The Good Village AIS Problem Solvers Program
A FREE interactive health and wellbeing program that encourages Australian primary school students to engage in design thinking, problem solving and learn from high performance athletes.
About the program
The AIS is proud to partner with Nestle to launch an engaging health and wellbeing program for Australian primary school students known as The Good Village AIS Problem Solvers Program.
School information
This is an exciting opportunity for primary school students to undertake a project which encourages outside-the-box thinking and offers the chance to engage with an Australian athlete.
The program aims to teach students about what it takes to create a healthy, supportive and
sustainable village of people through unpacking a challenge within Australian sport.
The free eight stage program aligns with the Australian school curriculum while weaving in lessons in science, humanities, arts and economics.
The program is available to all Australian primary schools and can be tailored for Grades 1-6. While the program is designed to be student-led, teachers will also have access to free resources including a comprehensive teaching guide.
Schools can apply to have an AIS athlete ambassador deliver two virtual or in-person sessions as
part of the program.
Students will be given the below challenge to solve:
Challenge for Grades 1-3
Less than half of Australian children participate in organised community sport. The AIS wants you to design an exciting new sport (or improve a current sport) that will attract young people to participate and be included in the next International Sporting Competition in Australia!
Challenge for Grades 4-6
Over the past few years more than 16,000 Australian sports clubs have had to close down, or are at risk of closing due to reduced and participation. The AIS needs your help to design a new high performance sports environment in your community to attract young people to represent Australia in the future.
Below is an outline of what will be covered in each lesson:
An AIS athlete ambassador will deliver a 45-minute presentation explaining the age-appropriate challenge to students and sharing lessons from their own sporting journey.
The exploration begins! Students will learn about the key themes such as physical activity, mental wellbeing, relationships, nutrition and sustainability before commencing the creative part of the project.
Let’s get those creative juices flowing! Students will revisit the challenge and brainstorm solutions.
We now move into the designing phase of the project! Students will muster their creativity and begin to design possible solutions.
Time to choose your final design and justify your choice! Students will learn how to justify their decisions using persuasive writing.
Let’s get creating! Students will put their plans into action and start creating their designs either digitally or with physical materials.
Students will have the chance to showcase their work with others and the opportunity to engage with an athlete ambassador.
Continue your learning by joining the The Good Village mailing list to keep up to date with new website developments, such as the new ‘Yarning Circle’ area and our ‘Virtual Tour’ of the AIS.
Athlete information
High-performance athletes who are passionate about helping to educate young Australians will help deliver the program.
Each athlete will connect with a school twice throughout the program either in-person or online and work with students to unpack a challenge within Australian sport.
This is a great chance for athletes to connect with their local communities, strengthen their professional development skills and give back to the next generation.
Application
Register your interest for 2025 programs here.
Ambassadors
Caitlin Bettenay
Volleyball, QAS
To identify, inspire, and ignite the next generation to believe in their dreams, solve problems, grow, and pursue greatness.
Edwina Bone
Hockey, ACTAS
As an athlete, I always loved supporting young hockey players to not only strive for their dreams but also build successful stepping stones for the future. I have used the experiences and challenges I’ve faced at an elite level to assist young athletes in this process.
Now that I’ve retired and pursued a career as a teacher, The Good Village gives me the opportunity to combine my background as an athlete and knowledge as an educator to create a holistic approach to my students. I love that the program challenges students to think outside the box to address real-world issues.
I am very fortunate to have been given this platform to inspire and guide future Aussie ideas.
Olivia O'Rourke
Diving, NSWIS
Having the opportunity to educate the next generation is a strong passion of mine. I believe in the importance of being a balanced athlete ensuring I prioritise my wellbeing, sporting goals and education equally.
As an elite athlete we are challenged mentally to be resilient and think outside our comfort zone. Being a part of this program is a great opportunity to encourage the next generation to think outside the box, challenge themselves and become creative. Through my past experiences and lessons learnt, I am excited to share my strategies and techniques to strive for a common goal.
Penny Squibb
Hockey, WAIS
I am proud to be chosen as an ambassador for this program as I am passionate about educating our youth. I love the idea of how this program encourages creative and resourceful thinking to design a healthy and supportive community.
Being from a small country town I always loved having athletes visit so I am grateful to be in the position I am now to be able to help deliver this program as an athlete, and give back and hopefully inspire students to be creative, keep learning and develop new skills.
Sarah Hawe
Rowing, TIS
I am really excited to be part of this program as I am really passionate about educating and instilling healthy habits - both in sport and general life - in school children.
I am really hoping to make a difference in these children's lives and set them up for a bright future involved in sport.
Shae Graham
Wheelchair Rugby, VIS
I am excited to work as an AIS The Good Village ambassador to promote health and wellbeing to Australian primary school students and our future sports stars.
