‘Share a Yarn’ to promote cultural understanding in sport

Fourteen athlete ambassadors from Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports have been selected as part of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) 'Share a Yarn' program, connecting athletes with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Aussie Stingers Tokyo hopeful Amy Ridge is part of the group which was today announced by the AIS.

As a student athlete, Ridge said it was her academic endeavours which sparked her interest in the Share a Yarn program.

“Outside of the pool, I am a law student. Studying law really sparked my passion for indigenous justice,” Ridge said.

“I wanted to understand the culture more, before I take the next step in pursuing my studies down that path, which is why I applied to be part of the Share a Yarn program. Every time I pull on the green and gold I want to proudly represent all Australians.

“Through the Share a Yarn program I want to be able to foster connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and learn more about their culture.

“The important part will be sharing my learnings with not only the water polo community but the broader community,” Ridge said.

As part of the program, First Nations and non-Indigenous athletes are chosen as ambassadors to undertake cultural training and activities side-by-side, supporting each other to foster reconciliation and improve cultural competency within their own sports.

AIS Director of People Development and Wellbeing Matti Clements said Share a Yarn was about creating greater inclusivity and understanding, in sport and Australian.

“Understanding different cultures in the community helps athletes to overcome and prevent racial divisions in sport,” Matti says.

“Share a Yarn is about encouraging collaborative, respectful and honest communication between participants. It’s about building trust, fostering accountability and providing a safe place to listen and learn. 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.”

Share a Yarn athlete ambassadors

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