Juggling athletics, performing arts, and a passion for making a difference in her community; it would be quicker to list the things Alicia isn’t involved in. But that’s just the kind of person she is - a second-generation Westie with roots in former Yugoslavia, making waves with her boundless energy and commitment.

Growing up in Melbourne’s West, the year 11 student’s life is a whirlwind of activity. From an early age, Alicia was hooked on athletics - particularly sprints and the 400-metre hurdles. She’s super pumped for the Olympics, eagerly awaiting the chance to cheer on her heroes Torrie Lewis and Peter Bol, so it comes as no surprise her dream is to one day wear the green and gold on the world stage.

And in April this year, that dream became one step closer in nightmare conditions.

Penetrating winds, icy cold rains and blinding lightning was the scene. 100-metre girls' Stawell Gift was the stage. As rumours floated that the race would be cancelled, Alicia’s mind was focused on the job at hand.

“Usually, I'm very pragmatic and want to see my actions create results, but in this instance, I was just focusing on the finishing line and seeing what would happen,” she said.

This approach paid off - beating her rivals by 0.037 of a second, surprising even the young star herself.

“I didn't expect much from it. I've always competed in long-distance events like the 1600s and the 800s, but I usually made the final and never won.”

Alicia’s achievements stretch well beyond the track. Her involvement with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation has been a game-changer, facilitating her passion for inclusive communities which led to recognition as Brimbank City Council’s Young Citizen of the Year.

“I stumbled upon the Community Foundation’s website...it really resonated with me and my key values; celebrating culture, inclusivity, supporting mental health and wellbeing, and building positive change,” she reflects.

As a participant in the Youth Leadership Project, Alica recalls a myriad of workshops and activities that build her confidence and skillset.

It was the Social Impact project that stood out to her though – tasked with designing a passion project aimed at having some level of social impact.

Girls’ participation in sports was the clear choice for Alicia.

“We created a podcast and looked at the importance of maintaining good physiology and wellbeing,” she explained.

“We noticed that a lot of girls dropped sport from a young age and don't continue to pursue it. We looked at its long-term impacts.”

Alongside another participant, Alicia delved into why so many girls drop out of sports at a young age, creating initiatives to keep them engaged.

Despite her many commitments, Alicia remains grounded. Her family, in particular her parents, support her every step of the way.

“Kindness is our greatest asset,” she says, a belief that drives everything she does, and modelled by her parents.

“They help me and my siblings balance schoolwork and other commitments and always put us first. They give us the best of everything.”

Balancing athletics, leadership roles, and personal interests is no easy feat, but Alicia manages it all with grace. She sees challenges as hurdles to overcome, a lesson learnt the hard way during her 400m hurdle races.

“I kind of see every challenge as a hurdle, so you've got to combat it,” she said.

“You've got to train, and you've got to put in the effort to get over. You're going to have many hurdles to overcome in life - but you've just got to be diligent and believe in yourself because it's a long race.”

Looking ahead, Alicia dreams of studying law or politics, continuing her leadership journey, and maybe even picking up dance again. Her vision however is clear: to advocate for positive change and make a lasting impact.

“All I'm trying to say out of all of this is get yourself involved in opportunities because you never know where it might lead you,” she said.

“Whether that's a new sport you might love, a new hobby, a new instrument, anything that brings you joy is worth it.”