Olympians and prominent community leaders spearhead revamped First Nations and RAP Advisory Group

Some of the most prolific names in Indigenous Australian athletics will come together with experts in the field as part of a revamped and expanded Athletics Australia First Nations and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Advisory Group.

Initially launched to guide the development of Athletics Australia’s initial Innovate RAP (launched in June 2019), the refreshed Advisory Group will provide strategic advice to AA and its Member Associations across all aspects of its engagement with First Nations peoples.

Indigenous Olympians Kyle Vander Kuyp and Benn Harradine will join Rio Olympian and former AIS Share A Yarn Ambassador Caitlin Sargent and a number of prominent Indigenous leaders to help guide Athletics Australia’s continued reconciliation efforts. This will include the development of its second Reconciliation Action Plan and the further expansion of its athletics programs and initiatives that engage First Nations people.

Bianca Graham, who was part of the first female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Indigenous Marathon Project squad, has been a member of the group since its inception will continue in her role, while former athlete, coach, and reconciliation consultant Brett Leavy will join for the first time.

Athletics West Board Member Dr Rishelle Hume will bring her nearly three decades of experience towards the advancement of Aboriginal people and Noongar culture to the group, and Casey Conway, who has led Diversity and Inclusions departments at NRL and Rugby Australia will lean into his expertise to drive positive change. Julie Jackson, who has been instrumental in a number of sporting reconciliation committees will round out this advisory group.

More can be read about each member below.

“Sport is a powerful vehicle to unite, inspire and drive social change. Over the past few years since the launch of our Innovate RAP, Athletics Australia has endeavoured to use its platform to decrease barriers to athletic participation for First Nations communities, and has strived to become a sport that brings together people of all cultures and all backgrounds,” said Athletics Australia General Manager, Growth and Development, Adam Bishop

“The overhaul and expanded remit of our First Nations and Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Group signifies our next step on our reconciliation journey as we look to harness the power of athletics to deepen and strengthen this engagement and impact”.

Athletics Australia has a long history of engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including providing participation and development opportunities to all First Nations communities.

Most recently with the aid of Rio Tinto, Athletics Australia has been able to reignite its flagship programs for First Nations peoples, including Raise the Bar for First Nations school students aged 16-18, and Athletics for the Outback which focusses on engaging regional and remote communities through athletics.

“Athletics Australia has made huge steps on its Reconciliation Journey in the past two years and the formation of this RAP Advisory Group will mean that there will only be more progress in the future,” Athletics Australia First Nations Program Manager, Emily Broderick said.

“Each member of this group brings with them a passion for athletics as well as a deep understanding of community needs and perspectives that will further empower First Nations People. Their individual experiences will provide Athletics Australia with the ability to create further opportunities for cultural connectedness, community engagement and Indigenous-led pathways within the sport.”

The first meeting of the Advisory Group is set for the end of February.

More about the Athletics Australia First Nations and RAP Advisory Group Members:

Kyle Vander-Kuyp

Kyle is a proud Worimi and Yuin man. As a prolific 110m hurdler, Kyle represented Australia at four Commonwealth Games, four world championships and two Olympic Games. Kyle has been a key figure in First Nations affairs at Athletics Australia and an influential member of the inaugural AA RAP committee. He is committed to building on the foundation of AA’s first RAP, sensing the opportunity Athletics Australia has over the next 10 years (leading into 2032 Olympic Games) to provide opportunities to communities. Kyle is passionate about building meaningful initiatives and programs in the sport, ensuring Athletics becomes truly inclusive and rich with strong participation of First Nations people – whether they are involved as athletes, coaches or volunteers.

Benn Harradine

Benn is a proud Watjabaluk and Wergia man and the first Indigenous man to represent Australia in a field event, along with being one of only three Indigenous athletes (alongside Cathy Freeman and Patty Mills) to represent Australia at three Olympic Games. Benn is the current Australian record holder for discus. Benn is a board member of a publicly listed company, an exercise physiologist and high performance professional. Benn has worked as a leadership development consultant and has experienced some of Athletics Australia’s First Nations programs as an elite athlete – delivering Athletics for the Outback to remote communities.

Caitlin Sargent

Caitlin is an Australian Olympian (Rio, 2016) and an AIS Share a Yarn Ambassador alumni (2021). Caitlin has worked hard to advocate for culturally safe spaces for First Nations athletes in the sport, as demonstrated through her work in leading the walk on country for the World Juniors squad pre-departure camp on Yugambeh country in 2021. Caitlins’s participation in the AIS Share a Yarn program led her to visiting the Kimberley region, running clinics for school children in the lead up to the North West Championships in 2022. Caitlin is passionate about reconciliation and the power sport, particularly Athletics, can have in facilitating reconciliation. 

Bianca Graham

Bianca is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman and has been an invaluable member of the Athletics Australia RAP working group since its inception. She is keen to keep building on AA’s inaugural RAP and has been instrumental in the positive changes across AA through increased First Nations participation and progress across the wider organisation. Bianca was part of the first female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island squad to complete the New York City Marathon and is a sitting member of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation's Board of Directors. Bianca works as a senior advisor in Indigenous Affairs at Sunwater.

Brett Leavy

Brett is a proud Kooma man with extensive experience consulting with various organisations and hundreds of RAP plans across Australia. He has worked tirelessly in the First Nations space for over 30 years. Brett has a background in the sport as an athlete and is currently a coach, with his four sons competing at various levels over the years. Brett is committed to bringing about change in the Athletics arena.

Dr Rishelle Hume AM

Rishelle is a proud Noongar Woman with traditional ties to the Whadjuk, Ballardong and Gnaala Karla Boodja peoples and a proud mother of 3 children. Rishelle works as the Diversity and Inclusion Business Advisor Eurasia Pacific with Chevron. Rishelle has dedicated her working life to the advancement of Aboriginal people and Noongar culture, with experience in Aboriginal engagement spanning 27 years across multiple sectors and a number of RAP plans. Rishelle is currently a director on the Athletics West board and has a strong interest in the sport following her own junior athletics career.

Casey Conway

Casey is a proud Barada man and former professional rugby league footballer, currently working as a Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Westpac. Casey has led Diversity and Inclusion departments in both the NRL and Rugby Australia, establishing the First Nations Rugby Committee to influence and drive engagement with First Nations peoples and communities. Casey is a Leadership group advisor to Black Rainbow, a community organisation that advocates for Indigenous LGBTQ peoples. Casey is a strong believer in the power of sport and its ability to drive change, particularly within marginalised communities.

Julie Jackson

Julie is a proud Noongar woman with connections to Wadjuk, Ballardong and Gnaala Karla Booja Areas in WA. Julie has been instrumental in a number of Aboriginal advisory groups, including the WA Football Commission, Netball WA, Subiaco Football Club and the Western Australia Cricket Association. Julie currently works as the business development manager at the Stephen Michael Foundation, where she is leading the development of a commitment statement for First Nations people to solidify positive outcomes in the community. Julie is a firm believer that while RAP plans can effect change, it is vital that they are driven from the top down to ensure meaningful and sustainable impact. Julie is involved in the Athletics community in WA as a parent through her son’s current track and field pursuits.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 6/2/2022