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Australia’s strongest Para-athletes are preparing for the 2025 Para Powerlifting Melbourne Open on Saturday, the final national competition of the year and a key event on the pathway to 2026 Commonwealth Games selection.
The Melbourne Open, hosted at Paralympics Australia’s Victorian headquarters, will showcase athletes from across Australia and Oceania, competing under World Para Powerlifting (WPPO) rules in a high performance environment that mirrors international standards.
Several athletes who recently represented Australia at the World Championships in Egypt will return to the platform on home soil, bringing international experience and inspiring lifters new to the sport. The event offers fans a rare chance to see world-class competitors alongside emerging talent in one of the fastest-growing Para-sports.
“The Melbourne Open is the final opportunity for athletes to secure qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games,” head coach Simon Bergner said.
“At the same time, it provides a welcoming platform for new athletes to experience competition at a national level and begin their journey in Para-powerlifting.”
As well as an elite competition, the Melbourne Open is a development opportunity for emerging athletes and coaches, with classification, a coach development workshop, and hands-on experience in a world-class setting on offer.
Event Highlights:
- Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10am to approximately 3:30pm
- Venue: The Hangar, 275 Melrose Drive, Melbourne Airport (free parking onsite)
- Live Stream: Watch all the action on the Paralympics Australia YouTube channel Australian Paralympic Team – YouTube
- Presentation: Medals awarded to top three male and female lifters (based on WPPO coefficient formula) and trophy for Overall Best Lifter.
Further information at Para-powerlifting | Paralympics Australia
By Paralympics Australia.
Published 11 December, 2025.
