The round will recognise the United Nations’ International Year of Indigenous Languages, with the match ball being used throughout the round especially designed around this.
The ball design incorporates the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and lists the main language groups represented by members of Netball Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, along with the traditional languages of the lands on which Round 8 games will be played.
In addition to this, all Suncorp Super Netball teams will take the court this weekend wearing unique uniforms featuring Indigenous artwork designed by an artist local to the club. Each uniform design tells its own story and these will be revealed by clubs throughout this week.
Welcome to Country ceremonies will take place at all Suncorp Super Netball matches, along with a series of performances by local Indigenous groups, and several clubs will be hosting participants of their member organisation’s Indigenous programs, such as Diamonds Spirit (QLD) and Shooting Stars (WA), throughout the week.
Current Netball Australia director Marcia Ella-Duncan OAM, a member of the orgnisation’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group and the first Aboriginal athlete to represent the Australian Diamonds, said she is proud to see Suncorp Super Netball celebrate Indigenous Round.
“Netball Australia and all of our member organisations are focused on providing an inclusive environment for all Australians to participate in and enjoy netball, with a wide range of programs and initiatives run for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people right across the country,” she said.
“The Suncorp Super Netball Indigenous Round is a brilliant way for us all to see and learn about the different cultural stories we all have. It’s important we’re always taking action to unite and celebrate all cultures – Indigenous Round is a great way to do this.”
Netball Australia is committed to increasing the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women at elite levels.
Netball Australia’s pathway system currently has 10 players who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preparing to be part of the next generation of stars, and the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants at grassroots level increased by 29% between 2017 and 2018.
Round 8 Indigenous Round matches:
Saturday 15 June
Sunshine Coast Lightning v Collingwood Magpies – 3pm, USC
West Coast Fever v Adelaide Thunderbirds – 6pm, RAC Arena
Sunday 16 June
Queensland Firebirds v Melbourne Vixens – 1pm, QSNC
NSW Swifts v GIANTS Netball – 3pm, Qudos Bank Arena
