Open to all secondary schools around Australia, Australian Olympic Change-Maker celebrates students who live the Olympic spirit by demonstrating leadership and using the power of sport to bring communities together. 

As Australians from grassroots juniors to elite athletes return to sport in the new Olympic year with a renewed fervour, the power of sport to unite communities and inspire positive change is more valuable than ever.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll celebrated the program as it enters its third year.

“I’m thrilled to open nominations for the Australian Olympic Change-Maker program in 2021,” Mr Carroll said.

“Over the last two years of the program, I’ve been inspired by the ideas, enthusiasm and impact students recognised as Olympic Change-Makers have had on their communities. Students from the regions to capital cities, who are using sport to make the lives of people in their community better each day.

“With the potential of a home Games on the horizon and a decade runway of opportunity for Australia, the students of today will have an incredible input on Australia’s future.

“I look forward to again receiving the ideas from young leaders in 2021 and encourage all teachers to nominate students who are inspiring their local communities,” Mr Carroll said.

Nominated students will attend a state-wide virtual Olympic Forum, where they will learn first-hand from Olympians and collaborate with other young leaders, a certificate of recognition and the chance to be selected by a panel of Olympians to attend the National Olympic Change-Maker Summit. 

Students will collaborate with other leaders on vital areas where sport can bring communities together, including promoting equality and diversity, sustainability, regional engagement and empowering the voice of young Australians.

Olympic Change-Maker Host and Olympic medallist Brooke Hanson OAM was excited to see the fantastic work of young leaders in 2021.

I encourage all young leaders to enter the 2021 Australian Olympic Change Maker Program,” Hanson said. “This incredible program will empower and inspire you - to move, to learn and to discover whilst staying focused on your goals and maintaining your motivation for influencing change.”

Victorian Gabi Fitzpatrick, a 2020 Olympic Change-Maker, encouraged students to make the most of the opportunity in 2021.

“Being an Olympic Change-Maker is an incredible opportunity to work with inspirational Olympians and other changemakers to think of new ways to spread the Olympic spirit and keep people active” Gabi said.

Western Australian 2020 Olympic Change-Maker Amy Ralph agreed, sharing, “To me, being a change maker is all about challenging the ideas that as teenagers, we can’t make a change because we lack experience or don’t have the resources. Despite this, the future is ours and we have the potential to become some of the most influential people in the country.”

Nominations are open to all Australian high schools. Schools can nominate up to two students per school from years 10-12 who are creating positive change.   

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