Netball NSW’s First Nations Netball Camps have continued to grow in 2025–2026, with the program expanding to four locations across New South Wales — marking the most extensive delivery of the initiative to date.
For the first time, the camps were delivered concurrently across both metropolitan and regional areas, reinforcing Netball NSW’s commitment to creating greater opportunities for First Nations athletes, coaches and umpires across the state.
Since launching in 2019 with just 30 athletes at Netball Central, the program has grown to reach up to 120 athletes across four locations. With Koori Gala Days now held in all regions, Netball NSW is supporting more First Nations participants than ever before.
Camps were successfully held in Dubbo, Maitland, Coffs Harbour and Sydney (Netball Central), each bringing together around 40 First Nations athletes aged 11–13 for days of skill development, connection and cultural celebration. Delivered across two phases — in November 2025 and February 2026 — the camps provided ongoing opportunities for participants to engage with the program.
The initiative continues to foster a love of netball among young First Nations athletes, while supporting their development pathways and providing valuable opportunities for First Nations coaches and umpires.
Participants were identified through the Koori Netball Tournament and Netball NSW Koori Gala Days, which remain key platforms for talent identification and community engagement across the state.
“The First Nations Camps are all about providing opportunities — for our young athletes to fall in love with the game, for coaches and umpires to develop, and for communities to come together through netball,” said Courtney Goolagong, First Nations Program Manager at Netball NSW.
“We’ve seen so many First Nations State Team members, the Waradas, come through these camps. It’s where their journey started, and that shows just how powerful and important these opportunities are.”
Each camp also featured a strong cultural component, including yarning circles and community activities that celebrated culture alongside the sport.
“We want our young players to see that netball is for them — that there’s a place for their voices, their stories and their excellence in our sport,” Goolagong said.
“It’s about belonging, representation and creating clear pathways for our First Nations netballers, coaches and umpires right across NSW.”
Since its inception in 2019, when the first camp was held at Netball Central with around 30 athletes, the program has grown significantly. It now spans four locations and supports up to 120 athletes, continuing to evolve in response to community needs. With Koori Gala Days now delivered across all regions, Netball NSW has been able to identify and support more First Nations participants than ever before.
Athletes also had the opportunity to meet and train alongside members of the Waradas, including Lili Walker and Charlotte Ryan at the Sydney camp and Acacia Ellers at the Maitland camp, providing valuable inspiration and connection to the high-performance pathway.
The First Nations Camps remain a key part of Netball NSW’s commitment to increasing participation and representation of First Nations peoples at all levels of the game, supported through the organisation’s First Nations Program and Reconciliation Action Plan.
