NETBALL AUSTRALIA TO PILOT FIRST NATIONS TOURNAMENT

Netball Australia will introduce a pilot First Nations Tournament this September to provide accelerated and equitable opportunities for First Nations participants in netball.

The pilot will feature under-23 aged teams from every state and territory as they compete across three days of competition.

The inaugural tournament will take place in Melbourne from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September at the State Netball Centre.

Victoria, ACT, Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory will all compete in the pivotal pilot tournament.

“The 2024 pilot First Nations Tournament marks the first step of a national First Nations netball competition,” said Netball Australia CEO Stacey West.

“It will provide the opportunity for Netball Australia and its Member Organisations to develop what an ongoing First Nations tournament can grow to become as our sport moves forward on its collective First Nations journey.”

The First Nations Tournament, developed with support from Netball Australia’s eight Member Organisations, aims to grow the cultural literacy of non-Indigenous people within netball and facilitate our First Nations people to thrive and be celebrated at all levels of the game.

First Nations coaches, umpires and officials from around the country will also take part in the inaugural event, further showcasing the depth of First Nations talent that exits across the netball landscape.

Netball Australia will partner with Suncorp, the Confident Girls Foundation and Visit Victoria to deliver the 2024 First Nations Tournament.

The pilot follows several national First Nations programs established this year including a pilot First Nations Coaching Course, as well as the formation and debut of Netball Australia’s First Nations Invitational Netball Team, the Black Swans, at the 2024 Pacific Netball Series.

Netball Australia’s First Nations Engagement Lead, Ali Tucker-Munro, expressed the importance of the inaugural pilot.

“I cannot wait to see our girls in action, as well as the opportunity to connect with mob from across Australia who share the same passion and love for our great game that I do,” Tucker-Munro said.

“The introduction of this First Nations Tournament demonstrates the commitment from Netball Australia and all Member Organisations to take the required steps to ensure our sport is a safe inclusive space for First Nations Australians, whilst recognising and nurturing the First Nations talent we know exists within our communities across Australia.

“I’d also like to thank our partners who have demonstrated a deep understanding of what it means to invest in programs that create opportunities specifically for our strong staunch First Nations women and girls.”

The 2024 First Nations Tournament will be free for patrons to attend.