Australia’s Para rowing pathway marked a major milestone last week as 14 athletes from across the country came together for the 2025 Rowing Australia Para Development Camp, the largest Para camp ever held in Australia.
Hosted from November 30 to December 4 at the Reinhold Batschi National Training Centre (RBNTC) in Canberra, the camp brought emerging and established Rowsellas together under one roof for a targeted week of classification, development, and high-performance training.
For Rowing Australia Lead Para Coach Christine MacLaren, the purpose of the camp was clear.
“The core purpose was to bring in people we've identified as potential for the future for our senior squad… the camp also ran athletes who were not classified through classification, so it was a big week for some of the athletes,” Maclaren said.
“And then to have a camp with our current RBNTC athletes so they could get a bit of perspective over what it's like to be training at the centre.”
Athletes completed the National Classification process to determine their eligibility for the PR1, PR2, and PR3 categories, marking an important milestone in enhancing Australia’s competitive depth ahead of the LA 2028 Paralympic cycle.
“It was awesome. It was amazing,” MacLaren said.
“We covered everyone from male, female PR1 emerging to PR2 double… to then looking at athletes for the [PR3 Coxed] four and the PR3 double.”
The camp focused first on classification, then on immersing athletes in the training rhythms of the National Training Centre, from daily water sessions to cross-training and squad routines.
MacLaren said the response to the environment was overwhelmingly positive.
“They loved it. They all loved it… it was a really good level of respect and support and positivity across the whole group.”
She also saw athletes’ confidence grow as they settled in:
“I think confidence from the new athletes coming in that they were welcome, that they had a place here… and that the programme was modified for each athlete. Not every athlete did every session.”
This flexibility is central to the Para program’s culture.
“That's the ethos, 100%. Just that athlete-to-athlete understanding… everyone can do their own thing.”
With 13 athletes, multiple classifications, and coaches from across the country, building cohesion was a key focus.
“We set out the rules, they had the programme, they knew what was coming up,” MacLaren said.
“The coaches that came in were fabulous… we’d have a coaches meeting in the morning and a debrief after the water session.”
The camp also included Tasmanian coach Peter Volker, attending through a TIS Para scholarship to expand Para coaching in the state.
“Peter was here on a bit of a learning journey… everybody swapped around a bit so they could learn and see how the centre athletes train but also see what the fixed-seaters were up to.”
Coaches engaged in deep technical discussions throughout the week.
“We had some great conversations… curious conversations about setups and how people row and why people do this,” MacLaren said. “Really good discussions, they were all hands-on, helpful, and proactive.”
One on-water session stood out as a defining moment for the Para program.
“We had a full chain on the water… two PR1 Singles, male and female; a PR2 Mixed Double sculls; a PR3 Mixed Coxed Four; and a PR3 Mixed Double. It was really cool. It was really good to see them.”
The current RBNTC male cohort also embraced the group.
“They were great… very positive,” MacLaren said. Athletes stepped in naturally to support their Para teammates, whether carrying boats or offering a hand on the pontoon,” MacLaren said.
“One of the boys saw the PR2 double trying to get the boat out and he just lifted it out and carried it back with them.”
The depth of competition is something the program has not had for many years.
The camp signals a pivotal shift in Australia’s Para system.
“I've never really known one quite as targeted as this one,” MacLaren said.
“It was really targeted at making numbers so we can put as big a team as possible forward for LA.”
Looking ahead, she sees two priorities: continuing to develop the athletes who attended the camp and expanding the Para talent pool nationwide.
“We just still need to keep searching. There are still people out there that potentially may be able to join the Para pathway… I would encourage them to investigate, be curious.”
Her message to prospective Para athletes is simple:
“When you're ready, get in touch. The door’s always open for us to have conversations… we really believe that James [Loveday] and I are setting up a really strong team into LA and certainly into Brisbane.”
Reflecting on the week, MacLaren said she left feeling energised.
“These athletes are really excited about this opportunity, and we need to embrace it… it was just a really positive experience that everyone, from the coaches to the athletes, it all gelled.”
Athletes in attendance:
Mitchell Bails (Torrens RC / SASI), Sara Tait (Surfers Paradise RC), Candice Burton (Torrens RC / SASI Para Hub), Sam Germein (Torrens RC / SASI Para Hub), Sam Stunell (Adelaide RC / RBNTC), Tobiah Goffsassen PLY (UQBC / RBNTC), Cormac Hayes (Canberra RC / ACTAS), Mac Russell (UQBC/QAS), Wallis Russell (UQBC), Ella Marshall (Banks RC / TIS Para Hub), Isobel Egan (Radford College/ACTAS), Lisa Greissl (Lake Macquarie RC/ NSWIS), Susannah Lutze PLY (Mercantile RC / RBNTC), Hannah Cowap PLY (Sydney RC/NSWIS)
Coaches in attendance:
Christine MacLaren (Rowing Australia), Agustine Radero (Surfers Paradise RC), Katrina Werry OLY (SASI), Caroline Pijpers (Canberra Girls Grammar School), Peter Volker (Tasmania Institute of Sport)