Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch is urging Peninsula residents to get behind a local mentoring program aimed at helping Paralympians which was launched online ahead of International Day of People with Disability on December 3.
Founded by Tesch, the Paralympic Mentoring Program (PMP) aims to mentor current female athletes on their journey to the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic games.
Tesch said the program was initially planned to have athletes with disability from across the state meet in Canberra.
“Covid-19 has forced us to move wholly online,” Tesch said.
“This actually has worked better – enabling more flexibility, a cheaper solution, and actually made the whole process much more accessible for people of all abilities.
“The tailored model allows for not only improvement of sporting performance and access to support structures, but also empowers people living with a disability to live strong and fulfilling lives.”
Mentors are asked to work through curriculum modules each month with their clients, focusing on topics including mental and physical health, financial support, accessing NDIS services, and elite performance leadership.
The program is currently being delivered to mentees across Australia, using 12 female Paralympic alumni across seven sports, to help mentor the budding sports stars, including local para-athlete Rae Anderson.
The 23-year-old represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics in javelin and discus and said she is now working to transition to winter Para-sports with the help of the PMP program.
“It’s great to be part of a program designed and run by people with a disability for people with a disability,” Anderson said.
“The impact has been absolutely amazing, and I know the program has helped me gain confidence to take on new goals.”
Source:
Media release, Nov 30
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch