Ash Barty is bringing her passion for sport and education to North Queensland, with her foundation - the Ash Barty Foundation (ABF) - 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 and former World No. 1, 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 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, while they board at NRL Cowboys House while completing their secondary education in Townsville.
“Partnering with the NRL Cowboys House was something really close to my heart. 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,” Barty said.
“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,” she said.
“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. The House provides that wonderful, supportive environment for these 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.
NRL Cowboys House is managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation - the charity arm of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys - with students supported by dedicated education, wellbeing, culture and career transitions teams as part of an award-winning wraparound model of care.
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.
“We have some incredibly talented young sportspeople at the House and we’re grateful and excited to work together with the Ash Barty Foundation to help them reach their full potential.”
For more information on the Cowboys Community Foundation and NRL Cowboys house visit this website.
