At just 15 years old, Wiradjuri footballer and artist Grace Amidy has been proudly representing her heritage both on and off the pitch.
Growing up in Darwin in the Northern Territory to a First Nations father, Mitch, and an Indonesian mother, Theresia, Grace had always embraced the colourful tapestry of her heritage.
Football was a constant in her family. She first picked up the beautiful game at five years old and Grace's ability was evident early on. Recently, her family decided to move to Brisbane so that Grace would be provided with the opportunities to further hone her skills.
The move paid off. Last year, she was selected to participate in the Invitational XI squad, a team composed of talented Indigenous players from across Australia, as part of the National Youth Championships [now known as the CommBank Matildas / Socceroos Emerging Championships]. This year, she was selected again, but this time, the squad competed under a new name, "Charles Perkins XI."
The name change was to honour Perkins, one of Australia’s most influential figures in sport and civil rights. Endorsed by the Perkins family and recommended by the National Indigenous Advisory Group, it recognises the remarkable legacy of Dr Charles Perkins AO - a trailblazer, footballer, and tireless advocate for equality.
"Charles Perkins is such a big role model of mine," Grace said of the team's namesake.
"He played soccer, but also played such a big part in fighting for Aboriginal rights. Having the privilege of our team being named after him gives us such a special boost to perform on the field."
Wearing the jersey this year was even more meaningful for Grace and her Charles Perkins XI teammates.
Personalised with their names, mobs, and both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, the kit represents family, culture and pride. The youngster spoke about how important this type of visibility is.
“Putting on that jersey was such a proud moment," she said.
"None of my family has ever got to experience anything like this. Having my name, my mob and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on it was so special.
"The images of us wearing the jersey go out to the public, who can see us proudly representing our names, mobs and cultures on our sleeves," she continued.
"I come from Darwin and there's not much going on there," she laughed. But just by putting my name forward, I was able to try out and get selected for these tournaments.
"I think it's so important, not only for kids like me [from Darwin], but for kids in other smaller communities. I want them to see that there are opportunities to represent yourself and your community, if you put yourself forward.
Another huge opportunity to showcase not only football, but the cultural melting pot that makes Australia great, is the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™, an event that Amidy will play a special part in through her artwork.
“My mum and her side of the family have been doing Indonesian art for a long time. Watching them is what inspired me,” she explained.
"I first started with Indonesian drawings and floral designs, but more recently, I started incorporating Indigenous art to honour both sides of my heritage.
"Now I've got a mentor, Shauna, who's guided and taught me so much about Aboriginal art, design, symbolism and respect."
Grace and Shauna Hill [Gubbi Gubbi and Githabul] teamed up to create a special piece for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™.
Unveiled at the group stage draw of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ last week, the design will form part of the overall branding for the tournament.
The collaboration was part of the tournament’s broader commitment to cultural inclusion, youth empowerment and First Nations participation - highlighting football’s power to unite people across generations, backgrounds, and borders.
The designs draw on themes of unity, strength, and shared journeys, with patterns that reflect the deep connection between Asia and Aboriginal Australia. Each pattern tells a layered story of legacy, identity, and the living movement of culture, of teams grounded in purpose, and the game as the vine that binds communities across oceans and generations.
“I love being able to express myself through my artwork and I think what we created for the Women's Asian Cup is a good representation of both our personalities," Grace explained.
“The Women's Asian Cup is about all communities from across Asia coming together. It represents everyone joining together and meeting in one place. It's about being from different groups but still being able to just play football, have fun and be together.
Grace's dad, Mitch, spoke about how meaningful the opportunity is for Grace and the family.
"For a kid who has an Aboriginal background and is also half Asian, having the opportunity to contribute to the AFC Women's Asian Cup is very significant for us as a family," he said.
"Having Shauna as a mentor has just opened Grace's eyes a little bit more to what it means to be an artist. So, to have this opportunity for her art to be seen on a global stage - it's beyond exciting."