The young man who won gold at the Paralympics in Beijing and Athens said the youth of Wellington could strive for the highest goals.

"There are no real road blocks to achieving what you want.

"When they came in front of me I moved them out of the way and strived harder," Mr Austin said as he congratulated award winners at the Wellington Youth Week event at Rygate.

He said country kids do have to work a little harder to get where they want but the road is not insurmountable and once you there think outside the box.

Mr Austin was born in 1980 in Wellington. When he was a few weeks old, doctors amputated his left arm above the elbow due to complications related to his birth.

He went on to achieve at three Paralympics and the Commonwealth Games.

"I did it and sometimes I got left in a vacuum, the swimming bubble where your not sure what is left outside, many elite athletes do that.

"But with good mentoring and also the support of family and friends you can do it," he said, explaining he is giving back now talking to others about his journey and the success hard work and dedication can bring.

He said not even a low socio-economic disadvantage was a barrier.

Rygate Park in Wellington was full of fun as Mr Austin watched on, with laser skirmish, Indigenous games, football and the community service providers again working hard to ensure local youth could keep motivated and enthusiastic.

Mr Austin awarded singer and entertainer Ellie Flanagan, cricketer Sara Darney, community man Brendon Burns, World Junior Paint Horse championships- bound Maddison Worthe and rugby league's Graham Peckham Youth awards to begin Youth Week.