Share a Yarn
Connecting athletes with First Nations communities and helping them become advocates within their sport.
The Share a Yarn initiative aims to provide Australian Elite Athletes with meaningful opportunities to connect and build relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities, and learn more about the differing cultures, lands, histories, and people within them.
It aims to provide a platform for athletes to then share these learnings and advocate within the sporting community, and wider Australian community.
To Share a Yarn is to encourage collaborative, respectful, and honest communication between participants; building trust, fostering accountability, and providing a safe place to listen and learn.
AIS Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Share a Yarn program ambassadors Natalie Curtis and Nic Kyriazis, and AIS Community Engagement Officer Beki Smith discuss the importance of the program and the four First Nations athlete mentors who will work with 10 athlete ambassadors to create meaningful connections between sport and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
#InThisTogether
Through programs like #ShareAYarn, we are committed to our reconciliation journey for all Australians. We recognise the outstanding contribution Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders have made, and continue to make to sport. We denounce racism in any form #InThisTogether.
Closing the Gap Day - 18 March
She has one the most infectious laughs in Australian sport, but AIS Share A Yarn Ambassador Janice Blackman has some powerful messages on National Close the Gap Day, March 18.
Janice is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Gubbi Gubbi and Badtjala Tribes, in the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland. The Australia softballer is also a passionate ambassador for Share a Yarn, an AIS program aimed at creating meaningful connections between sport and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures.
Program outcomes
01
Athlete Ambassadors have increased knowledge of the traditional owners of Australia, the land, their history, and their culture
02
Initiative encourages and supports organisations/initiatives in the community aiming to close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
03
Initiative encourages and supports change in the sporting system in Australia for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Athletes
04
Athlete Ambassadors share learnings as a role model in the Australian community
2023 First Nations Cultural Connection Program Ambassadors
Aaleya Turner - Netball
My name is Aaleya Turner I am a Kaurna woman living on Kaurna Country in Adelaide. I am currently in my second year of studying Paramedic Science at Flinders University. I also work part-time in my families business, Southern Cultural Immersion. We strive to promote and nurture reconciliation and cultural respect towards First Nations people.
I began playing netball at the age of five at my local netball club. I now play for Matrics Netball Club. I have been fortunate to represent South Australia at National competitions from the age of 15. At these National competitions I have been successful in being selected in the National Squad in Under 15’s, 17’s and 19’s.
I have been a member of the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) netball program since 2020. A highlight of playing netball is being involved in the Nunga Netball Carnivals each year. Competing against talented girls from all over the state has provided the opportunity to strive to be the best player I can. I even had the opportunity to represent Nunga SA at interstate carnivals in Victoria and Queensland. I played with an awesome group of girls and competed against some top level players.
SASI, my netball club and Netball South Australia have provided many opportunities to improve my skills, knowledge and passion for the game of netball. What I love mostly about my journey with netball is the lifelong friendships I have formed with my team mates.
Abbey Connor - Swimming
TBC
Amanda Reid - Cycling and Snow Sport
Amanda Reid is a proud aboriginal woman, 9 time World Champion In Cycling and Snowboarding and a three time Paralympian in two different sports. Winning a Gold medal at the 2020 Paralympics to add to her sliver from Rio . Amanda is passionate about supporting and promoting people with disabilities, particularly those in Aboriginal communities, letting them know that they are capable and can achieve great things. Having been an athlete for many years
Bianca Crisp - Swimming
My name is Bianca Crisp and I am a proud descendant of the Wiradjuri people of Cowra, New South Wales. I am a competitive open water swimmer, specialising in the 10km marathon swim. I was recently selected as a member of the Australian Dolphins Swim Team to represent my country in the 5km swim at the 2023 World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Ultimately, my goal is to represent Australia in the 10km at the Paris 2024 and LA 2028 Olympic Games. Alongside my athletic pursuits, I am deeply passionate about my studies, graduating from Griffith University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Health Science. My aspiration is to pursue the Doctor of Medicine and become a specialised medical practitioner, dedicated to closing the gap and making a positive impact in the lives of First Peoples.
Bronte Stewart - Cycling
I’ve grown up in Wagga Wagga, NSW. In 2022, I was a part of the Junior Australian Development team that raced internationally in Europe and later in the year I represented Australia at the UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong. Alongside my sport, I’ve begun studying a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) through USC in pursuit of working with high performance athletes. Outside of Cycling I love being around people and adventuring outdoors
Calab Law - Athletics
My name is Calab law I am an indigenous Australian athlete. I am coached by Andrew Iselin my favourite event is the 200m and my end goal is to become the Olympic champion, so far in my career I have made a world championship semi-final and placed third at the last world u20 championships with a pb of 20.42 and one quirky fact about me is that I have and can eat 3L of ice cream in one sitting. The share the yarn program because is perfect for me because I'm really passionate about meeting new people and learning from all different people and if I can help inspire other people to follow their dream is something I'm passionate about.
