Six months ago, Jamie McPherson stepped into history as the VIS’s Connection to Country Officer; a groundbreaking role introduced for the first time in the organisation’s 30-year journey.
The position didn’t just align with his professional experience, but also deeply resonated with his personal values.
“I was looking for something that gave me the chance to be innovative, to educate, and to help facilitate reconciliation,” Jamie highlighted.
Using his vision of ‘something where First Nations culture wasn’t an afterthought’ to build on the current foundation.
After years working in Cairns, including Commonwealth Games initiatives, Jamie found the opportunity he was looking for and didn’t hesitate to relocate, explaining he would live anywhere in the country ’to be closer to do something both enjoyable and valuable’.
Building foundations through listening
Returning to live in Victoria after 25 years, Jamie’s early months were all about connecting, not just to place, but to people.
From day one, Jamie took a proactive approach, reaching out to everyone he could, introducing himself, explaining the scope of his role, and asking everyone in the field a simple but powerful question: How can we work together?
This deliberate strategy has been key to building trust and awareness both within the VIS and with local First Nations communities, leaders, and organisations.
As one of the first full-time Our Connection to Country Officers in Australia, Jamie stepped into this role without a clear roadmap, choosing instead to listen and learn, gaining an understanding on what’s already happening, enhancing it where possible, and working together to create something lasting.
Jamie began embedding cultural awareness into everyday life at VIS through simple yet meaningful initiatives: like creating space for honest conversations and encouraging personal, authentic Acknowledgments of Country. Through these small but intentional steps, culture continues to become part of the norm, increasing visibility throughout.
Image: The inaugural VIS Yarning Circle in 2025.
Gaining momentum and purpose
From sourcing flags for the institute and connecting VIS First Nations athletes to programs such as Share a Yarn, to pursuing longer-term collaboration goals with universities and cultural institutions, Jamie has made an impact that is far-reaching.
Some mid-year highlights include:
- Establishing a working group internally and messaging tools to raise visibility of First Nation events
- Initiating a First Nations merchandise line
- Progressing collaboration with the University of Melbourne on a cultural pathways project
- Engaging a First Nations dancer to deliver lessons for athletes and coaches
- Investigating cultural walks and outside yarning circles with Parks Victoria
- Providing staff with cultural awareness resources and podcasts
- Promoting everyday cultural knowledge through artwork, storytelling, and food
- Supporting cultural expression through interactive projects like painted boomerangs
He has also explored collaborative opportunities with organisations such as CSIRO, MSAC, and Koorie Academy Basketball, continually seeking new ways to embed cultural inclusion into high-performance sport.
Personal growth and purpose
Throughout his first six months, Jamie has approached the role with openness, curiosity, and a strong sense of purpose by focusing on relationships and creating space for others to feel acknowledged, listened to, and respected.
“It’s not about delivering culture as a fixed thing. It’s about finding ways for people to tell their own story,” said Jamie.
”Whether they’re Italian, Sudanese, or First Nations…doing it in a way that brings cultures together, not keeping them in silos, but letting them interact and complement each other.”
Through initiatives like storytelling in athlete warm-up areas to artwork with layered meaning, Jamie wants cultural understanding at the VIS to become second nature, something that isn’t confined to NAIDOC Week or Reconciliation Week, but part of everyday procedure.
“Eventually, I want my role to be obsolete…not because the idea is no longer needed, but because what I do has become embedded. Something that is second nature . You don’t need to be told to do it, you just do it.”
Looking forward
Looking ahead, Jamie is excited about the growing network of Our Connection to Country Officers nationally, and the chance to bring ideas like a First Nations winter Olympic sport pathway to life.
His longer-term vision, a First Nations-centered sporting institution, where athletes of all backgrounds come to connect, learn, and thrive in a culturally safe and dynamic environment.
“I want something that lasts beyond me, a pathway that continues whether I’m here or not. That’s how I know we’ve made real change.”
Photo: Boomerang Throwing made it’s debut at staff’s Friday Sport outing.
Role models
Jamie’s passion is constantly fueled by others in the community who lead with action and heart. He speaks with deep respect for Rick Hamlin, a former junior football coach in Cairns, who created a First Nations centered academy in Cape York. Whilst not First Nations himself, Rick built a culturally safe space where sport and identity are deeply connected.
“He didn’t have to do it, but he did, and the kids love it.”
He’s also been inspired by Ricky Baldwin, CEO of Koorie Academy Basketball. Jamie identifies his support as both ‘generous and hands-on‘, with Ricky sharing advice and connections to engraving the VIS logo and Gunai language into a Coolamon. This ‘above and beyond’ approach inspires Jamie daily.
Jamie is also inspired by Australian basketballer; Patty Millsa Muralag man from the Torres Strait and a Ynunga man from South Australia. An Olympian and global figure whose pride in culture and leadership through sport continues to set the standard.
“What he’s done for First Nations people on the world stage is incredible.”
For Jamie, these role models serve as a constant reminder of the impact that’s possible when culture and community are at the core.
From grassroots connections to major events, Jamie McPherson’s first six months have been about listening, learning, and leading with humility. Whilst the role is still young, the flow-on effect is already visible through the conversations being sparked, the projects underway, and the bridges being built between people and their cultures.
Photo: Ricky Baldwin, CEO of Koorie Academy Basketball at the inaugural VIS Yarning Circle.
By Cody McAllion
