Indigenous roller derby athletes from Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand) will come together in Magandjin (Brisbane) next month for a three-day cultural exchange celebrating sport, culture and community connections.

Team Indigenous Dreaming, an Australia-wide Indigenous roller derby team, will face Mana Tangata o Aotearoa from New Zealand in a public exhibition game at Superordinary in Hamilton on Saturday 5 December.

The match will form part of the First Nations Roller Derby Cultural Exchange, running from 4 to 6 December, which organisers believe will be the first event of its kind in Oceania.

The event will bring together athletes, cultural leaders and supporters from both countries for a weekend of cultural activities, storytelling and roller derby.

Brisbane City Rollers will host and support the exchange, providing resources and a platform for both teams to lead the event and share their cultures.

The weekend program will include a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, cultural storytelling, language sharing and dance, with activities developed by cultural leaders.

The public exhibition event on Saturday will also feature music, dance and market stalls alongside the roller derby match, which begins at 5pm.

Organisers hope the exchange will encourage greater First Nations representation in roller derby while creating opportunities for cultural learning and connections between Indigenous communities across Australia and Aotearoa.

While the sport has worked to create opportunities for people who have traditionally faced barriers in mainstream sporting environments, organisers recognise that further work is needed to improve First Nations representation, accessibility and cultural safety.

The exchange aims to provide a space where First Nations athletes can lead conversations about their cultures and experiences while strengthening relationships through sport.

It will also offer the wider Magandjin community an opportunity to engage with First Nations cultures and support Indigenous athletes.

Organisers are encouraging local businesses, sporting organisations and community members to support the event through sponsorships, donations, volunteering and attendance.

A fundraising campaign has been established with a target of $10,000 to help cover travel expenses and allow more First Nations athletes to participate in the exchange.

Businesses can also contribute through in-kind support, including accommodation, catering, equipment, photography, printing and other services.

The campaign aims to reduce financial barriers for participating athletes and help deliver an accessible and culturally safe event.

Community members can make tax-deductible donations of $2 or more through the Australian Sports Foundation, subject to eligibility requirements.

The public exhibition game between Team Indigenous Dreaming and Mana Tangata o Aotearoa will take place at 5pm on Saturday 5 December at Superordinary, 175 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton.

Tickets are available through Humanitix, while donations can be made through the Australian Sports Foundation fundraising campaign.