Alan Tongue
ACT Australian of the Year passionate about inspiring change in the youth generation
As a rugby league representative and former Canberra Raiders Captain, Alan Tongue understands the importance of inspiring greatness in the future generation of leaders.
After retiring from football in 2011, Alan took his skills to the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre where he supported youths in reclaiming their lives and coping with challenging situations. He has also worked with Barnardos in NSW and ACT, where Alan learnt about the key ingredients needed to make better decisions and form stronger relationships.
By creating Aspire Program, Alan equips youths with the skills necessary to navigate their personal lives and make informed choices. Thanks to its incredible support network, the program has expanded to the Alexander Maconochie Centre and various schools across Canberra.
Returning back to the League, Alan drew upon his own experiences to inspire a change of attitude towards concussions in the game. With scientific studies to back up his claim, Alan has been instrumental in getting players to take concussions more seriously.
In 2017, Alan’s commitment to helping his community was recognised when he was named Australian of the Year in ACT.
With excellent leadership skills and a natural ability to relate with any audience, Alan’s presentations are always in high demand with events of all kinds!