The AOC has established and continued partnerships and collaborations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and other like-minded organisations. A summary of the partnerships and milestones achieved include:
Development of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the AOC as a first step in collective action towards promoting reconciliation.
During NAIDOC Week 2022, the AOC, in partnership with the RAAF, visited Thursday Island in the Torres Strait Islands.
This community engagement visit included an incredible Welcome to Country (dance and traditional dinner delivered by locals), free community basketball day and lunch, and an opportunity for relationship building between Torres Strait community members, AOC personnel, Olympians and RAAF personnel.
WATCH / What. A. Trip! Smiles all round as the AOC has celebrated NAIDOC week with a visit to the Torres Strait to put on a basketball clinic for the local kids. Our thanks go to the Torres Strait community for welcoming us and teaching us about your culture.
Collaboration between the AOC and the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and Deadly Choices programs to develop a Deadly Choices shirt to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to undergo a health check. This shirt featured Olympian Paul Fleming’s artwork in its design.
A joint initiative between the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) to install an Indigenous Map in the Australian allotment of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Village. Athletes had the opportunity to identify their land of origin and have a yarn with Olympian Kyle Vander-Kuyp about the many First Nations language groups.
About The AOC's RAP
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
The AOC has taken another step on its journey of reconciliation through sport with the launch of its second ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
The AOC is working to recognise the heritage, culture and history of First Nations people at every level of the organisation.
Our Reconciliation Journey
*WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following article contains images of deceased persons.
Australia has been represented by 59 Indigenous athletes at the Summer Olympic Games and by one Indigenous athlete at the Winter Olympic Games.
Our History
Australia has been represented by 60 Indigenous Australian Olympians known to the AOC, 59 Indigenous athletes at the Summer Olympic Games and by one Indigenous athlete at the Winter Olympic Games.
Walk With Us
The AOC both accepts and extends the invitation to ‘Walk with Us’.
‘Walk with Us’ was a vision that originated from the AOC’s Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC). It underpins the AOC’s Vision for Reconciliation and reflects a reconciliation journey that is shared.
To date, the AOC has embodied this vision through the facilitation of two ‘Walk with Us’ forums. The first, inaugural ‘Walk with Us’ forum was held in November 2020.
Australian Olympic Indigenous Coaching Scholarship
In partnership with The Toyota Foundation, the AOC funded the first Inaugural Australian Olympic Indigenous Coaching Scholarship (AOICS) pilot for Indigenous coaches in the Olympic sport of basketball.
Olympics Unleashed and Australian Olympic Change-Maker
The Olympics Unleashed and Australian Olympic Change-Maker programs continues to increase their reach into remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
Walking Together PAUL FLEMING Aboriginal Artist: Paul Fleming (Olympian – Beijing 2008, Boxing), a First Nation Australian man from Wakka Wakka Wanyurr Majay, Yuggera Country.
Ngalmun Danalaig (Our Way of Life) DAVID BOSUN
Torres Strait Artist: David Bosun, a proud Wug man and Mualgal artist from Moa Island in the Torres Strait, is one of the founders of the printmaking tradition in Zenadth Kes (the Torres Strait) and has worked in printmaking, drawing and painting for over 20 years.
Governance
The AOC Executive, Athletes Commission, and Indigenous Advisory Committee form the building blocks for consultation to guide the AOC’s reconciliation journey.
Latest Indigenous Olympians' Stories