As an elite athlete, managing good health and wellbeing is essential to our physical and mental health. I am passionate about promoting and sharing good health and wellbeing practices with anyone and everyone who will listen and this program is giving me an amazing opportunity to do that. I am very excited to give back and connect with local communities, help promote good health and wellbeing and introduce primary school students to the fantastic sport of Wheelchair Rugby.
Yale Steinepreis
Paddle, WAIS
I wanted to be a part of The Good Village program for multiple reasons. Not only because I saw it as an opportunity to engage with the wider community, but I also found it to be an exceptional way to give back to the society that supports me in my own pursuits.
The program itself is unique in its ability to recognise the creativity and vision of children and find ways to engage them to help in solving real life problems, in theory equipping our very own future decision makers with the tools early in life, which I wanted to be a part of.
Katerina Paul
Snow Sports, VIS
I really wanted to get back into my local community, where I grew up, to give the local kids an opportunity to critically think about sport, sustainability, and innovation.
Ria Thompson
Rowing, QAS
I am excited to be an AIS The Good Village Ambassador and share my story with the next generation. I am a firm believer that health and happiness go hand in hand, and I am excited about the opportunity this program provides for sharing the power of health and wellbeing with Aussie kids.
This program is unique in the way it incorporates athletes’ stories with lessons about problem solving. The skills I have gained in elite sport translate into all aspects of my life and I am excited to share these and hopefully inspire kids to think laterally and learn that success comes from resilience and being able to adapt to the challenge life throws at you.
Carly Salmon
Football, NSWIS
This program encapsulates my passion for health and working with young people! Having accessible opportunities to participate in physical activity and the education to increase my health has had a profoundly positive impact on my life.
Therefore, I would be honoured to help young people similarly foster a love of health and enhance their problem solving skills for the greater good of our communities.
Rhydian Cowley
Athletics, VIS
Being an elite athlete can feel like a selfish endeavour at times, and I have also received a lot of support throughout my career to make it to where I am today. Giving back to the community, and paying that support forward to the next generation is really important to me, and I am excited to have a chance to do that through the Good Village program.
I am looking forward to watching how the natural creativity and inquisitiveness of children will find unique solutions to problems, and build their skills and confidence to keep addressing and solving the problems of today and tomorrow.
Emily Meaney
Diving, QAS
I am passionate about working with kids and am very excited to hopefully teach them some of the problem solving skills I have acquired through 15 years in elite sport.
I am also excited to see and experience the innovation and ideas the next generation has to offer!
Tamieka Whitefield
Softball, QAS
I am passionate about educating and displaying the positive impact that physical activity can have on your life to our next generation.
By providing a voice for athletes and a vision for young people to inspire to be.
Zana Evans
Snow Sports, ACTAS
I’m really excited to be an ambassador for the Good Village Program because I love helping younger people get equipped with the right skills, whether that involves sport or not.
As an athlete I’ve been offered generous opportunities, which in turn, should be given back to the community. Being part of this program is a great platform to parallel my own “problems” and “problem solving skills” to younger kids, and get them creative and curious.
Victoria Pendergast
Snow Sports, NSWIS
I wanted to be part of the AIS Good Village Problem Solver Program to share my experience in Sport and encourage younger generations to have a go.
Sport has a huge number of benefits and opportunities that I have experienced throughout my life that can be shared throughout communities. It can teach inclusivity, accessibility, perseverance and so much more in a way that can be fun for kids.
Lucy Coleman
Rowing, NSWIS
Sport has always been a big part of my life and I feel very grateful to be given the opportunity to share my passion for it with the next generation. I am keen to share my experiences and learnings from sport and educate kids about the myriad of benefits participating in sport can offer.
Sport taught the little country kid in me to back myself and always shoot my shot, on and off the field. It’s a privilege to be a part of this program and inspire the next generation to set big goals and go after them.
Harrison Biddell
Swimming, SASI
I wanted to be apart of this program to inspire and teach a next generation of young people.
As an athlete, I have always tried to support young people to strive towards their goals and dreams and I believe this program is the perfect challenge of a students ability to think holistically and use problem solving skills.
I look forward to combining my skills as a teacher and athlete to guide future Aussie ideas.
Past year ambassadors
2023 Ambassadors
Name | Sport | Organisation |
---|---|---|
Amy Sligar | Netball | NSWIS |
Caitlin Bettenay | Volleyball | QAS |
Cameron Girdlestone | Rowing | NSWIS |
Edwina Bone | Hockey | ACTAS |
Jake Bensted | Judo | VIS |
Liam Twomey | Para-Triathlon | VIS |
Olivia O'Rourke | Diving | NSWIS |
Penny Squibb | Hockey | WAIS |
Sarah Hawe | Rowing | TIS |
Shae Graham | Wheelchair Rugby | VIS |
Stacey Hymer | Taekkwondo | VIS |
Yale Steinepreis | Paddle | WAIS |
Further Information
For further information about this program or opportunities to be involved please contact: Laura.Hingston@ausport.gov.au