Rally as One
Founded amid the Black Summer bushfires, the Rally as One program assists communities affected by disasters by helping to rebuild local infrastructure and offering free community events and tennis programs to strengthen social connections.
Bushfire community events
Grants are provided to Tennis Clubs to deliver community events and school activations in bushfire affected communities with the aim of promoting community connection, social cohesion and inspiring hope for the future.
Over 2200 people have attended events in bushfire affected communities, building social cohesion.
19 Coaches trained to deliver ongoing tennis programs to children and young people in their communities.
Natural Disaster Community Facility development
Community events have been held in:
- Cobargo, NSW
- Kangaroo Island, SA
- Adelaide Hills, SA
- Wodonga, Vic
- Mallacoota, VIC
- Cudgewa, VIC
- Yepoon, QLD
- Genoa, Vic
- Ormeo, Vic
- Orbost, Vic
- Corryong, Vic
- Batemans Bay, NSW
- Moruya, NSW.
Bushfire Community Infrastructure
The Australian Tennis Foundation Charitable Fund has supported the redevelopment of the following community facilities impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires:
- Kangaroo Island, SA: Rebuild of community hall and adjacent tennis court
- Mallacoota, Vic: Book a court installation
- Cudlee Creek, SA: Court resurfacing
- Bulahdelah Tennis Club: Purchase of equipment to support Hot Shots programs
- Stroud Tennis Club: Purchase of equipment to support Hot Shots programs
- Kilcoy Tennis Club: Clubhouse improvements
- Granya Tennis Club: Purchase of ball machine to enable participation without a coach
- Moyhu Tennis Club: Purchase of ball machine to enable participation without a coach
- Clifton Creek Tennis Club: Court shade upgrade and nets.
AO25 – Fifth Anniversary
2025 marked the ‘Rally as One’ program is marking its fifth anniversary this year – continuing its vital support for communities impacted by natural disasters.
To commemorate the anniversary, the Australian Tennis Foundation Charitable Fund hosted 200 people from communities directly impacted by the floods and bushfires in regional Victoria at AO 2025. These families were VIP guests at an exhibition match during the Australian Open’s Opening Week.
Rally as One impact analysis
In the wake of the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires, the Australian tennis community united in an unprecedented show of support for affected communities.
Through Rally for Relief and the broader Aces for Bushfire Relief campaign, more than $6 million was raised during the 2020 Australian Open, demonstrating the power of sport to mobilise global goodwill.
From this response, the Australian Tennis Foundation launched the Rally as One (RAO) program, a long‑term recovery initiative using tennis to rebuild community connection, resilience and infrastructure.
This impact analysis reflects on the period from 2020 to 2025, examining how RAO has supported recovery across 47 communities and the lessons it offers for future disaster recovery efforts.
