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In a video a few years ago for his alma mater, Tim Matthews revealed in three sentences the secret to his success as a coach, mentor and talent identification expert.
Sporting an eye-catching peroxide-blond hairdo, which he has since mercifully discarded, Matthews said: “I’m lucky that I work in an industry where I can change the lives of people and put them on a path that a lot of them didn’t know existed.
“The opportunities to gain employment, to meet new people, to travel – if someone’s more connected or involved in sport and the community, they feel better about themselves. I think about that a lot day-to-day in my job.”
That’s a lot of days. At the recent National Para-Powerlifting Championships on the Gold Coast – an event and high performance program to which he has been integral – friends, colleagues and athletes celebrated and thanked Matthews for 20 years of employment with Paralympics Australia. He becomes just the second person to notch up two decades at the nation’s peak organisation for athletes with a disability since it was established in 1990.
Shortly after an athletics career in which he earned three Paralympic gold medals and two bronze, including four medals at Sydney 2000, Matthews joined Paralympics Australia – then called the Australian Paralympic Committee – managing pathways and development, and the organisation’s Talent Search program.
In subsequent years, Matthews coached Paralympians including London 2012 long jump gold medallist Kelly Cartwright, expanded Paralympics Australia’s talent search program (more than a third of the Australian Paralympic Team at Paris 2024 came through Paralympics Australia’s Talent and Pathway initiatives) and developed an equipment fund for Para-athletes. He is now Senior Performance and Talent Advisor at Paralympics Australia – where he is affectionally known as ‘the oracle’ because of his vast knowledge of Para-sport – continuing the work that has brought to life his passion for improving people’s lives through sport.
“I think what’s so impressive about Tim’s contribution is his athlete-centric focus across various dimensions,” Paralympics Australia President Grant Mizens said.
“Whether it’s working directly with an athlete, whether it’s his work around equipment funds, if it’s helping shape high performance programs, he adds immense value across a whole range of areas that influence athlete outcomes. He’s a jack-of-all-trades and master of many. That’s a pretty rare skill set. He contributes in so many ways and has done such a good job of it.”
At the Paralympian of the Year Awards last year, Matthews was awarded the Australian Paralympic Medal for his significant long-term work benefitting the Paralympic Movement. As is his custom, Matthews was modest receiving the recognition and preferred to shift the focus away from his own achievements.
“That’s the other thing that’s so impressive about Tim; his humility,” Mizens said.
“The way he goes about things is that it’s entirely focused on improving the situation for current and future Paralympians. We talk about ‘leave it better than you found it’, he’s made a career out of doing just that.”
Cartwright who, along with long jump gold, won a silver medal at the London Games in the 100 metres T42, said her success would not have happened without Matthews.
“I won gold in London because of Tim,” Cartwright said.
“He’s the most caring person on and off the track, we’re still really good friends to this day. He’s so passionate about sport, particularly disability in sport, and you can see that by the way he guides anyone he meets. He’s willing to offer help to anybody. I’m very lucky to have met Tim when I did and be able to draw on his knowledge and guidance through my two Paralympic Games.”
As the Paralympic Movement continues to grow, Para Sport Units are established around the country and the groundwork is laid for Brisbane 2032, Matthews quietly, respectfully and purposefully goes about his business.
“I met Tim at a Paralympic Talent Search event,” Cartwright said. “He offered so much to everyone there, whether they wanted to go to a Paralympics or they just wanted to play sport again and be included.
“You could just see it that day, just how passionate he was and how much he wanted to change the lives of others. And he did. He changed my life and many others’ – and he still is.”
By David Sygall, Paralympics Australia.
Published 8 July, 2025.