Clarence McCarthy - Basketball
Clarence (also known as CJ) was born in Darwin & is a proud Yanyuwa, Garrawa & Kuku Yalanji man, member of the Darwin Salties & Australian Rollers wheelchair basketball squad.
Started playing wheelchair basketball at Darwin Basketball Association (DBA) in 2005 and has played overseas in the US & Spain over the last 7 years.
Emilia Murray - Football
Hi I'm Emilia Murray a Dhudhuroa and Yorta Yorta woman, I am professional footballer currently playing for Adelaide United and the Young Matilda's.
Emily Watts - Cycling
TBC
Mariah Williams - Hockey
Hi my name is Mariah Williams and I am a proud Wiradjuri woman and a current member of the Australia Women’s Hockey team. I was born and bred in Parkes NSW and lived there until I was 14years old. My love for hockey started there, but once I hit year 9 of my schooling, my family decided to move to Newcastle to further pursue my hockey career. I attended and finished my schooling at Hunter Sports High School where I participated in the Specialized Hockey program. My hockey career started to take off when I debuted for the Hockeyroos at the age of 17 and am still in the program currently at 27 years old. I am currently doing my Cert 4 in Youth Work as well as working for Waalitj Foundation as a Deadly Sista Girlz Mentor and am an Ambassador for Whatability.
Some of my achievements throughout my career are:
- 2013 Australian Youth Olympics Winners
- 2013 Hockeyroo Debut
- 2013 Deadlys "Rising Star" award winner
- 2015 Australian National Senior Squad
- 2016 Rio Olympics
- 2016 Junior World Cup Bronze Medal & Captain
- 2019 Hockeyroo Joint Highest Goal Scorer
- 2021 Tokyo Olympics
- 2022 World Cup Bronze Medal
- 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver Medal
Marissa Williams - Boxing
TBC
Ruby Storm - Swimming
TBC
Sarah Haywood - Archery
TBC
Tay-Leiha Clark - Athletics
TBC
Tomysha Clark - Athletics
I am a proud Woromi/Wannarua woman. My grandmother was apart of the stolen generation which lead to my family only recently finding out of our Indigenous heritage, and a huge gap in knowledge. This past year after losing my grandmother, I made a goal for myself to try and fill that gap and learn as much as I can about my culture to share with my family and continue to connect with my culture. Which is why I am so beyond grateful to be selected for Share a Yarn.
I am a 2 time Oceania Champion, one title being under 18’s (2019) and the other Opens (2022). In 2020 and 2021 I qualified for the World Junior Championships which were set to be held in Kenya, Sadly Australia didn’t send a team over to compete due to COVID. This year I was selected to compete for Australia at the Oceania Cup.
Tyler Puzicha - Cycling
I’m a proud Wurundjeri woman raised on Wiradjuri country in regional NSW. I have been cycling since I was 2 years old and racing competitively since I was 5 years old. I am a member of Dubbo Cycle Club after graduating from Western Region Academy of Sport. I was selected for a NSWIS scholarship and am currently training and racing in Sydney under the guidance of Head Coach, former Olympian Sean Eadie. He has been instrumental in my recent selection and success in the Junior World Track Championships in Israel in 2022. I have recently moved into women’s elite category and look forward to new challenges and reaching new goals.
2023 Mentors
Ben Austin - Para-Swimming
Ben Austin OAM was an elite Australian swimmer. Born in Wellington in 1980, he blazed in a trail of success in competitive swimming. In 2000, he qualified for the Sydney Paralympic Games where he won two silver and two bronze medals. In Sydney he achieved top five world ranking in the 100m and 50m freestyle and butterfly events.
In the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, the first Commonwealth Games to fully intergrate athletes with disabilities, Ben broke four world records and won two gold medals in the 100m and 50m freestyle events. In the 2004 Athens Paralympics Games he became one of the first swimmers in his S8 category class to break the one-minute barrier for the 100m freestyle and won two gold medals in the 100m freestyle and 4x100m medley events. In recognition of his performance at the Athens Games he recieved the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2005. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games he won a gold medal in the Men's 4 x 100m medley.
Competing over ten years in three Paralympic Games, three Commonwealth Games and two World Championships, with each medal and record won he expanded the horizons of his ambition. Over the course of his career, Ben won 12 Paralympic medals, set 15 world records and 81 national records. As a Young Australian of the year finalist, Ben sought to faciliatate an awareness of the potential success through the Paralympic movement. An inspiration to his generation, Austin continues to demonstarte leadership to the global and local community.
Brad Hore - Boxing
Brad competed in two Olympics as a Flyweight Boxer at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics. As an athlete Brad has competed at an International level for over 25 years as an amateur and professional boxer. Brad’s connection to his Indigenous community, his passion for Australian sport and his cultural practice provides Brad with the expertise as a member of the Australian Olympic Indigenous Advisory Committee and motivational speaker in schools all over Australia.
