Indigenous Olympians Patrick Johnson, Beki Smith, Danny Morseu and Kyle van der Kuyp were joined by AOC CEO Matt Carroll, AOC Athletes’ Commission members Kenny Wallace and Greta Small along with Director of From the Heart Dean Parkin in an open panel session at Meta Headquarters in Barangaroo, Sydney.

The panellists explored the theme of ‘Walking Together’ split into three yarns - Leaving Footprints, Creating Footprints and Future Footprints to discuss where the Australian Olympic movement has come from, current projects and future opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

The forum is the first since the concept was launched in 2020.

The ongoing achievements of the Indigenous Advisory Committee, Indigenous artwork integration throughout Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Australian Olympic Teams, the launch of the Australian Olympic Indigenous Coaching Scholarship supported by global partner Toyota and enshrinement of an Indigenous voice in the Athletes’ Commission were highlighted as practical steps achieved since that inaugural forum two years ago.

With several panellists fresh off the AOC’s NAIDOC Week trip to the Torres Strait, the importance of using Olympic sport to achieve progress towards reconciliation was a key focus.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said the second Walk with Us forum provides a way to celebrate Australia’s Indigenous Olympic heritage and to discuss opportunities for the future.

“This confirms and reinforces our commitment to make a real difference through sport and to make a practical contribution to reconciliation,” Mr Carroll said.

“Today's forum built around this week’s trip to Torres Strait which demonstrated the impact of the Australian Olympic Indigenous Coaching Scholarship and our commitment to bring the Olympic spirit to communities.

“It’s also a chance to discuss our ambitions for what comes next - to expand the coaching scholarships to other sports and assist all of our member sports to create and build on their own Reconciliation Action Plans.

“We also will ensure the AOC’s Reconciliation Action Plan is built into all of our planning for the green and gold runway until Brisbane 2032, the 10 years leading into and 10 years out of our home Games, to maximise the impact for Indigenous outcomes.”

Chair of the AOC’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and Olympian Patrick Johnson celebrated the 60 known Indigenous Olympian and looked to the impact the Olympic movement can have in the future.

“We walk in our ancestors’ footprints and along that path, we create our own path of change, not only for now but for future generations,” Mr Johnson said. “Our 60 known Indigenous Olympians are a snapshot of our past and our future is about what we will create for our next generations.”

“It's great to get everyone together and really be part of this meaningful journey, about how we come together to not only recognise and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures within this forum, but how do we actually do that in everyday life.

“I really recommend everyone take the opportunity to connect back on country, and connect to the history wherever you live on this great country of ours.

“This is an opportunity to create unity and I think that's where we want to see this country. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture is not separate, it's part of this culture, part of this history and part of Australia.”