Where Tradition Meets Talent: AFTO’s Impact in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is famous for its rugged natural beauty, iconic sites like Uluru and King’s Canyon, and Traditional Cultures that stretch back to the dawn of human history. But beyond these wonders lies something just as special: a wealth of untapped athletic talent, waiting to be discovered.

Through the Rio Tinto Athletics for the Outback (AFTO) program, hundreds of kids in remote communities have learned to run, jump, and throw. Some of them are emerging as the NT’s most promising young athletes. By connecting with First Nations children, families, and educators over the last three years, AFTO brings the joy and health benefits of athletics to some of the most isolated locations including Groote Eylandt, the Gove Peninsula including East Arnhem, Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala, Milingimbi and Ramingining.

Targeting communities that are difficult to reach whether by remoteness or lack of openness to outsiders, AFTO’s consistent presence and relationship-building have been key to its success. First Nations Coordinator Sam Ajisafe admits earning trust wasn’t quick, taking up the entire first year of the program.

“You’ve got to give them that respect because you’re coming into their community,” says Sam. “Without the trust of the Elders, you can’t go anywhere.”

Traditional lifestyles in these regions—centered around hunting and cultural practices—naturally hone athletic skills like running, jumping, and throwing. Sam uses these connections to teach kids new techniques. “Like say they have the Woomera, the spear that they throw,” he says. “It’s very close to javelin, but different techniques: they throw it sideways while javelin has to be up above your shoulder. They know how to throw and have got really strong arms, so I just get them to use the arm rest to start with.”

His authentic respect for Traditional Culture has earned him trust leading to remarkable opportunities, with Traditional Owners inviting AFTO to deliver programs in homeland regions that house as few as 10 people. Some of these areas are so remote that Sam must fly in on four-seater planes. In other communities, where public transport or car hires are unavailable, he relies on locals for vehicles to get around.

“And then another one is just having somewhere to stay,” Sam adds. Sometimes, he has flown in with an entire week’s worth of food and stayed in schoolrooms. But he says it’s all worth it to give children the opportunity to engage in organised sport and reap the benefits.

“I love this job because it's taken me to places that a lot of Australians can't get to. We also get to give these kids some opportunity to come out and see a world a lot of them have never seen, and the opportunities that lie out there,” says Sam.

He’s seen the children in these communities go from the basics to stepping up to competing in sports championships, while teachers and leaders including First Nations get upskilled through Level 1 and Level 2 coaching courses and grow their confidence in running athletics programs and events in their respective communities.

Sam and the AFTO team return to the same schools year after year, building strong, long-term relationships with students, teachers, and communities. This continuity in the programs and familiarity with the facilitators increase the likelihood that the students stay engaged. “If students don’t see a particular face or representative they associate with the sport, it becomes just a one-day thing and then forgotten about,” says Suzanne Grayson, physical literacy and sport education coordinator for East Arnhem.

Sam learned this the hard way. He says, “Last year I didn’t go to Perth for All Schools… Suzanne told me a couple of them froze and they got stage fright. It’s normal because they couldn’t see any familiar faces.” It’s a long way to go from being barefoot in the Outback to wearing spikes in stadiums, surrounded by strangers with no one in your corner backing you. This year, Sam made sure to be there, supporting the students as they competed.

With the coaching, additional support to win funding, and even running shoes that AFTO has provided, 17 athletes from the region have qualified for the Australian All Schools National Championships in just the past two years.

One of these students comes from Elcho Island, which is a 40-minute flight and 150 kilometres from East Arnhem. His PE teacher, who trained through AFTO, identified his talent early on, referring him to training camps in Darwin and Nhulunbuy. From there, he earned a spot to represent the NT at the Australian All Schools in both 2023 and 2024. He’s now a residential student at Nhulunbuy High School.

“And I know he wants to stay in sport once he finishes school,” Suzanne adds. “He's now in a situation where he could complete school here next year and hopefully set himself up with vocational studies or areas in which he can gain employment.”

As a former Olympian, Suzanne is passionate about growing athletics participation in the region, particularly among girls. While girls’ participation numbers in sport across Australia historically lag behind that of boys, the difference is especially marked where there is a lack of role models working and participating in the sport. Suzanne dreams of hosting an all-girls session led by a current First Nations Olympian to inspire the next generation.

“I would say this year we've probably been in about 22 communities around the Northern Territory,” says Sam.

But the impact of AFTO goes far beyond numbers. “It's about making a difference in the kids and the communities,” he concludes.

With every visit, every connection made, and every stride taken, AFTO is reshaping lives and breaking down barriers, using sport to bring joy, opportunity and transformation to the furthest reaches of the Northern Territory and beyond.

By Rio Tinto,
Posted 28/11/2024