Competitive sport climber reaches scholarship win

Competitive sport climbing might not be the most well-known sport but for young Bidjara and Dhungutti girl Orielle it is a passion that has proved impossible to shake. This passion and dedication led us to award her one of our 2023 Young, Black and Proud sports scholarships.

Over the past two years Orielle has competed in numerous boulder and also lead climbing competitions, proving her incredible talent and determination.

She ranks 11th in Australia and also 2nd in Queensland for her age group and is looking forward to climbing the national ranks as her skills develop.

Beyond her own achievements, Orielle actively encourages other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls to explore the sport and aspires to become a mentor for other First Nations young people in competitive climbing.

“At the moment I am the only Aboriginal girl in competitive sport climbing in Queensland,” said Orielle.

“It’s an Olympic sport now and it would be great to see some female Indigenous representation. My dream would be to compete in the 2032 Olympics here in Brisbane.”

Orielle is not only dedicated to her sport but also to her community. She sees herself as a role model for other Indigenous young people and she is a fantastic advocate for the sport.

She plans to use her scholarship funds to support her with coaching and equipment for her continued success in sport climbing.

This year we partnered with the Queensland Family and Child Commission to help athletes like Orielle achieve their dreams. Read all about our 2023 winners by clicking here.