The Australian Olympic Change-Maker program recognises students who are driving positive change in their school or local community, and Hannah-Rose was nominated by her teacher, Beijing 2008 Olympian, Andrew Smith.

“I nominated Hannah-Rose for the leadership she has shown in the remote community of Nhulunbuy, East Arnhem Land,” Andrew said.

“Hannah-Rose has been a swim teacher to young Yolngu Indigenous children within the community, and with the Traveling Tadpoles Swim School for children aged 4-13 years.

“She has also been involved in the Navy Cadets and recently been voted as School Captain.

“Hannah-Rose’s greatest qualities are her empathy, her community mindedness and her ability to see a need and take action.”

Hannah-Rose has spent most of her life travelling with her parents who are in the military and moved to Nhulunbuy just two years ago, after relocating from Kenya, East Africa.

Nhulunbuy in Northeast Arnhem Land, has been home to the Yolngu Aboriginal people for at least 50,000 years.

The Yolngu live in small communities of 13 different clan groups, speaking over 40 different Yolngu languages.

There is only one road out of Nhulunbuy - the Central Arnhem Road which leads to Darwin.

“Nhulunbuy is quite a remote town, so even when travelling for swimming competitions, it’s about a 13-hour drive on a very bumpy and dusty track to Darwin each meet,” Hannah-Rose, a competitive swimmer herself, explained.

“There are different struggles we have as a swimming club, especially when wanting to get coaches or experts to come and train us, we need to fly them in which is a bit of a challenge.”

Aside from wanting to use her own swimming skills to ensure the local children of Nhulunbuy have the same access to coaching and training as she did growing up, it was a tragic accident that prompted Hannah-Rose to take up swimming teaching.

“When I was on holidays with my family, a little girl tragically drowned in the swimming pool,” the Year 10 Nhulunbuy Christian College student explained.

“It really affected me, because I had learned to swim as a baby, I’d always had exposure to water, so I didn’t really understand the danger of it,” she continued.

“Through that horrible incident, I really saw how important it is to teach young Indigenous children how to be safe around the water, especially in Nhulunbuy, which is a community surrounded by water.”

Hannah-Rose says that in becoming a swimming teacher, she’s been able to witness the talent Aboriginal children possess when giving them the same opportunities in the water.

“I really want to help Aboriginal children compete at a high level,” she said.

“I’ve discovered so much talent in the community and I want to help these children get the opportunities they need to reach their full potential.”

The Australian Olympic Changer-Maker program recognises students who are demonstrating the Olympic Spirit – friendship, sportsmanship and striving for excellence both on and off the playing field, through leadership and driving positive change in their school or local community.

You can find out more and nominate your own Australian Olympic Change-Maker.

Liana Buratti