When it comes to Connection to Country, proud Wadawurrung man Jamie McPherson says “there’s no substitute for having a yarn, a meal together and connecting”.
McPherson, from the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), is one of several Connection to Country Officers now embedded across Australia’s state and territory sport institutes and academies through the Win Well Strategy’s Our Connection to Country Action Plan.
The initiative is about more than representation; it’s about ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples feel a genuine sense of belonging in high performance environments. Each officer plays a vital role in strengthening relationships, embedding cultural education, and creating pathways for First Nations athletes, coaches and staff to thrive.
Recently, officers from the VIS, Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) came together at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for the Share a Yarn Cultural Connection Camp. The gathering provided a powerful opportunity to guide and mentor young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes while building their own professional networks within the high performance system.
“It’s just an amazing feeling when you’re in a group of mob,” McPherson said.
“Programs like Share a Yarn give the opportunity to connect with others in high performance; to come together, understand what each one’s gone through, and know that there’s someone else you can call up or have a yarn with at any time.”
The Win Well Our Connection to Country Action Plan recognises that true sporting success begins with respect for people, place and culture. By creating culturally safe and connected environments, Australian sport is not only strengthening its relationship with First Nations communities but also building a system where everyone can Win Well.
Learn more about the Win Well Connection to Country Action Plan here.
