The Rio Tinto Athletics For The Outback (AFTO) program marked a major milestone as three First Nations athletes proudly represented the Northern Territory at the 2025 Australian Athletics National Championships in Perth, Western Australia.
Each athlete shone in personal best performances – a clear reflection of the AFTO program’s impact in developing young talent from remote communities and creating opportunities for long-term athletic growth.
Gayundurr has progressed through the AFTO Program from its early stages, Briseis experienced AFTO during the early stages which is a powerful testament to the program’s ability to support and sustain athletic potential from grassroots to elite competition. Meanwhile, Lewin benefited from equipment support from AFTO in his journey to Nationals.
“Athletics for the Outback has taught me how to train hard. And I trained really hard to get where I am right now,” said Brittain.
Supporting them on the ground in Perth were coaches Roger Chin and Suzanne Grayson and AFTO National Coordinator Sam Ajisafe, who have all played key roles in mentoring and guiding these athletes.
“Athletics For The Outback has definitely influenced a lot of First Nation mob. It’s created a pathway for them to get out there and show what they can do,” said Ajisafe. “I definitely want to see more First Nation people compete with athletes from different backgrounds.”
The performances showcase the AFTO development pathway and shine a light on the broader mission shared by Rio Tinto and Australian Athletics to make athletics accessible to all Australians and create long-lasting, positive change.
“I look forward to Athletics for the Outback growing with the support of Rio Tinto and Australian Athletics, pumping in all we can to the communities around Australia,” Ajisafe concluded.
Posted: 2/5/2025
