Three-time Grand Slam champion and beloved Australian icon Ash Barty made a special visit to Sherwood State School in Brisbane today, to celebrate the relaunch of the Ash Barty Schools Challenge for 2026.
Following a successful inaugural year, which attracted entries from schools across every state and territory, the Challenge returns with a refreshed format designed to make participation easier and more accessible for classrooms nationwide.
In 2026, the challenge provides teachers with a unique opportunity to spark creativity in the classroom, encouraging students to engage with tennis and learn about Ash’s story through colouring-in activities and creative writing.
The Ash Barty Schools Challenge is a national initiative aimed at inspiring more schools to connect with tennis, while supporting those already delivering programs. Open to all primary schools across Australia, it focuses on making tennis accessible, creative and fun for students of all abilities.
Teachers will also be provided with a toolkit of videos that they can integrate into their classroom curriculum to inspire students to reflect on the inspiration of Ash Barty and explore what tennis means to them both on and off the court.
At its heart, the competition is driven by a highly engaging incentive - the chance to win a personal visit from Ash Barty.
The winning school will receive a special visit from Ash in Term 4, 2026, where she will spend time with students, take part in tennis activities and inspire them to stay active and connected to sport.
The school will also receive a collection of Little Ash books for its library, along with one term of the Tennis in Schools Program in Term 2, 2027, which provides the school with free tennis lessons.
Ash Barty said she was excited for the program to evolve and to continue her connection with young Australians.
“The Ash Barty Schools Challenge is all about getting kids involved, building confidence and having fun,” Barty said.
“We saw such incredible creativity and energy from schools in the first year, and for 2026 we’re making it even easier for teachers to bring tennis into their schools.
“It’s really special to be launching the next chapter at Sherwood State School. I have great memories of my time coaching there, so it’s lovely to come back and share this with the students.”
Tennis Australia Head of Programs Rebecca McDonald said it was fantastic to launch the Ash Barty Schools Challenge for another year.
“We’re thrilled to launch the Ash Barty Schools Challenge here at Sherwood State School,” McDonald said.
“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome Ash back to Sherwood, given her coaching connection to the school community.
“The new format of the Ash Barty Schools Challenge makes it easy for teachers to integrate into everyday learning and we know students will love getting creative and involved!”
The inaugural Challenge delivered strong impact with more schools introducing tennis into their physical education programs and school community as a result of the challenge.
The 2026 program aims to build on this momentum by providing teachers with more flexible, curriculum-friendly resources, while continuing to connect students with tennis in fun and creative ways.
Entries for the Ash Barty Schools Challenge 2026 are open until 4 October. For more information visit here.