Aaliyah’s Journey – A Rising Dual Athlete

Aaliyah is a 13-year-old athlete from Bangalow, excelling in both athletics and basketball. She is a national silver medalist in discus at Australian All Schools 2024, bronze medalist at the Australian Junior Championships 2025, a multiple-time state champion in shot put and discus, and a representative basketball player for the Ballina Breakers. Her commitment, discipline, and drive have led to incredible achievements, and she continues to push herself to reach new heights, with her sights firmly set on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

🏆 Athletics Achievements

Aaliyah has established herself as one of the top junior throwers in Australia. She won gold medals in discus and shot put at both the 2024 NSW Country Championships and the Region 1 Championships, breaking long-standing records. In April 2025, Aaliyah represented New South Wales at the Australian Junior Championships in Perth, proudly earning a bronze medal in discus, an outstanding national result. She also holds a silver medal from the Australian All Schools Championships and has earned back-to-back medals in NSWCCC competition (silver in discus, gold in shot put) and multi-time NSW Junior Championships medalist.

🎯 NCAS Athletics Program 2025–2026

Aaliyah has been selected into the prestigious North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS) Athletics Program, a development pathway for talented athletes identified for state and national success.

The program includes elite coaching, education sessions, and training camps across multiple North Coast locations:

• 2 November 2025 – Coffs Harbour ✅ (completed)
• 9 November 2025 – Grafton ✅ (completed)
• 6 December 2025 – Coffs Harbour
• 14 December 2025 – Grafton
• 21 February 2026 – Grafton
• 7 March 2026 – Kingscliff
• 21 March 2026 – Coffs Harbour

Participation in NCAS helps Aaliyah build the athletic foundation required for future representation at the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and Athletics Australia national development programs.

📅 Upcoming Competition Schedule

In addition to her NCAS program, Aaliyah will compete in several major events over the coming months:

• Northern Rivers Zone Championships - Coffs Harbour (29-30 November 2025)
• NSW Country Championships - Dubbo (16-18 January 2026)
• ACT Championships - Canberra (24-26 January 2026)

➤ Aaliyah aims to compete up in the U20 division, pending a qualifying throw at an upcoming meet.

• Region 1 Championships - Gold Coast (Runaway Bay) (31 January - 1 February 2026)
• NSW Junior Championships - Sydney (12-15 March 2026)
• Australian Junior Athletics Championships - Brisbane (15-20 April 2026, Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre - QSAC)

These competitions are critical stepping stones toward Aaliyah’s ultimate goal of qualifying for the World Junior Championships and one day representing Australia at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

🏀 Basketball Achievements

Off the field, Aaliyah is a talented basketball player. She represents the Ballina Breakers U16 Girls Representative Team, who were recently crowned Northern Junior League Champions.

In 2025, she travelled with her school to Melbourne to compete in the Marist National Basketball Championships, playing up in the Senior Girls team, an impressive feat for a Year 8 student. She was also a part of the North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS) Basketball Program 2024/25, where she received elite training and development. She was selected to compete in the NCAS Academy Games in Tamworth (April 2025)

In 2026, Aaliyah will again represent her school’s Senior Girls Marist Basketball Team, travelling to Perth for the tournament.

💪 Why Support Aaliyah?

Aaliyah’s success is built on relentless dedication, early morning training sessions, weekend competitions, and constant travel for both athletics and basketball. Her journey is one of passion, focus, and a tireless work ethic.

She trains up to five to six days a week, often starting with 7am sessions before school and finishing with afternoon or evening training. Alongside her studies at St John’s College, Woodlawn, Aaliyah proudly represents Ballina Allstars Athletics Club, the Ballina Breakers Representative Basketball Team, and her school across multiple sports. Her commitment to continual improvement and teamwork reflects the discipline and drive behind her achievements. She is committed to her long-term athletic development and dreams of wearing the green and gold for Australia on the international stage.

Competing at an elite level across multiple sports comes with significant costs, including:

✔ Flights to interstate competitions

✔ Accommodation for multi-day tournaments

✔ Competition entry fees

✔ Specialised coaching and equipment

✔ Strength & conditioning development

✔ Fuel and travel for long-distance trips

✔ Representative basketball fees

Your support allows Aaliyah to continue training, competing, and excelling at the highest level while proudly representing New South Wales and the Northern Rivers community.

💰 Estimated Costs

🏠 Accommodation (multiple events) - approx. $4,500-$5,500

✈️ Flights (Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, etc.) - approx. $3,000

⛽ Fuel & ground transport - approx. $2,000

🥇 Entry fees & competition costs - approx. $800

🏋️ Training, coaching & uniform - approx. $1,500

🍽️ Meals & general travel expenses - approx. $800

🏀 Basketball tournament & rep fees - approx. $2,700

➡️ Estimated Total: $10,000+

How You Can Help

Your contribution will directly support Aaliyah’s ongoing training, competition costs, and travel expenses as she strives toward her athletic goals.

• Donate: Every dollar makes a difference and helps Aaliyah stay on track for success.
• Share: Even if you can’t donate, please consider sharing Aaliyah’s story with friends, family, or your social networks to help spread the word.
• Support: Encouragement and community support mean the world to her as she continues to chase her dream.

All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you for helping Aaliyah reach her full potential and represent our community with pride on the national stage.