Jason Horne-Francis, Josh Carr and Jase Burgoyne take in the incredible sights of Uluru. Image: Brooke Bowering.

Day five – our final day, and I'm honestly feeling a bit emotional about it all coming to an end.

We woke early at our hotel in Yulara and had a nice team breakfast together. It's been such an incredible week with everyone, and there's definitely some sadness that this is our last day. You don't want experiences like this to finish.

After breakfast we made the short 15-minute drive for a close-up cultural tour of Uluru, and wow – it was absolutely amazing. The pure size and magnitude of it is just incredible. It's intimidating in one sense but so peaceful and spiritual in another. I thought seeing it from a distance was special, but being right there at the base is something else entirely.

We went on the Mala Walk, which was this incredible cultural tour around Uluru. Learning about the deep cultural connection the local Aboriginal communities have to this sacred place was really moving. We heard about the Tjukurpa basis of Anangu life and their connection to this land, which helped me understand so much more about everything else we've experienced in other communities this week.

A guided cultural tour of the Mala Walk at Uluru was the final stage of Jason Horne-Francis' experience on the APY Lands trip. Image: Brooke Bowering.

The stories we learned were fascinating and I love how these cultural stories have been passed down through generations. It really put everything into perspective and made me appreciate even more how privileged we've been to be welcomed into these communities.

We wrapped up our amazing trip with a group photo with Uluru as the backdrop. I know I'll look back on that photo and all the other incredible images from this week when I'm back in Adelaide, just to remind myself what an absolute privilege this trip has been.

These last five days visiting remote communities in the APY Lands has truly opened my eyes to a different world and has honestly been life-changing for me. The kids we met, the families who welcomed us, the cultural experiences we shared – it's all going to stay with me forever.

Horne-Francis says taking in the sights of Uluru was an unforgettable experience. Image: Brooke Bowering.

I want to say a massive thank you to all the communities across the APY Lands who welcomed us with open arms and the biggest smiles. From Amata to Mimili, Ernabella to Indulkana – every single community made us feel so welcome and taught us so much.

When I get back home, I'm going to keep telling these stories. I want people to know about the incredible kids we met, the amazing culture we experienced, and the importance of what we're doing through our Aboriginal community programs.

I honestly can't wait to do it all again one day.

JHF