The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Paralympics Australia have entered a partnership to support the next generation of Paralympic champions by providing access to mental health and wellbeing services.
The partnership is to see the AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) become more accessible for emerging Paralympic pathway athletes.
Director of AIS, Matti Clements said the MHRN offered independent and confidential mental health and wellbeing support to more than 2,500 categorised athletes, as well as alumni athletes, coaches and support staff.
“Our ultimate aim is for every Australian athlete to be their very best in life as well as sport, and this partnership will ensure that more athletes will have access to the support they need, when they need it,” Ms Clements said.
“We are excited to be working together with Paralympics Australia to make the Mental Health Referral Network accessible to more Para-athletes, from those first joining a national program all the way through to our Tokyo medal hopefuls,” she said.
Ms Clements said the MHRN was the only high performance sport-specific mental health referral service available in the world.
“Since launching in 2018, the Mental Health Referral Network continues to adapt and expand to meet the needs of Australian sport, and with the support of partner organisations such as Paralympics Australia we can keep this momentum going,” she said.
