An Aussie-First: Brisbane Bullets partner with Aussie athletes to back the future green and gold stars
The Brisbane Bullets are proud to announce a groundbreaking, Aussie-first partnership with the Aussie Athlete Fund, an initiative founded by Olympic gold medallist Nat Cook OAM OLY to create a sustainable athlete economy and ensure Australia’s emerging sports stars have the support they need to thrive.
This marks the first time a professional sporting club in Australia has partnered with the Aussie Athlete Fund, setting a new precedent in the industry.
Through the Aussie Athlete Fund’s $1 MILLION CHALLENGE, which aims to pair 100 athletes with 100 businesses to help each athlete raise $10,000, the Brisbane Bullets are backing water polo star Tenealle Fasala and Olympic Silver Medalist kayaker Jackson Collins—helping them navigate the financial and career challenges of elite sport while they chase their Green and Gold dreams.
Brisbane Bullets CEO Mal Watts is thrilled the Bullets have partnered with such an important cause, reinforcing the club’s commitment to supporting Australia’s sporting future.
“We believe in the power of sport to change lives, and we know that many of our elite athletes struggle to access the resources they need to compete on the world stage,” Watts said.
“Through this partnership, we will be leveraging the resources of our high-performance facility, nutrition, strength and conditioning expertise, and corporate networks to provide much-needed support for each of our athletes.
“The Brisbane Bullets are proud to be the first professional sports club to partner with the Aussie Athlete Fund and we encourage other pro teams to get behind this cause and support more elite athletes.
“We welcome Tenealle and Jackson to our organisation and look forward supporting their endeavours and their journey to 2032,” he said.
For too many Australian athletes, financial barriers stand in the way of their ambitions with the costs of travel, coaching, equipment, and accommodation can be overwhelming, especially for those from rural, remote, or Indigenous communities.
Almost half of Australia’s top athletes earn below the poverty line threshold of $23,000 annually (ASF, 2023) and the Aussie Athlete Fund was created to change that, ensuring athletes don’t retire in debt but instead build the skills, networks, and financial security needed for life beyond sport.
Nat Cook, founder of the Aussie Athlete Fund, emphasised the significance of this partnership.
“We are so proud to team up with a professional sport like basketball, which not only has the commercial backing but also the passion to help elite athletes who may lack access to critical resources like commercialisation opportunities, funding, and a larger network to share their journey,” Cook said.
“This partnership marks an exciting first, with a cross-pollination of support across different sports—something we are incredibly grateful for and excited about!
“We hope it sparks a movement, inspiring other professional sports to step up and champion our Aussie athletes in the Green and Gold.”
Jackson Collins, an Olympic Silver Medalist Kayaker and one of the athletes supported by the Brisbane Bullets said the organisation’s backing means a lot.
“Being an elite athlete comes with immense challenges, and financial stress is one of the biggest,” Collins said.
“Having the backing of the Brisbane Bullets and the Aussie Athlete Fund makes a huge difference—not just in providing support, but in showing that athletes across all sports can come together and lift each other up.
“This partnership is about more than just funding; it’s about building a community of champions.”
Looking Ahead: More Partnerships, More Impact
This partnership with the Brisbane Bullets is just the beginning. The Aussie Athlete Fund is excited to collaborate with more professional sports teams, businesses, and organizations that are passionate about backing Australia’s future champions. By coming together across sports, we can ensure that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of our nation’s best athletes reaching their full potential.
If you're an athlete looking for support or a professional sports club eager to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s build a stronger future for Australian sport - together.