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.
Amanda Reid is a proud aboriginal woman, 13-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.
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 have represented Australia as a member Australian Dolphins Swim Team in the 5km swim at the 2023 and 2024 World Swimming Championships. Ultimately, my goal is to represent Australia in the 10km at the 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.
I’ve grown up in Wagga Wagga, NSW. I have represented Cycling Australia multiple times at an international level. Alongside my sport, I love to connect with people and be adventurous.
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. One quirky fact about me is that I can eat 3L of ice cream in one sitting. The Share a Yarn program is perfect for me because I'm really passionate about meeting new people, learning from different people and helping inspire others to follow their dreams.
Clarence (also known as CJ) was born in Darwin and is a proud Yanyuwa, Garrawa & Kuku Yalanji man, member and Co-Captain of the Darwin Salties & member of the Australian Rollers wheelchair basketball squad. He started playing wheelchair basketball at Darwin Basketball Association (DBA) in 2005 and has played overseas in the US, Spain and Germany over the last 8 years.
Hi, I am Emily Watts currently living on Wiradjuri land, my Aboriginal ancestors lived on Devils River Taungurung Land north east of Yea Victoria. I have been cycling competitively for 7 years now and in that time have won 3 national championships. Up until recently I have been balancing study, sport and work but this year I got the opportunity to sign with a Belgium team and combine my sport as my job. I have been living in Belgium for 3 months now and am absolutely loving the experience and the level of racing. I will be based overseas for most of the year with small stints back home when I have race breaks and back home when the season ends in September.
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 "Riss" Pohlman's incredible journey began when she discovered boxing as a way to escape a difficult childhood marked by foster care and homelessness. Boxing quickly became her passion and transformed her life as she embarked on an amateur boxing career at just 17 years old. The turning point in Riss' career came when she received the prestigious 2021 Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship, which provided the financial support she needed to pursue her dreams.
Riss draws her strength from her coach Kel Bryant OAM. Bryant, who operates a not-for-profit boxing gym aimed at developing national champions, serves as Marissa's greatest inspiration. She also credits her challenging childhood and the hardships she faced as the driving force behind her determination to succeed against all odds.
Marissa is the first ever Aboriginal woman to qualify for the Olympics in the sport of boxing. Riss is deeply committed to caring for the land and advocating for community-led land management initiatives.
Wunya, I am Rosie McMahon, born, raised and connected to Kabi Kabi country on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, with descendants from the Yiman.I have a passion for sport and have experienced many successes in both football and cricket (Junior Matildas and Qld cricket). I am so grateful for these opportunities. I love working as part of a team and contributing to a team’s success.
As a creative midfielder in football and top order bat and right arm off spin bowler in cricket, I am always striving to improve my game.
I began playing football at age 5 and cricket at age 8 at my school clubs and have been part of the Queensland Academy of Sport since 2020. A favourite highlight of my football life is when I represent the Goannas Indigenous Team where my ‘Goannas family’ embrace me in their warm supportive environment.
My school, Matthew Flinders Anglican College, provides great support with juggling sporting commitments and study through the FEAP (Flinders Elite Athlete Program).
I am proud to be part of the AIS Share the Yarn program and look forward to connecting with other indigenous athletes and learning more about our culture.
I am Sarah Haywood, a Biripi/Ngarabal girl who grew up in Nipaluna. I have been doing archery since 2011 and have been a part of the Australian squad since 2017.
I am currently part of the Australian Olympic Shadow Squad and will be fighting for an Olympic spot this year in Paris!
My name is Scarlet Jauncey, I am a proud Yawuru woman. I have played netball since I was young along with my three sisters. I am currently a defensive player for the Hamersley Comets Team, Under 19s State (Captain), West Coast Fever Academy and a WAIS scholarship holder. Last year I was selected into the Under 19s Australian Squad and am striving to make this team again this year. My ultimate goal is to play for Super Netball as well as represent Australia in the Commonwealth games.
TBC
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.
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.