Featuring Tokyo Olympians Taliqua Clancy, Cedric Dubler and Gronya Somerville, Beijing 2022 snowboarder Valentino Guseli with host Olympian Brooke Hanson, the forum celebrated the efforts of more than 1000 young Australians nominated as Australian Olympic Change-Makers.

The Change-Maker program recognises and rewards students who celebrate the Olympic spirit by demonstrating leadership and using the power of sport to bring communities together.

Open to all secondary schools around the country, teachers still have until the end of September to nominate up to two students who are driving positive change in their own community. Nominate a student here.

Filmed at Meta headquarters in Sydney and streamed to Change-Makers around the country today, the forum also saw more than 30 Sydney based change-makers attend the forum in person, the first time the program has been able to connect in-person since 2019.

The Change-Makers heard directly from the Olympians on the power of Olympic sport to make a difference.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said the forum brings Olympians together with young Australian leaders.

“The Australian Olympic Change-Maker program shines a light on inspiring initiatives by young Australians who are using sport to make their communities better,” Mr Carroll said.

“From cities to the regions, I’m proud this program can highlight and reward young leaders embodying the Olympic spirit.

“The students of today will have an incredible impact on the next decade of the Olympic movement as we build towards Brisbane 2032, and these young Change-Makers show that the future is in very safe hands.

“I encourage all schools who haven’t yet to nominate young leaders from their school, to do so and shine a light on the great work being done by your students.”

Once nominations close on 30 September, a panel of Olympians will select 25 Change-Makers from around the country to attend a 3-day national summit in December, where they will collaborate with Olympians and other young leaders, and provide recommendations to the AOC on actions they want to see the Olympic movement in Australia work towards.

Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Taliqua Clancy enjoyed sharing her story with the young Change-Makers.

“It’s awesome to see the new generation inspiring, to see them doing some amazing things in their community,” Taliqua said.

“The most valuable thing sport has taught me is relationship building – it serves me away from sport as well, and allows me to connect with community, and you can see these students are already building long lasting relationships to make a positive change.

“One piece of advice I have for the Change-Makers is to say yes to any opportunities you get. Sometimes you don’t know where it will take you, but the rewards and people you meet along the way is special. Whether it’s in sport or anything else they’re passionate about, saying yes will open up a new world of possibilities for them.”

Dual Olympian decathlete Cedric Dubler featured in one of Tokyo’s iconic moments, pacing and supporting teammate Ash Moloney to bronze in the final 1500m event in the decathlon.

“Tokyo really helped me realise the impact sport can have on the wider community,” Cedric said. “We spend so long training and competing out of the spotlight, but some moments can become bigger than sport - I’m still receiving messages about the Tokyo 1500, that people can be inspired by Olympians.

“Sport plays a vital role in development and growth of kids. There’s so much more than the game itself, it’s creating lasting relationships and building character. From the grassroots on, leadership and positive spirit is being instilled.”

Brigidine College student and 2022 Australian Olympic Change-Maker Joiful Fotu-Moala was nominated for her leadership in promoting and integrating a new sporting program structure throughout her school.

“It’s been really exciting and surprising to be nominated as a 2022 Australian Olympic Change-Maker,” Joiful said.

“Hearing from the Olympians today is really special - the team camaraderie they share, what it means to be an Olympian and what it means to wear the green and gold was really inspiring.

“Hearing what they do to face challenges will really help me in my own journey – how they draw on their internal strength, use their support networks and find a way to push themselves is so helpful.”