Faichney rejoins Athletics Australia having spent four years at the federation between 1999 and 2003 as a development officer and then assistant competitions manager.

He was also athletics competition manager for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

But he has extensive Paralympic experience having been team manager at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, where the athletics team finished second in the medals table.

They collected a total of 31 medals, including 10 gold, a figure beaten only by China. 

"I'm very excited about joining the Paralympic programme, with a year to go until London," said Faichney.

"I'm inheriting a good team and a great programme.

"We've got some fantastic athletes that are going to peak at the right time and we've got a great system in place.

"I'm looking forward to working with the athletes and coaches.

"I'm looking forward to working with the guys in the lead up to the Australian domestic season before we finalise selection and preparation for the squad.

"The IPC World Championships in New Zealand gave us a good understanding of where we are at the moment and provided us with insight into what preparations we will have to make with 18 months to go until London 2012."

Athletics Australia's High Performance Manager, Eric Hollingsworth, added: "It's fantastic to have a high class administrator working back at Athletics Australia, with the experience he has in athletes with disabilities and Paralympic Sport.

"Athletics Australia, in partnership with the Australian Paralympic Committee, has developed an athletics programme which is among the world's best, and I'm sure with the appointment of Andrew, our programme will continue to go from strength to strength."

Two of the athletes Faichney managed in the Athens team - triple Paralympic gold medalist Tim Matthews, and middle distance and relay athlete Fred Periac – will now work with him in a coaching capacity, while Richard Colman and Kurt Fearnley, who both won gold in 2004, are among others who are still very much part of the Australian Paralympic team on track for London.

Australia finished tenth at the 2011 IPC World Championships in Christchurch, thanks to a haul of eight gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals. 

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