Holly Stephens' local club in Gippsland was where first played - in the under 9s - the game through which she would ultimately represent her culture on the world stage.

For other young kids, it might be the place where their own kinds of journeys begin, the proud Kurnai woman hopes.

Wy Yung Football Netball Club was one of three around Victoria which hosted Koorie netball clinics during the school holidays, bringing community and families together for a first go at the sport, skill-building and something a little deeper.

Each brought First Nations coaches to the courts for participants at any level aged 5-17 years old, and with the addition of workshops for beginner umpires in 2026.

Stephens helped run the Gunaikurnai clinic in Wy Yung.

"It's fun, chilled and very supportive. No matter their level, they're good enough to be there," Stephens said, who, in her early 20s, is A Grade coach at Longwarry, a couple of hours' drive Melbourne-bound through Gippsland on the Princes Highway.

In recent seasons she's also captained NVL (state premier league) side Casey Demons' 23-and-unders, represented the state First Nations team and played World Netball-ranked international teams with Australia's First Nations national side, the Black Swans.

"Over my journey, I've done so many cultural sessions and had so much education. It's helped me learn more about my culture and hearing stories from Aunties is how we keep our culture going," Stephens said.

"For these kids, this could be the start of that journey. If clinics like this were around when I was younger, they would have been part of my journey too.

The goaler added: "I hope they feel they belong in sport and have people they can look up to."

A Yorta Yorta clinic at Shepparton club Rumbalara and Wiaradjuri clinic just over the border at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre in Albury were also held in recent weeks.

They were free clinics delivered by Netball Victoria in partnership wirh RACV.

Warlpiri, Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman Jessica Bamblett coached her local clinic in Shepparton, with Jaydah Wanganeen.

Bamblett, also head coach at Rumbalara, said "mentoring, nurturing and empowering our young people" is a role she's proud to uphold.

"Representation is key, especially within First Nations communities. Seeing aunties and cousins involved in these clinics and at the forefront gives young people someone they know and look up to. It helps them feel connected to the sport they're playing, connected to culture and, most importantly, connected to their community."

They weren't the only netball gathering celebrating culture across the country in the last few weeks.

Late last month, 33 teams came together for Netball NSW's biggest Koori Gala Day in the state this year.

Mount Druitt Netball Association (MDNA) hosted the Gala Day, where multiple age groups from under 10s to open women's and mixed competed.

The multiple gala days across the state are held in the lead-up to the Koori Netball Tournament in Charlestown, on Awabakal Country, later in the year.

Beginning with a handful of teams in 1999, the state-wide tournament has grown to host over 1000 matches played by over 100 teams over a weekend.

"To see all the different people that travelled near and far... it was just overwhelming," Aunty Cino Morrison said.

"We don't get to see much of our mob because we're all doing our different journeys, but when we get together for sports, it's a positive thing. It's all about connecting."

Aunty Cino is a Darug, Yuin and Murawari woman and coach at the local Didjurigur Netball Club.

All three of her teams made grand final appearances in the MDMA.

At the Koori Gala Day, her club took home silver in the open women's grade.

"I love my community as much as I love my family. I look at my community as my family," Aunty Cino said of the gala day, and its significance.

"It's not just the sporting, it's family gathering, it's building friendships, it's breaking barriers."

The Koori Netball Tournament is set for October 24 and 25 in Charlestown, just south-west of Newcastle.