Jaylah Boney is one of the rising stars of Australian netball—a fierce competitor, a proud Indigenous woman, and a natural leader. At just 18, the Central Coast Heart Premier League player has already represented her nation and state. Hailing from Brewarrina, a small town west of Dubbo, Jaylah brings the strength of her culture to everything she does, on and off the court.
“I’m a proud Ngemba Barkandji girl, so that’s all my mob, from out past Dubbo,” she says with quiet confidence. “It means everything to me—not just in sport, but in everything I do. I’m proud of who I am.”
Jaylah’s journey in netball began with family. Inspired by her mum, aunty and cousin, who all played at Cardiff Netball Club in Newcastle, Jaylah picked up a bib and hasn’t looked back since. “I used to watch my mum play every week—being surrounded by family made me want to be a part of it too,” she says.
Today, she competes at the elite level in the Netball NSW Premier League for Central Coast Heart and is steadily making her mark on the national stage. In 2024, she represented NSW at the inaugural First Nations Netball Tournament and was selected for the Black Swans team that competed at the Pan Pacific Championships. In 2024, Jaylah was named captain of the Netball NSW First Nations Team – the Waradas, leading her side to a bronze medal at the tournament.
“Being captain was really special. I’d say I’m humble, relentless and someone who leads by example. Whether on or off the court, I try to lift up my teammates and stay connected to my culture through everything I do.”
Jaylah balances her athletic ambitions with her role working in administration at an Indigenous medical centre. She draws strength from her culture daily—not just through work, but through dance. “Dance is a way we pass down our stories,” she explains. “I started performing at school, then with family, and now we get invited to perform at events. It just grew.”
Jaylah credits netball for shaping her as a person. “It’s made me who I am today,” she reflects. “My attitude’s changed a lot. It never used to be the best, but netball’s taught me resilience, how to bounce back, how to be a better version of myself. I’m really grateful for that.”
Her path hasn’t always been easy. Before the First Nations Tournament, she considered stepping away from the sport. But the opportunity to play for her culture reignited her purpose. “That pathway kept me in the game. It meant everything.”
As NAIDOC Week 2025 honours The Next Generation – Strength, Vision, Legacy, Jaylah embodies the theme wholeheartedly.
“We need to stand up, pass on our culture—not just to others, but to each other. As the next generation, we’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing, and do it together.”
