Paralympian Sponsorship Program
WorkCover, in association with the Australian Paralympic Committee, sponsors seven athletes who despite suffering permanent disabilities in the workplace have gone on to achieve outstanding sporting success.
Started in 2001, the WorkCover Paralympian Sponsorship Program aims to raise awareness about the importance of workplace safety while helping these athletes to realise their dreams.
Through their inspirational stories of despair, courage, and triumph these athletes drive home a powerful message about the importance of: Working safe, thinking safe, and going home safe.
These athletes are available to share their stories and regularly appear at businesses, organisations, schools, conferences, seminars and other workplace events to promote workplace safety.
Drawing on their experience, the athletes spread a strong message about workplace safety, injury prevention and management and their personal road to recovery, return to work and success as world-class athletes.
They are excellent examples of people who have returned to work and returned to life after a workplace incident with the support of their family, friends, employers, medical rehabilitation specialists, the Australian Paralympic Committee and WorkCover.
This program continues to be a major success in helping employers, workers, young people and the general public understand the significance of workplace safety and the physical, emotional, social, and financial costs of workplace injuries.
The following athletes are currently sponsored by WorkCover NSW:
Archer John Marshall who became a paraplegic after a motorbike accident.
Runner Heath Francis who lost his right arm in a farming accident.
Weightlifter Kahi Puru who lost his left leg in a forklift accident.
Track and field athlete Terry Giddy who became a paraplegic after a tree-felling accident.
Nigel Smith a volleyball player who lost his left leg in an industrial accident.
Liesl Tesch basket ball player broke her back in a cycling accident.
Shannon Dallas snow skier became a paraplegic after a fall from a building site.
If you’re interested in how the program could help your business or organisation then make sure you read Raving Fans to see what recent participants have to say.