GAME.SET.MATCH! Green and Gold Athletes Australia

It’s been many years in the making, and I am thrilled to finally share an initiative I am extremely proud of: Green and Gold Athletes Australia! 

At its heart, Green and Gold Athletes is about creating pathways that give talented young athletes the best chance at success, regardless of their financial circumstances.

The costs involved to compete at an elite level can be overwhelming for athletes and their families: equipment, coaching, food, travel and accommodation all add up, and can mean that green and gold dreams are often out of reach, especially for athletes from remote, rural and Indigenous communities. 

There’s a perception that elite athletes are well-paid, but that is a privilege not afforded to many.

The reality is that it’s near impossible to earn a living wage from sport, or hold down work that fits around training, competition and travel schedules. Around 50% of athletes surveyed by Australian Sports Foundation in 2021 reported earning less than $23,000 from all sources, and most earned below the national minimum wage of $39,000.

With Paris on the horizon, and a new generation of athletes dreaming about wearing the green and gold representing Australia, it’s the right time to build sustainable, holistic practices that will help get them there.

Green and Gold Athletes aims to support up to 100 athletes each year, and grow the program to support 1000 athletes by 2032.

Green and Gold Athletes has just launched two key funding initiatives: 

The Game. Set. Match. Program, which is open to Summer, Winter, able-bodied and para athletes, helps them reach their Green & Gold dreams through direct matched funding of up to $5,000.

I’m also very proud to launch AUS #150Women: together, we will raise $150,000 to support 30 female athletes, each receiving $5,000. This program is inspired by Jane Roos and the CAN FUND #150Women. What started in 2017 as a campaign to support Canadian athletes, CAN FUND #150Women has transformed into a community of women across Canada who have supported over 556 female athletes and counting.   

Green and Gold Athletes is not just about financial support; it also provides access to skills, tools, connections, opportunities and mentorship that will nurture the athletes’ pathway.

At the launch event hosted by Queensland Cricketers’ Club, we were lucky to be joined by one of the amazing young athletes who is already blazing a trail on the green and gold runway! Ipswich BMX racer Holyee Jackson is only 14 years old, but she has already won a swag of titles. This has been possible through the support of her Mum, Angela Jackson, and a chance meeting with an angel donor, Michael Devlin of More Estate Agents. The three work as a team to help Holyee develop her talent, and with Michael’s financial support, Holyee is on track to compete at the Games in Paris next year! Partnerships like this take away some of the financial barriers, meaning Holyee can focus on her sport, rather than where her next set of tyres will come from.

We were also joined by 2 x Olympian Cedric Dubler; one of the Green and Gold Greats who will mentor our young athletes. As a decathlete, Cedric knows a thing (or ten!) about the costs involved in competing. Training for one sport is a huge commitment, but training for the 100m sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m run, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500m run, requires another level of equipment and training. Over his career, Cedric has mastered the art of fundraising and, like our other Greats, brings a wealth of knowledge that he is passionate about sharing with the next generation.

We are so grateful for those who have already come on board to support Green and Gold Athletes Australia: from The Star Entertainment Group and Cryptoloc Data Security, who have helped this project get off the ground as our Foundation Partner, Rowland for their branding and marketing support, and Queensland Cricketers’ Club who have given us a home. Thanks also to our partners WIX, Ministry of Sport, Pitch PR, Perpetual Limited and Mullins Lawyers for helping to enable the dream.

I’m absolutely rapt to finally launch a project that has been in the works for many years, and to see Green and Gold Athletes Australia already making an impact. 

If you would like to make a donation, talk about partnerships, or register for the program as an athlete, visit our website: greenandgoldathletes.com.au and let's catch up for a coffee!