Intake two of the Para Sport Collective, supported by ACC, wrapped up its 12-month programme comprising three camps and six online connects in May 2025. We reflect on a hugely successful initiative, which involved 25 Para athletes and 12 coaches from 11 different Para sports.
Of all the findings from an anonymous survey carried out following the conclusion of intake two of the Para Sport Collective, perhaps the most compelling was the response to the question How likely would it be that you recommend the programme to others?
With all respondents agreeing that they would recommend the Para Sport Collective – there is little doubting the positive impact the experience has made to those on the cohort.
The programme – co-designed with pre-high performance Para athletes, coaches and other stakeholders – offers the chance to connect Para athletes and coaches while surrounding them with support and a range of learning and development opportunities.
Building on the success of intake one, Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) created an opportunity for nominated National Sports Organisation (NSO) staff to join the Para Sport Collective in ‘observer roles’ as part of intake two. The observer roles were based off the immense value that NSOs saw in the Collective and PNZ recognising the opportunity to support development of Para sport knowledge across the sector.
As part of a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the impact and outcomes of the Para Sport Collective, the survey discovered that 100 percent of respondents agreed that the Para Sport Collective impacted both personal and professional growth.
Meanwhile, 100 percent also agreed that they gained many skills and much knowledge through the Para Sport Collective.
Para Sport Collective intake two participant John Marrable may be aged 67, but the Dunedin-based Para table tennis player has nonetheless proved it is never too late to learn by developing a range of new skills through the Collective.
“Learning about injury prevention, especially at my age, has been very important while I’ve learned so much in so many areas including having a peanut butter smoothie will allow me to cut out the caffeine and give me prolonged energy in the afternoons,” explains John.
The vast majority of Para athletes and coaches also felt the Para Sport Collective helped develop/improve their leadership skills with 82.6 percent agreeing that this was the case.
John believes he has shown enhanced leadership because it has allowed him to share ideas with others on the programme.
“I was talking to one of the Auckland table tennis players and told him how when using a table tennis robot, I set it up to shoot 300 balls and if say 100 don’t hit the net, I would pick up those balls on the floor and use them for serving practice. Just little things like that and finding ways to be a smarter player make a difference.”
The Para Sport Collective offered a number of workshops to aid communication and interpersonal skills with 91.3 percent of respondents agreeing that both areas were enhanced during the 12-month programme.
Shooting Para sport athlete and wheelchair user Eligh Fountain fully supports this notion and adds: “When I started on the Collective, I lacked confidence in my communication with other people both in a large group and in one-on-one conversations.”
“However, as my confidence grew and my skills developed through the Collective, I have been more able to clearly articulate my thoughts. I’ve also had several media opportunities, which has allowed me to further refine my communications skills.”
An impressive 95.7 percent of respondents said the Para Sport Collective increased their confidence levels. One such Para athlete that supported this claim was Para equestrian rider Nicola Wills, who commented: “Being part of the Para Sport Collective has given me a sense of belonging and an energising lift. Having big dreams can be daunting, but by being around others with a similar vision, you realise those dreams can become reality.”
One of the key components of the Para Sport Collective was creating a greater sense of connection between Para athletes and coaches. All 37 participants agreed that this was an undoubted benefit of the programme.
Para Alpine skier Thomas Coysh said: “To be able to meet Para athletes from other Para sports with other disabilities has been amazing. We’ve built a bit of a family between us, and we share ideas. To learn what it takes to become a high performance Para athlete is amazingly important.”
While emerging Para canoeist Finn Murphy backed up this sentiment. “Being part of the Para Sport Collective has been a great opportunity to network with other athletes with a disability and learn different ways of dealing with things,” he explains. “Amputees face a unique set of challenges compared to wheelchair users but many of us draw on a similar emotional skillset. I have found out what some of the other amputees do for their training, how they navigate certain issues to share information or network. I understand things from a different perspective.”
Yet the final word goes to Eligh Fountain, who has experienced many challenges since breaking his back in a motor accident at the age of 18.
“The Para Sport Collective has taught me to listen more, and it has given me a greater understanding of what other people go through,” he says. “I was very tunnel visioned but I’ve learned that the world is not just about me and that there are many other people coping with other disabilities and challenges. I’m quite isolated up in Matauri Bay (in Northland) but being part of the Collective has helped me build so many relationships and friendships with people who share the same dreams.”
