by Elizabeth Hudson

Miller is aiming to compete in a fourth Paralympics in Beijing

Paralympic champion Stephen Miller is hoping to kick-start his 2007 campaign at a training camp in Australia.

Miller is one of a number of wheelchair throwers travelling down under next week to train at the Australian Institute of Sport.

"Training abroad is an opportunity many throwers do not get too often," Miller told BBC Sport.

"I've been lucky enough to have trained abroad most years but it will be nice to go abroad as a squad for a change."

Miller, who has won three Paralympic golds in the F32 club event and is the world champion in the event, is the most experienced member of the squad.

Last month the 26-year-old won the BBC North East Disabled Sports Person award, as well as being short-listed for the North East Sports Personality of the Year honour.

Along with training in Canberra, the GB throwers will also compete in the Thunder Down Under series.

Apart from Miller, Daniel West won two silvers in the discus and shot at last year's IPC World Championships in Assen where Andrew Williams and Bernie Doolan competed in the shot.

The squad is completed by newcomers Kieron Murphy and 15-year-old Thomas Green, who both compete in the club event, while Green also throws the discus.

"Camps for wheelchair throwers are difficult to organise on your own because we carry a lot of equipment," said Miller.

"I've always found it important to get away before the season starts and get some quality training done with my coaches that will set me up for a successful season.

This trip is a key part of my preparation for Beijing Stephen Miller

"I'm hoping to improve my fitness and strength and get some decent performances in as well as using the AIS facilities and maybe sharing some ideas with the Australian athletes.

"I struggled with a major hip injury last season so the concentrated training I will do over the next three weeks will be a good indicator of where I'm at physically and will be a great platform to build on for the rest of 2007."

A number of wheelchair racers will also be making the trip to Australia to compete in the Summer Down Under series, which features some of the world top racers.

London Marathon winner and world champion Dave Weir will be hoping to build on his successful 2006 season, along with Shelly Woods, while Brian Alldis, Anne Wafula-Strike and Karl Nicholson will also compete.

After Australia, the squads will then travel to Macau at the end of January along with some British representatives from a number of other Paralympic sports.