The event will take place at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion on November 8 in an evening that will celebrate the achievements of the Australian Paralympic Team following an outstanding Games that saw the country win 85 medals, including 32 golds, and finish fifth on the medal table.

While the top prize will be the Paralympian of the Year trophy, there will also be prizes for the best male, best female, best junior, best team and best coach.

"Paralympian of the Year is a great way to celebrate the achievements of the team and recognise those who achieved above and beyond in London," said APC chief executive Jason Hellwig, who was also the team's Chef de Mission at the Games.

"It's also a great chance for the team to get back together again and enjoy looking back on their time in London but also share that with all those who couldn't be there including family, friends, supporters of the APC and Paralympic sport, and of course the public, whose support for our team has been immense."


Jacqueline Freney will also be a leading contender at the Australian 2012 Paralympian of the Year Awards after claiming a record eight gold medals at London 2012

Cowdrey (pictured top), who took his overall gold medal tally to 13 in London, will be looking to claim the top prize for a second time after the 23-year-old from Adelaide took the prize in 2008 following the Beijing Paralympics, where he also won five golds.

But his biggest challenge could come from fellow swimmer Jacqueline Freney, the 20-year-old from Queensland, who claimed an astonishing eight gold medals in London to break Siobhan Paton's Australian record of six gold medals at a single Games.

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