2020 RAISE THE BAR

Last week for the sixth consecutive year - Athletics Australia and the University of Melbourne partnered to host the Raise the Bar Academy.

Raise The Bar is a pathway Academy for Australian Indigenous secondary school students (Years 10, 11 and 12) who aspire to participate in athletics and study at university.

Twenty four (24) students from across Australia were selected to experience the program, with residency on campus at the University of Melbourne.

The experience is designed to develop knowledge and skills in athletics, with the participants enjoying training sessions with Athletics Australia accredited coaches, elite athletes and industry professionals.

The camp also has a strong focus on inspiring its participants to successfully complete secondary school and pursue further education, exposing the school students to the educational pathways offered at the University of Melbourne.

Athletics Australia’s Community Partner – Coles, further enhanced this message, educating the participants on the key skills needed to secure paid employment by supporting the participants to write their resume and developing strategies to feel comfortable in an interview.

Angie Blackburn, Monero Ngarigo and Yuin women, who has represented Australia in the 400m at two World U/20 Junior Championships and more recently in the Mixed 4x400m at the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan said:

 “The kids this year have been keen to learn and to try new things. They are not only meeting life-long friends and having fun, but they are clearly developing their leadership potential and deepening their passion for athletics,” said Blackburn.

Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Australian Olympian and proud Yuin and Woromi man, has similarly been involved in this year’s program, leading training sessions and being available as a mentor to the participants.

“The Academy provides invaluable support to young Indigenous Australians looking to pursue a career on and off the track. It’s great to see so many talented Indigenous athletes coming through the pathway.

“Raise the Bar not only helps Indigenous Australians to become better athletes, but it equips them with skills to pursue tertiary studies and gain employment. The skills they learnt with partners like Athletics Australia, Melbourne University and Coles will help them to study at university or get a job during or after their athletics careers,” said Vander-Kuyp.

This year’s program has seen a great mix of ages, with participants coming from every corner of the country. As a group the participants travelled 95,164km to be a part of the program. While this diversity is celebrated, with individual stories and experiences shared, the camp is also about making connections and networking.

“Everyone is a bit shy to begin with,” says Angie, “But I was surprised to see how quickly the kids bonded. Each day, you witness the energy and positivity grow, and the kids leave culturally connected and proud.”

A RTBA participant for the third year in row, Riley Womal, a Juru man, is a true success story of the program. Showing dedication and commitment to athletics and study following his second year participating in the RTBA in 2019, he was offered a place to study a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University.

In his first year at the University, Riley has shown promise in the classroom with hard work and the desire to achieve. Outside of the classroom, Riley has already become someone to watch at the Melbourne University Athletics Club in the 400m, 800m and 4x400m relay.

“Over my three years of Raise the Bar it has opened my eyes to the possibilities of what anyone can do after school. You not only learn about the different University faculties and degree offerings, but you are also told about the various scholarships, college bursaries and Indigenous pathways you can apply for.

“This makes further education accessible and possible. I have really enjoyed my time learning as a participant and then passing my experiences onto others as a mentor,” Womal said.

In addition to training and learning about education opportunities, there was plenty of fun to be had during the week, including a visit to the Rally for Relief (tennis), “yarning” sessions, and a visit to Collingwood Football Club to meet newly signed Indigenous player Machaelia Roberts and to participate in strength and conditioning activities.

This year’s group also spent an interactive day at Coles’ Headquarters, where students learnt about nutrition and discussed the importance for an athlete, which involved Olympian Linden Hall.

To ensure students had the skills to follow this advice, resident chef (and MasterChef winner) Michael Weldon gave some hints and tips to cooking great tasting and healthy food. Coles also used the opportunity to inform the RTBA participants of their Indigenous and graduate programs, which offer a range of employment opportunities across all facets of the Coles business.

Participants arrived back home to their communities determined to continue their education, and motivated to participate in athletics. Most importantly, they leave proud about their cultural heritage and excited about their potential.