First Nation women are making their mark in the sports commentating world at FIFA's Women's World Cup

Rhiannon Clarke Published August 10, 2023 at 10.30am (AWST)

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Ruby Ketchell has been capturing the FIFA action with her mobile journalism kit. (Image: Ruby Ketchell)

With Australia and New Zealand currently joint-hosting the 2023 FIFA Women's Worlds's Cup, opportunities for Indo-Pacific and First Nations women have arisen as trainee commentators and mobile journalists.

Proud Kalkadoon Waanyi woman, Tamara Creamer, is just one of the 20 women who have been selected to put their new-found skills to the test during the tournament.

Since a young girl Ms Creamer has grown up with a passion for sports.

Now she is combining her love of sport to become a trainee commentator whilst being mentored by ABC Sport veterans.

"I've always been pretty critical of gameplay and strategy in the way that I play, coach, and learnt the game. Understanding the 'why' in why we do things in sport," Ms Creamer told ABC.

"Everything's based around a process and strategy, and I've always been fascinated with trying to unpack that."

Tamara Creamer (right) putting her analytical skills to the test. (Image: Karina Hogan/ABC Radio Brisbane)

As part of the program, half of the participants are learning the art of sports commentary whist the remainder hone their expertise behind the camera as mobile journalists.

One of the women, Ruby Ketchell, has been behind the scenes operating mobile camera equipment, whilst also conducting interviews.

The 19-year-old has previously honed her broadcast skills at Cairns' only Indigenous radio station, Bumma Bippera Media.

The First Nations woman said the program was an unforgettable experience.

"Every single day I've woken up it's been better than the day before, which is insane," Ms Ketchell told ABC.

"It has been a once-in-a-life-time experience, and I feel we can all take everything we've learnt back with us."

The journey has been inspiring to proud Aranda woman Jacqualine Elwell, who said it was great to see First Nations women breaking into a historically male-dominated industry.

Tamara Creamer and Jacqualine Elwell catching some World Cup action at the Brisbane Stadium.

Ms Elwell said the program had been an opportunity for First Nations women to show what they were made of.

"It's our superpower as coloured women, we're aware of those challenges that are placed around us and we do a lot to break those barriers down," Ms Elwell said.

"Traditionally sports was a man's world and those commentary positions were the icing on the cake — it wasn't the norm that women would sit in those spaces.

"These kinds of programs put women in that space … to meet expectations and exceed them."

ABC international development lead Jo Elsom said the group was a promising cohort of up-and-coming journalistic talent.

"This impressive group of female sports journalists, who are committed and passionate in their training programs, are leading the charge towards a more inclusive and diverse sports media industry," Ms Elsom said.

The program is being run in collaboration with FIFA WWC, Oceania Football Confederation, and the Office for Sport.

All trainees have been mentored by journalists at Brisbane Stadium.