Almost a third of the 288 athletes recently named on the Australian Paralympic shadow squad for London 2012 were first identified at an APC Talent Search Day which is funded by the Government through the Australian Sports Commission.

Since its establishment in 2005, the programme has tested more than 1,700 potential Paralympians.

Although this number is likely to change with the final London team qualification and selection processes still underway, the reach and impact of the talent search programme has increased since Beijing 2008, where 27 talent search athletes represented Australia and combined to win 14 medals, including two golds.

"In Beijing, the programme was only three years old and to have the number of athletes and medallists in the Beijing Team in such a short time frame was an outstanding achievement," said Matthews.

"By the time we get to London, the programme will be in its seventh year, which is a much better time frame for discovering and developing athletes with the potential for elite competition.

"In London the strength of the programme will really be tested, but I am confident athletes who have come through talent search will again make a considerable contribution to Australia's medal tally."

Among those to find success through the programme is 22-year-old Kelly Cartwright, who won two gold medals and broke the F42 long jump world record at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch earlier this year.

Another is 24-year-old Jessica Gallagher, who at last year's Vancouver Paralympics became the first Australian female to medal at a Paralympic Winter Games and has since turned her attention to javelin and long jump for London 2012.

Both athletes are ones to watch at next year's Paralympic Games along with a host of bright new talent including 18-year-old swimmer Ahmed Kelly, 18-year-old Australian junior wheelchair tennis champion Keegan Oh-Chee and Paralympic bronze medal-winning cyclist Jayme Paris.

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