Acknowledgement of culture a ‘big, big step forward’ for Indigenous athletes

Australia World

A national softballer and three-time Paralympic track-and-field athlete are among 14 athletes to be named as the Australian Institute of Sport’s 2021 Share a Yarn ambassadors.

The initiative was designed to build Indigenous cultural awareness inside the high-profile Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.

Representatives from 11 sports have been selected to link with Indigenous community leaders to foster relationships and gain knowledge that will be passed on to other team members.

Tokyo-bound Olympian Janice Blackman, a Gubbi Gubbi and Badtjala woman, is one of three Indigenous athletes in the Australian softball team.

They presented their team mates with an Indigenous-designed jersey and joined Ngunnawal emerging elder Richie Allan on a Walk on Country around the AIS grounds, discussing the traditional lands on which athletes are currently staying.

“Education is the key to closing the gap,” Ms Blackman said.

“Essentially that’s what the goal is, isn’t it? To close the gap.

Group of female athletes in green, maroon jerseysGroup of female athletes in green, maroon jerseys
The Australian softball team wearing their indigenous jerseys.(

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“Talking about all this stuff and being an ambassador for Share a Yarn has actually brought me closer together with the girls.

“And they do want to learn more about it, definitely.

“When we got to present those jerseys, all three of us [Indigenous players] got quite emotional actually because it was such an empowering moment.

Ms Blackman said the feeling of being alienated in your own country is not one easily understood by non-Indigenous Australians, but is a common experience for many Indigenous people.

Being part of the Australian softball team and taking part in the Share a Yarn initiative has eased the feeling of displacement she has endured.

“It’s a really awful feeling when you feel out of place in your own country,” Ms Blackman said.

“But these girls have made it so I feel at home… I feel free… and that is probably the best feeling I have ever had being in this team.

“I know the girls probably think it’s something very small, but to me it’s massive.”

Sports-capped parent and indigenous man reports arena abuse against his sonSports-capped parent and indigenous man reports arena abuse against his son
Canberra father and Ngunnawal man Richie Allan is providing cultural education for the athletes.(

ABC News: Tahlia Roy

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‘We just need to listen’

One of the non-Indigenous ambassadors is three-time Paralympic track and field athlete and multi-medallist Brad Scott.

“I live here in the south-west of Western Australia and we have such an amazing history down here and there’s a lot of pain as well,” he said.

Red haired man with moustache wearing yellow jersey on soccer fieldRed haired man with moustache wearing yellow jersey on soccer field
Brad Scott took part in a session where he learned how to yarn.(

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“To learn about the land we are on and learn about the people before us and how they’ve impacted our society today and the role that we play in helping the cultures come together has been really eye-opening for me.

“We had our first session earlier this week where we worked with Yarn Australia and Warren [Roberts] who was a founder of the organisation.

“He took us through a workshop on how to share a yarn, on how to tell a story and taught us about the different ways on how to communicate, and that’s what this really all about.”

Mr Scott said he learned that “we just need to listen… we don’t always need to try and fix things”.

“We just need to listen and build a relationship from there and then amazing things can happen,” he said.

“I think we’re going down a path where we can find a place and treat each other as equals, regardless of where you come from.

“And I can’t wait to see where that journey goes.”

An Australian athlete, wearing a green, white and gold bodysuit, runs with her head down.An Australian athlete, wearing a green, white and gold bodysuit, runs with her head down.
Cathy Freeman inspired Matildas player Kyah Simon, who hopes to inspire other indigenous girls to chase a career in sport.(

AAP: Dean Lewins

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Role models for the next generation

Matildas footballer Kyah Simon is of Aniwan and Biripi heritage and said it was Cathy Freeman’s gold medal run at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 that inspired her to be an athlete.

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Ms Simon hoped that by sharing her own experiences she could inspire another generation of Indigenous girls.

“As a nine-year-old… that was a real moment that sparked the fire in my belly to want to emulate as much — or half as much — as what [Freeman had] done,” the soccer player said.

AIS Director of People Development and Wellbeing Matti Clements said she hoped the program prevented racial division in sport.

“Share a Yarn is about encouraging collaborative, respectful and honest communication between participants,” she said.

“We want these athletes to be role models for cultural understanding and inclusivity within their communities, which will ultimately lead to a greater sporting experience and life experiences for all.”

Australia’s Share a Yarn 2021 Ambassadors are:

  • Janice Blackman — softball, Queensland Academy of Sport
  • Gabrielle Coffey — netball, Victorian Institute of Sport
  • Rhydian Cowley — athletics, Victorian Institute of Sport
  • Sarah Gigante — cycling, Victorian Institute of Sport Alumni
  • Chris McHugh — beach volleyball, South Australian Sports Institute
  • Jonty O’Callaghan — Snow Australia, Victorian Institute of Sport, Paralympics Australia
  • Amy Ridge — water polo, NSW Institute of Sport
  • Renee Rockliff — hockey, Western Australian Institute of Sport
  • Caitlin Sargent — athletics, Queensland Academy of Sport
  • Brad Scott — para-athletics, Western Australian Institute of Sport, Paralympics Australia,
  • Kyah Simon — football, NSW Institute of Sport
  • Mariah Williams — hockey, NSW Institute of Sport
  • Michelle Wilson — karate, South Australian Sports Institute
  • Alex Winwood — boxing, Western Australian Institute of Sport