Central Queensland University

What you'll study

This graduate certificate focuses on the applied knowledge and skills needed to support para-athletes in high-performance settings. The curriculum blends sport science, coaching practice, classification awareness and high-performance systems, emphasising practical application, case studies and contemporary research.

• Foundations of Para Sport and Disability Sport Classification – principles of impairment types, classification systems and the implications for training and competition.
• High Performance Coaching for Para Athletes – periodisation, individualisation, technical and tactical considerations across para-sport categories.
• Applied Sports Science and Athlete Monitoring – physiological testing, performance profiling, monitoring strategies and data-informed decision making for para-athletes.
• Athlete Health, Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention – common medical considerations, adaptive rehabilitation approaches and safe return-to-play protocols.
• Adaptive Equipment and Technology – overview of prosthetics, wheelchairs and assistive devices, and how equipment influences performance and training approaches.
• High Performance Systems and Governance – planning, policy, talent pathways, multidisciplinary team management and ethical considerations in para high-performance sport.
• Applied Project or Case Study – a practical, workplace-aligned assessment that integrates learning into a real-world coaching or support scenario.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor degree in sport science, exercise science, physiotherapy, coaching, allied health or a related discipline, or have equivalent professional experience at a recognised level in coaching or support roles. Candidates without a degree but with substantial relevant experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Typical application documentation includes certified academic transcripts, a curriculum vitae outlining relevant experience, and a statement of intent describing professional goals within para sport. International applicants must meet the university's English language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates gain specialist expertise relevant to roles within high-performance para sport environments. Typical career paths include:

• High-performance coach for para-athletes or para-sport teams
• Para sport performance analyst or sport scientist
• Classification officer or technical official within para-sport organisations
• Rehabilitation consultant or allied health practitioner working with para-athletes
• High-performance programme coordinator, pathway development officer or talent identification specialist
• Policy adviser, educator or researcher focusing on disability and high-performance sport

Why study at Central Queensland University

Central Queensland University offers flexible delivery modes that combine practical, industry-engaged learning with online study, making the program accessible to working professionals and those in regional areas. The university has staff and researchers with applied expertise in sport and exercise science and works with industry partners to ensure course content reflects current practice in high-performance environments.

Students benefit from applied assessments that link directly to workplace settings, opportunities to work with multidisciplinary teams, and pathways to further postgraduate study or professional development within the para sport sector.