 essential causes:
- ParaSTART – a unique research program providing training and monitoring for para-athletes with severe disabilities; and
- UQ Sports Achievement Scholarships – a support fund for athletes striving to excel both in their studies and sports.
Your contribution can help shape the champions of tomorrow, ensuring they have the support they need to succeed today.
Kunal, 23-year-old swimmer.
Kunal, 23-year-old swimmer.
Transforming access to sport
The ParaSTART (Sports Training and Research Team) Program at UQ is transforming the lives of aspiring athletes with severe impairments. The program was created by UQ researchers to help people with high-support needs pursue excellence in Para sports, including the Paralympic Games.
Underpinned by groundbreaking research, ParaSTART has proven that it's more than just a training program; it’s a lifeline. The performance-focused sessions improve function, quality of life and helps para-athletes – from grassroot participation all the way to national level.
Your support could help para-athletes like Jamie and Kunal, who are inaugural participants of the program. When they began ParaSTART, neither were independently water safe, but they loved being in the water. Now they’re swimming up to one kilometre and racing in state and national competitions.
“ParaSTART means literally everything to me. It means freedom, fitness and doing things I never thought were possible,” Kunal said.
Jamie, 23-year-old swimmer.
Jamie, 23-year-old swimmer.
Jamie shared Kunal’s appreciation for the program.
“I don’t know what I would have done if ParaSTART didn’t exist. I have improved massively in my strength, determination, and swimming abilities and goals. l am more determined than ever to get into the Australian Paralympic squad,” she said.
For people with disabilities, the barriers to sports participation are significant. By giving to ParaSTART, you can help to overcome these obstacles.
Donations fund intensive training, specialised equipment, transportation to and from accessible venues and the additional dedicated staff needed to deliver safe and effective interventions. Without this support, the program simply wouldn’t be possible.
Funding also enables the team to carry out research, which is a crucial aspect of the program, because it provides the evidence that can drive fundamental change in clinical practice so that sport becomes a tool that clinicians can use to improve outcomes for people with severe disabilities around Australia.
With the Queensland Government’s support for a world-leading Paralympic Centre of Excellence to be built at UQ’s St Lucia campus – of which ParaSTART's research and training program was paramount to securing – and a strong partnership with Paralympics Australia, there is no better time to donate to ParaSTART and provide crucial support to help more para-athletes like Kunal and Jamie, ahead of 2032.
Your support can make a world of difference. Join us in empowering the athletes of tomorrow by contributing to the ParaSTART Program today.
Together, we can break down barriers and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
Cara competing in 2022.
Cara competing in 2022.
On track for Paris
Cara Feain-Ryan is a middle-distance runner specialising in the 3000 metres steeplechase, final-year speech pathology student and sporting scholarship recipient.
Despite narrowly missing selection for Tokyo, Cara continued with a rigorous training regime and extensive travel to training camps and competitions both in Australia and Europe to work towards her dream of becoming an Olympian.
After a 2024 campaign resulting in a third at nationals and second at the Oceania Championships, Cara gained sufficient points to qualify for Paris – stepping onto the grandest stage in sport.
Cara finished 11th in heat 2 of the women's 3000 metres steeplechase in Paris and set a new personal best time of 9:28.72.
“Running has been a part of my life for as long as I remember,” Cara said.
“It has always been my pocket of joy in a world that can be overwhelming and, at times, incredibly hard to understand,” Cara said.
Cara and her mother have shouldered the significant expenses of elite sports together, with her mother working tirelessly to support Cara's dreams since they lost her father to brain cancer in 2008.
“I train 7 days a week, including 3 intense interval sessions at the track, long runs of 20 kilometres or more on Sunday mornings, and strength training at the gym twice a week. This amounts to about 120 kilometres of running each week, nearly the equivalent of 3 marathons,” Cara said.
“Balancing this with university study and part-time work quickly fills my days. Yet, like many athletes, I am committed to completing my tertiary education to set myself up for success in life beyond sport.
“When you watch the athletes in Paris, you will see many with stories like mine. Stories of balance, sacrifice and unwavering determination to excel both on the field and in life.”
At UQ, we take immense pride in nurturing the talents of our student-athletes, and Cara is a shining example of what dedication and perseverance can achieve. As we rally support for scholarships for elite student-athletes, Cara's story is a testament to the impact of such support.
“Without the crucial backing of scholarships, these aspirations would be significantly more challenging to achieve,” Cara explained.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and support of students like me – allowing us to chase our dreams on the track and beyond.”
Your support for UQ Sports Achievement Scholarships can help athletes like Cara continue to pursue their dreams and achieve greatness both on and off the track.
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