Super Netball is gearing up to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through its annual First Nations Round while offering the wider netball community space to come together and pause for reflection.
The country's elite netball competition will do so in rounds 11 and 12 of the season from Saturday May 23, aligned with National Reconciliation Week (May 27 - June 3).
In recent years Netball Australia has actioned efforts to increase cultural-inclusivity and representation in the game.
This includes the introduction of the First Nations Black Swans — Australia's national Indigenous team — taking part in international tournaments, as well as annual state and territory representative First Nations tournaments and coaching and pathways initiatives.
Each Super Netball club will wear Indigenous design dresses during the First Nations round, alongside additional pieces of recognition.
Kabi Kabi artist Zartisha Davis has produced the Rounds' artwork to feature on match balls, court centre circles and digital assets.
"It's such an amazing opportunity for any Indigenous person to be able to showcase their art on such a high level," Davis said.
"It inspires the next generation, which is what it's all about - getting them to be interested in art and storytelling, and keeping these stories alive in these ways."
Ms Davis' work, titled Giv'ǐr Wun'bumba, translating to 'believe' in English from Kabi Kabi language, represents caring for Country, community, gathering and stewardship in prominent shell middens.
The artwork's symbols represent Kabi Kabi Country, the netball community and its players and staff, and the kangaroo and emu - two animals which only walk forwards.
"Sharing stories that have been possed down by my family, especially with the shell middens. A lot of our shell middens were destroyed, so it's really important to try and keep these stories alive through art, through storytelling," Ms Davis said.
"It's community, it's gathering, it's sharing. What a beautiful message to have within the artwork that we can share with wider community, and being able to portray those messages of togetherness.
"We all leave our mark on Country, so it's nice to reflect our vibrations as we tread lightly and care for Country and care for one another. I just wanted it to be really flowing and representing the netball community, but also paying homage to Kabi Kabi Country.
"I really wanted to honour the ancient with the contemporary, and blend that together to celebrate the now and what is to come for future generations."
Elite netball hasn't reached the same level of First Nations representation as other Australian sports.
It's something Kamiliaroi woman and Netball Australia General Manager, First Nations, Ali Tucker-Munro, has been working to change.
Initiatives such as the First Nations tournament are part of the "long-term investment piece" for pathways and creating culturally-safe environments in the sport.
"We know that there's a huge range of talent in our communities in terms of netball, and it's just that we haven't had the places and spaces to really be able to showcase that in the pathway," Tucker-Munro told National Indigenous Times last year.
Donnell Wallam has starred in her Super Netball return with the Sunshine Coast Lightning so far in 2026, joining midcourter Leesa Mi Mi at the club.
Elsewhere, Gabby Coffey has spent the last two seasons in the UK's Netball Super League with the Birmingham Panthers.
Coffey's recent Black Swans teammate Scarlet Jauncey, who last year became the first Indigenous player to represent Australia at the under-21s World Youth Cup in two decades, is captaining West Coast Fever's reserves side.
"National Reconciliation Week reminds us that advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people," Tucker-Munro, a former assistant coach at the Giants, said.
"First Nations Round offers an opportunity for the netball community to come together, reflect, and recognise each of our roles in achieving reconciliation.
"It is vital for netball to elevate First Nations voices, increase equitable opportunities for First Nations people, and ensure our sport offers culturally safe and welcoming spaces for all participants.
"First Nations Round is a moment to pause, reflect, and consider where our sport is on its reconciliation journey with Australia's First Peoples."