Danny Morseu - Basketball
Danny Morseu was born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. In 1979 he played for the St Kilda team that won Australia's inaugural National Basketball League (NBL) championship. The following year he became the first Torres Strait Islander to represent Australia at an Olympic Games - he played in seven matches at the Moscow Olympics, and in a further eight at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. In 1987, playing for the Brisbane Bullets, he won another NBL title. In April 2003, having played a total of 217 NBL matches over ten seasons, he became the first Indigenous player to be inducted into the NBL's Hall of Fame.
Jacara Egan - AFL
TBC
Jess Skinner - NRL
Jessica Skinner is a Proud Barkindji (Aboriginal) and Maori woman, who is the current Assistant Coach of the Women’s Indigenous All Stars team, Head Coach of the First Nation Gems Women’s National Championship team, the Head Coach of the NRL Indigenous Women’s Academy and the Assistant Coach of the Australian Womens Jillaroo World Cup Team. Jess has been in the women’s space of rugby league for over 10 years coming through from the grassroots level. In 2019 she was projected into the elite space as the Assistant Coach with the Australian Women’s Prime Ministers 13 team and the 2021 Inaugural Knights NRLW team.
Outside of rugby league, Jessica is a mother of two children, and has spent the last 12 years working for the NSW Department of Education as a teacher in her community of Trangie NSW, with a Bachelor of PhysEd. Jess is passionate about her culture and providing opportunities for young people in remote communities to achieve their dreams and aspirations in the game of rugby league at the elite level.
Kyle Vander Kuyp - Athletics
TBC
Patrick Johnson - Athletics
TBC
Tahlia Taylor-Kickett - Football
Kiya (hello), I am Tahlia Taylor-Kickett, a proud Noongar woman from southeast of Perth, WA. Proudly born and connected to Wongatha country in the heart of the goldfields, descending from Yawuru and Gurindji ancestors.
I spent most of my childhood to late teen years getting involved in any sporting code I could, representing from grassroots to a State and National level for the Northern Territory in Netball, Basketball, AFL, Soccer and Touch Football.
As I grew into my adult years I found a passion off the field, mentoring and highlighting the health and wellbeing of emerging athletes at both the grassroots and top levels of their careers/sporting journey.
Tanisha Williams - Multiple sports
I am Gamilaroi Yuwaalaraay by birth. Optimist by nature. A former athlete through history. University graduate through western education. Journalist through necessity and a storyteller through diligence.
Tyrone Bean - AFL
I am a recognised Kabi Kabi Traditional Owner and a proud descendant of the Wakka Wakka, Nughi of Moorgumpin and Bindal tribe's in Queensland. I have completed a Masters of Business Administration at the University of Queensland, Masters of Teaching following a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Criminology and Sociology at the University of Melbourne. I have held positions as the Indigenous programs Coordinator and Humanities teacher at Trinity Grammar School before starting a Business Analyst Internship then accepting a Junior Associate role at McKinsey and Co.
I am passionate about education and combining my personal cultural standpoint in a way that brings both the First Nation community together with the rest of Australia. I have written and delivered Cultural Insight Education Workshops for over 10 years in the private, public, institutional and not for profit sectors to all demographic groups. This has led me writing a curriculum to a year level at Trinity Grammar School that sees all students participate to gain a greater understanding of the political, historical, educational and cultural aspects within the First Nation Australian context.
I also have experience with mentoring programs aimed to support First Nation and disengaged youth attending secondary school which stems from my involvement in facilitation at The Reach Foundation, AIME, NASCA, Raise the Bar Academy and Queen's College.
I have a long sporting history that continues today. I have spent my junior years in the elite talent AFL pathways playing TAC Cup, representing Vic Metro at u/16's and u/18s as well as captaining the Australian Indigenous u/16s, Flying Boomerangs on our 2008 South African Tour. I was also a part of the elite talent cricket pathways representing local competitions, Hatch, Victoria and The Australian Aboriginal XI as a 16 year old. This led to receiving a full scholarship to attend Melbourne Grammar School and was part of the 2008 APS Premiership side for 1st XI and XVII. I chose to pursue a career in football and played VFL football for Port Melbourne and Coburg, NTFL for Darwin Buffaloes and played Premier A VAFA and represented the Big V on the 2017 Ireland tour. I unfortunately have had some bad luck whilst on the field and have required seven knee operations (3xACL Reconstructions, 2x Meniscus tears, 2x clean outs), dislocated both shoulders twice, fractures in lower back, foot, hands, fingers and shins and have also had a heart operation. During this time I also attended the AIS for Boxing. In 2020, I shifted towards endurance sports and podiumed twice in the 2xu Triathlon series before completing the Geelong 70.3 Half Ironman. I have since returned to football and will be playing football in country Victoria in 2023 getting the last few seasons out of my body before shifting full time to Triathlon and Ironmans.
Share a Yarn Map
The AIS Share a Yarn Initiative presents the Share a Yarn Map as a resource for High-Performance sport; to facilitate learning, and a respect for the traditional owners of the land in which the system operates and athletes train and compete.

Contact:
For further information about this program or opportunities to be involved please contact Community Engagement Advisor, Beki Smith, via beki.smith@ausport.gov.au.