In May 2015, the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) announced Kate McLoughlin as the Chef de Mission. She replaced Jason Hellwig, the former APC CEO, who stepped down from the role.^[6] The APC appointed Kurt Fearnley and Daniela Di Toro as team captains. 2004 Athens Games was the last time the team had captains.^[7] Wheelchair basketballer Brad Ness was announced as the Opening Ceremony flag bearer at a ceremony at the Paralympic Village on 5 September 2016.^[8] Curtis McGrath who lost his legs in the Afghanistan war and won Australia's first gold medal in paracanoe at the Games carried the Australian flag in the closing ceremony.^[9]

The APC stated that it needed to raise $7 million to fund its Rio 2016 campaign. The majority of APC's funding to send Australian teams to major events originates from fundraising. In January 2016, it launched the Australian Paralympic Foundation to manage its fundraising. Cadbury made the first major donation of $1 million.^[10] In the four-year period leading up to Rio, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) provided $62 million in funding.^[11] At the Team Launch, Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull stated that the Australian Government had provided close to $65 million direct funding to support the 167 athletes with a disability in the lead-up to Rio."^[12] To assist with funding raising, its broadcast partner Seven Network organized a Parathon on 5 March 2016.^[11]

The Official Australian Paralympic Team Launch was held in Sydney on 20 June 2016.^[13] The major dignitaries present were Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Minister for Sport, Sussan Ley, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Jim Chalmers and the New South Wales Minister for Sport, Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres.^[13] The Launch was held during the 2016 Australian Federal Election. There were more than 30 Rio hopefuls and representatives from each Australian Paralympic Team since 1960 in attendance.^[13] Glenn Tasker, Australian Paralympic Committee President stated that "We are not just chasing medals, we are aspiring to shape attitudes and perceptions of disability and to build on the huge momentum and growth that the Paralympic movement is experiencing.”^[13] Prime Minister Turnbull said: "I want to salute the achievements of all of our Paralympians past and present. I want to wish you all the best on the road to Rio. you are doing our nation such great service. We are with you, we are with you all the way, we back you all the way, all the way to Rio."^[13]

The following Australian competitors won medals at the games.

Multiple medallists edit

The following Australian athletes won multiple medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games:

List of team members as of 17 September 2016.

In the by discipline sections below, medallists' names are bolded.

^* – Indicates the athlete competed in preliminaries but not the final relay.

Australia was given additional qualification slots in the sports of goalball (six athletes), athletics (two athletes) and wheelchair tennis (one athlete) after Russia was suspended from the Games by the International Paralympic Committee.^[14] Two athletes from the original team of 178 did not attend - Emily Tapp due to injury and Michael Gallager due to doping violation.^[15]

Several team members have changed their previous Paralympic sports at these Games: Dylan Alcott (wheelchair tennis), Jessica Gallagher (cycling), Daniela Di Toro (table tennis) and Claire McLean (paratriathlon).

Jonathon Milne earned Australia a spot at the Rio Games following his performance at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships and he was selected to make his debut in the Australian team on 29 July 2016.^[16]

Milne won Australia first archery medal since 1984 by winning a bronze medal.

Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of 44 athletes on 2 August 2016.^[17] An additional two athletes - Tamsin Colley and Jessee Wyatt were added after the Russian suspension.^[14] Emily Tapp was selected but forced to withdraw after a burnt leg did not heal in time for the Games.^[15]

(d) Paralympic Games debut
Australia won 26 medals – 3 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze. Gold medalists were – Brayden Davidson, Scott Reardon and James Turner. Russell Short attended his 8th Games, Christine Dawes her 6th Games and Kurt Fearnley his fifth Games.

Track events - women edit

Track events - men edit

Field events - women edit

Field events - men edit

Legend: Q= Qualified for final; OC= Oceania Record; PR= Paralympic Record; WR= World Record

Australia selected Daniel Michel and his ramp assistant Ashlee McClure for their debut Games. Michel is the first player since the 2000 Sydney Paralympics
^[18]

The cycling team was announced on 30 May 2016. The team consisted of 13 athletes and three sighted pilots:^[19] For Modra, this would be his eighth Paralympic Games.^[19] Michael Gallagher was originally selected but on 2 September 2016 he was withdrawn from the team due to a positive doping test sample.^[20]

Track Events — Women

Track Events — Men

Track Events — Mixed

Road Events — Women

Road Events — Men

On 28 June 2014, four riders were selected.^[21]
Women - Emma Booth (d), Sharon Jarvis, Lisa Martin (d), Katie Umback (d)

Individual competition

Team competition

The Australian women's team (Belles) originally failed to qualify after finishing third at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China.^[22] Australian men's team failed to qualify after finishing fifth at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China.^[23] Following the re-allocation of Russia's spot, Australia's women found themselves getting a last minute invite to Rio. Australia's women enter the tournament ranked ninth in the world.^[24]

The following is the Australia roster in the women's goalball tournament of the 2016 Summer Paralympics.^[25]