Australia's First Nations netball program creates change

For a sport that's Australia's most popular among girls and women, netball has a glaring gap in its history. Only three Indigenous Australian women have ever represented the national Diamonds team, with a 22-year drought between the second and third players.

Now Netball Australia is working to change that story. The organization launched multiple initiatives to create culturally safe spaces for First Nations athletes, including the Black Swans national team and an annual First Nations Tournament now in its third year.

The changes came after Donnell Wallam, one of only three Indigenous players to reach the Diamonds, temporarily left for New Zealand in 2024, citing better cultural respect. Her concerns sparked an investigation and prompted meaningful action from the sport's governing body.

Gabby Coffey knows firsthand how hard the path to elite netball can be for Indigenous players. The 26-year-old defender spent four years as a training partner for the Melbourne Vixens but never broke through to a permanent roster spot.

She eventually moved to Birmingham in the UK to pursue her professional career. Now back in Alice Springs representing the Northern Territory, Coffey says the lack of visible role models makes the journey harder for First Nations athletes.

Growing up Wiradjuri in Alice Springs, Coffey felt embraced by the Arrente community. But moving to Melbourne for netball meant leaving that support behind, and not every young Indigenous player finds the same welcoming environment down south.

"If you can't see it, you can't be it," Coffey said, noting that only two Indigenous players currently compete in Super Netball. She hasn't given up on her professional dreams, but she's also committed to helping other First Nations athletes navigate the system.

The Ripple Effect

The impact goes beyond individual players. Scarlet Jauncey, a Yaruwu woman from Broome who captained the Black Swans in 2025, now serves as a role model herself while training with the West Coast Fever.

Both athletes say the solution isn't limiting international players who raise the competition level. Instead, Netball Australia's plans to add two new teams will create more roster spots and opportunities for homegrown talent, especially Indigenous players who've been overlooked.

Ali Tucker-Munro, Netball Australia's General Manager for First Nations programs and former Diamonds squad member, helped establish the tournament and Spirit Series. The Black Swans went undefeated in 2026 against Australia's Pacific neighbors, showing what's possible when First Nations athletes get the support they deserve.

The measures are working, giving young Indigenous netballers proof that they belong at the highest levels of the sport they love.

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