Schools from across Australia nominated over 900 incredible students to take part in this year's Australian Olympic Change-Maker program. All students had the opportunity to participate in the program's National Virtual Forum, however 23 have been selected to attend the National Summit that starts today and concludes on Friday.
Australian Olympic Change-Maker was set up by the Australian Olympic Committee to recognise and encourage young leaders to use sport as a catalyst for driving change in their communities. The National Summit takes this a step further and engages Australia’s youth to play a more critical role in the future direction of the Australia Olympic movement.
A panel of Olympians reviewed some of the most outstanding applications for the program this year and selected 23 students who are already making an impact in their local communities.
These students will take part in the virtual National Summit alongside Olympians Brooke Hanson, Cate Campbell, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Jemima Montag, Matt Denny, Sam Fricker and Melissa Tapper. Our Olympians and students will work together to understand how the AOC can make the most of community opportunities to increasing participation in sport.
AOC CEO Matt Carroll AM reflected on how Australian Olympic Change-Maker is a key AOC initiative for the Olympic movement in Australia.
“By consistently connecting and engaging with young people we can influence the entire community to experience the lifelong benefits of sport. Therefore, it’s absolutely vital that the Olympic movement speaks through the voice of youth.”
“Each year I look forward to seeing how the students address the issues and challenges we set. This year’s program is no different and I am keen to hear the student’s ideas and recommendations that can help guide the Olympic Movement over this most important decade to the Brisbane Games of 2032.”
Olympic Gold and Silver Medallist and host of Australian Olympic Change Maker, Brooke Hanson OAM OLY spoke about the high quality of applications to the program and the challenges this posed to the selection panel.
“The response to our Australian Olympic Change-Maker Program this year has been exceptional, not only have we received more interest than ever, but the responses have been remarkable. Our panel of Olympians really had their work cut out for them in selecting the final candidates to attend this year’s Summit.”
“I truly believe that the Olympic movement is in great hands with this group of brilliant, enthusiastic and highly motivated students to help guide decision making on some really critical issues.”
The students selected to attend this year’s Australian Olympic Change-Maker Summit are listed below:
| Student | School | Year | State | School Suburb |
| Ashleigh Burns | Canberra Girls Grammar School | 12 | ACT | Deakin |
| Jay Louison-Roe | Kirrawee High School | 12 | NSW | Kirrawee |
| Keeley Marx | Yarra Valley Grammar | 11 | VIC | Ringwood |
| Jesse Isaac | Endeavour College | 10 | SA | Mawson Lakes |
| Sarah Marriott | St Catherine's School | 11 | VIC | Toorak |
| Matthew Ginn | Avondale School | 10 | NSW | Cooranbong |
| Jack Howell | Kambrya College | 11 | VIC | Berwick |
| Kristen O'Shea | Gordonvale State High School | 12 | QLD | Gordonvale |
| Elijah Zuckerman | University of Canberra High School Kaleen | 10 | ACT | Kaleen |
| Matthew Day | McKinnon Secondary College | 11 | VIC | McKinnon |
| Ged Street | Aquinas College | 12 | WA | Salter Point |
| Emma Stark | O'Loughlin Catholic College | 10 | NT | Karama |
| Aiyahna Browning | Longreach State High School | 12 | Qld | Longreach |
| Kendylle Byers | Oatlands District High School | 10 | TAS | Oatlands |
| Blake Iles | Rockhampton State High School | 11 | QLD | Rockhampton |
| Hannah-Rose Simmonds | Nhulunbuy Christian College | 10 | NT | Nhulunbuy |
| Kate Haines | Cleve Area School | 11 | SA | Cleve |
| Joel Tracey | Kooringal High School | 12 | NSW | Kooringal |
| Ashlee Harwood | Mater Dei College | 12 | WA | Edgewater |
| Malual Aleer | St Francis Xavier College | 11 | ACT | Florey |
| Naadirah Peer | Runcorn State High School | 11 | QLD | Runcorn |
| Chelsea Trent | Guildford Grammar School | 10 | WA | Guildford |
| Lachlan Brewer | Riverside High School | 10 | TAS | Riverside |
| Lara Carroll | Narara Valley High School | 12 | NSW | Narara |
Find out more information about Australian Olympic Change-Maker
