On her way to becoming a three-time Grand Slam winner, Ngarigo tennis champion Ash Barty experienced the away-from-home demands of chasing her dreams.
Now, community grants from her foundation will aid over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teenagers chase theirs, partnering with rugby league club North Queensland's NRL Cowboys House.
The former world No.1 launched her Ash Barty Foundation (ABF) in 2024, following her retirement from professional tennis two years earlier, "to use sport and education as a vehicle to give young Australians the chance to follow their dreams".
Based in Townsville, NRL Cowboys House, managed by the club's charity arm, provides culturally-safe boarding for Indigenous 12-18-year-olds from remote communities in the state's north and Torres Strait Islands.
Students attend local partner schools and are supported with wraparound care, with ABF grants now helping young mob living away from home pursue their sporting dreams.
"I know how important sport and education is in connecting people. And giving kids in remote communities the opportunity to come together and the opportunity to discover the sport they love," Barty said.
"It was something that was really close to my heart - providing that opportunity to as many kids as we can."
The grants will help cover costs such as registration fees and club and representative sports participation, equipment, education and in-house fitness and wellbeing programs.
Barty said her desire to get involved comes from a belief coming from remote community shouldn't create barriers.
With hard work and just continuing to "show up", even in the face of challenges, good things can prove to be just around the corner, she added.
"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."
Since 2017, NRL Cowboys House has helped more than 100 young people from 30 communities 'graduate' into further education, training or employment.
"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," Cowboys Community Foundation chief executive Fiona Pelling 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."
