First Nations Programs and Events

Netball NSW Koori Gala Days are family fun days that bring community together and can assist teams with selections and training for the Koori Netball Tournament in Charlestown. This is also an opportunity for Netball NSW to invite selected athletes, coaches and umpires to the First Nations Emerging Talent Camp.

Koori Gala Days are held in various locations around NSW and the confirmed 2023 dates are below:
- Kempsey: Sunday 20th August
- Woy Woy: Sunday 20th August
- Shoalhaven: Sunday 20th August
- Tamworth: Sunday 27th August
- Wagga Wagga: Wednesday 6th September
- Dubbo: Sunday 10th September
- Raymond Terrace: Sunday 17th September
- Ballina: Sunday 17th September

Teams can register into the following divisions:

Girls/Mixed/Boys 10 - 12 years
Girls/Mixed 13 - 15 years
Open Womens/Mixed

Other Important Information:

Each team must provide a non-playing umpire
Maximum of 12 players per team and a maximum of 3 non-Indigenous players allowed per team
This is a drug and alcohol free event

The Koori Netball Tournament is delivered by Charlestown Netball Association in partnership with the Office of Sport and Netball NSW. The 2023 Koori Netball Tournament will be held on the weekend of Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October.

The Koori Netball Tournament began in 1999 with 8 senior female teams, since then, the event has grown exponentially. The last time it was held in 2022, Charlestown Netball Association hosted over 100 teams across not only the open females division but in juniors and mixed divisions as well.

This event aims to increase participation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in sport and recreation in a fun competitive environment. Teams can be entered from ages 10 through to Open Women’s and Mixed with a maximum of three non-Indigenous players on each team.

Spirit Award

There will be a 'Spirit Award' presented to a team during the presentations on Day 2 of the Tournament. Event organisers will determine the recipient of the award based on observations of all teams throughout the duration of the tournament, giving consideration to:
- Sportspersonship on and off the court;
- Comradery amongst teams;
- Showing respect to officials, each other and the surrounding environment throughout the 2 days of competition.

In 2018 Netball NSW hosted the Inaugural Indigenous Talent Camp at Netball Central. Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netball talent from all over NSW came to the camp to get a taste for what high performance netball looks like and an experience of both regional and metro sports academies. We are hoping that this talent camp will pave the way for more elite Indigenous netballers in the near future, look out Swifts and GIANTS!

The First Nations Emerging Talent Camp is scheduled to be held on Saturday 25th November 2023*.

To be eligible for selection for the Netball NSW First Nations Emerging Talent Camp (for ages 12-14yrs), attendance at one of the Netball NSW Koori Gala Days or the Koori Netball Tournament is mandatory.
*Please note this event is for invited athletes only.

Free face-to-face and online Coach Accreditation Courses to develop Club, Association, and Regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netball coaches facilitated by Dr Andrew Bennie from Western Sydney University.

Courses will develop core coaching skills and provides a good introduction to skill progression and fault detection and correction. Presenters will also cover game sense, mental health, nutritional and well-being advice, and other topics.

Details on future Coaching Unlimited courses will be released once confirmed.