Tennis SA recently completed its first-ever trip to the APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) Lands. A milestone moment for the organisation and a meaningful step in connecting with remote Aboriginal communities through sport. The week-long journey saw the team travel across some of South Australia’s most remote regions, delivering tennis clinics to students who, for many, were picking up a racquet for the very first time.
Led by Tennis SA’s Tennis Development and DEI team and supported by State Indigenous Coach, Jason Todd, the trip was an incredible blend of sport, culture, and community engagement. The team visited six Anangu schools across the region: Mimili, Indulkana, Fregon, Ernabella, Amata, and Kenmore Park, delivering fun and inclusive sessions tailored to students of all ages.
The tour kicked off with a long journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs, followed by an epic drive through the red centre, taking in stops at Kulgera and the Pukatja Roadhouse before settling into accommodation in Umuwa, the central hub for the week.
At the clinics in the APY Lands, many schools split their students into two groups based on age. The younger group was introduced to tennis through individual racquet skills, focusing on activities like bouncing the ball to themselves in different ways. From there, they progressed to working in pairs, practising throwing, hitting, and catching, before finishing with simple rallying activities.
For the older students, the focus was on getting them playing as quickly as possible. After a brief introduction to racquet skills, they moved straight into rally-based games that encouraged movement, coordination, and game play.
Despite it being the first time many of these children had ever picked up a tennis racquet, the Tennis SA team were amazed by their natural ability to control the ball and engage in rallies.
This visit represents just the beginning of what Tennis SA hopes will be a long-term commitment to engaging with remote Aboriginal communities, offering opportunities for play, skill-building, and connection through tennis. Special thanks to Jason Todd for his guidance and cultural leadership throughout the trip.
Photos from the trip below.
Mimili
Fregon
Indulkana
