Former tennis star Ash Barty is partnering with the Cowboys Community Foundation to expand sporting opportunities for Indigenous students from remote communities. Photos: Cowboys Community Foundation.
Former world number one tennis player Ash Barty is bringing her passion for sport and education to North Queensland – and to one of sport’s best supporters across Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands.
The Ash Barty Foundation (ABF) is partnering with the Cowboys Community Foundation to expand sporting opportunities for Indigenous students from remote communities.
Barty, a three-time Grand Slam singles title winner, launched the ABF in January 2024 following her retirement from professional tennis.
The ABF aims to use sport and education as a vehicle to give young Australians the chance to follow their dreams.
This new collaboration, through the ABF’s Community Grants Program, will support the more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students aged 12–18 to pursue their sporting dreams. All while boarding at NRL Cowboys House and completing their secondary education in Townsville.
“Partnering with the NRL Cowboys House was something really close to my heart,” Barty said. “I know how important sport and education are in connecting people and giving kids in remote communities the opportunity to come together and discover the sport they love.
“It shouldn’t matter where you come from or where you live – you should have the same chance to learn, to grow and to try something new.
“As a young athlete I had to be away from home a lot. I know how challenging that can be, which is why creating supportive environments and opportunities for these students is so important.”
She said Cowboys House provided a wonderful, supportive environment for young people and “we’re proud to support them”.
The grant will help cover essential costs such as sport registration fees, equipment and participation in school, club and representative sport, as well as the house’s weekly Power Hour fitness and wellbeing program.
ABF’s Community Grants Program will help cover a raft of costs including the weekly Power Hour program.
Cowboys Community Foundation CEO Fiona Pelling said uniting with one of Australia’s most-loved sportspeople was an exciting step for the foundation and the students.
“Ash is a wonderful role model and her foundation’s purpose to give all young Australians a chance to follow their dreams no matter where they are from aligns perfectly with ours,” she said.
“Our young people needed to move away from their families, homes and communities to access equitable education, so this partnership helps us to also provide them with the same sporting opportunities as their peers.
“Sport is about more than winning; it builds physical health, confidence, resilience and a strong sense of belonging.”
She said NRL Cowboys House was grateful and excited to work together with the Ash Barty Foundation to help its talented young sportspeople reach their full potential.
NRL Cowboys House is managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation and is the charity arm of the North Queensland Cowboys. Its dedicated education, wellbeing, culture and career transitions teams support students as part of an award-winning wraparound model of care.
NRL Cowboys House boarders Jacob and William Mareko from Yam island compete at their school athletics day.
