Queensland have been crowned champions at Netball Australia's inaugural First Nations Tournament after edging past South Australia in Sunday's final to wrap a "dream" debut showcase of the country's best Indigenous talent.

Under-23 sides from each state and territory took to the court at Naarm's State Netball Centre September from September 13-15, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation extending to the coaches, officials and umpires on-board.

Both finalists qualified off the back of unbeaten runs through the pool stages, with a 10-6 second quarter helping Queensland set an advantage to hold in the goal-for-goal exchange ending 37-35.

Muruwari goaler Lily Cubby, who clinched team and individual top honours at tournament's end, said the weekend was a cherry on top of a busy year.

Cubby starred in the goal circle for Indigenous national side the First Nations Black Swans' debut showing at the Pacific Series in June, enjoyed premiership success with Ipswich Jets in Queensland's Sapphire Series, and appeared with the Firebirds during the Super Netball Reserves season.

Her Queensland teammates included fellow Black Swans players Jayden Molo, Brooke Lacey and Keira Heffernan.

After Sunday's gold medal win, Cubby told National Indigenous Times her feeling was the tournament "is only going to grow from here".

By Sunday afternoon she boasted selection as player of the tournament and at goal shooter in team of the tournament.

Queensland coach and former Australian Diamond Sharon Finnan-White said the weekend was a "dream" after two decades driving Indigenous high-performance structures in the sport.

Her squad included two members of her Townsville-based First Nations Academy of Excellence.

"We spent a lot of time on just connections on and off court rather than developing skills because these girls have already got the skills. They've been playing at this high level for such a long time," Finnan-White said on Friday.

"I've inherited an exceptional, talented group of athletes. And really my job was just to bring them together and motivate them to come together and win gold here."

Yakanarna out there to show "what we're made of"

South Australian midcourter Miah Jones told National Indigenous Times it was a "special" experience to grab silver with teammates who are like "sisters".

"To be able to play with the girls and represent our communities, I think that makes it just that bit more special," Jones said.

South Australia's team moniker, Yakanarna, means 'older sister' in Kaurna language, coach Vanessa Dempsey said.

"Within SA, we've been really trying to just get that connection to Country. We've been focused on playing deadly and being deadly, and also really trying to let the rest of the mainstream netball in Australia see what we're made of," Dempsey said on Sunday.

NSW claimed third spot with a 47-29 win over Victoria, with Jayda Grant adding 14 of her side's tally on route to selection in the team of the tournament at goal attack.

"I'm so glad that the future generations have this"

Mother-daughter, coach-player duo Fiona and Abbey Geappen featured within Tasmania's pursuit to claim fifth place in a comeback win over Western Australia earlier on the final day.

"Those opportunities to play at a higher intensity more regularly, for kids to get those opportunities is what your regional areas or your smaller states really need," Fiona Geappen said.

A Commonwealth Bank Trophy winner with Melbourne Phoenix during the early 2000's and Tassie netball stalwart, Geappen hopes the tournament proves an elevation of the pathways she missed out on at stages as a young player.

She also said it's an opportunity for young girls around the country to proudly showcase their culture.

The sentiment was closely shared by two-time Queensland Firebirds ANZ Championship winner Beryl Friday.

"The last couple of days have just been amazing. I can't believe we're here and to have all eight states and territories represented. It's honestly a dream come true," Friday said.

"It's just fantastic to see. But on top of that, it's great to see so many mob down here, so many of the communities coming to support...and it's so good to have not only First Nations players, but the coaches and umpires all being First Nations as well.

"I've got a little bit of itchy feet watching this," Friday said, "I just think, if this was 10 years ago I would love to be playing for my home state…but I'm so glad that the future generations have this".

Territorians inspired by something different

Northern Territory and the ACT played out Sunday's opening match.

Like many involved, NT co-coach Michelle Kerrin said taking part was about more than what happened on-court.

"We've all set goals for ourselves this week. Some of them are simply just to make our families proud back home. Some is 'I just want to try my best on the court'," Kerrin said.

"For us as coaches, all we want is that on Sunday our girls are still enjoying netball...that we go back home and we showcase to all the young mob back there that netball is really fun, it's a game everyone should play, and it's a great way to connect in with each other."

2024 a year "about becoming, as a sport"

The weekend's tournament was a culmination of initiatives in the sport.

In April, Netball Australia announced the formation of a national Indigenous side would debut against World Netball ranked international sides at June's Pacific Netball Series in Meanjin.

The First Nations Black Swans returned for the Australian Netball Championships two months later, followed by the nation-wide participation at the weekend.

Netball Australia also announced a pilot First Nations coaching course earlier in the year.

On events concluding, the body's First Nations Engagement lead Ali Tucker-Munro said the tournament, and 2024, was "about becoming, as a sport".

"What's been really exciting is that we've started a whole suite of programs to complement and give visibility to the amazing talent that we know exists across the pathways, both in terms of playing, but also in terms of coaching and umpiring. So particularly this tournament, I think it was just great to showcase some amazing talent under one roof," she said.

Netball Australia chief executive Stacey West told National Indigenous Times the sport in investing on growth and greater representation at the elite level, with policy in play to get there properly.

West said those can't forego cultivation of culturally safe environments and "ensuring that every Australian in netball is continually educated around how we do that".

"So yes, more numbers of (current and previous Indigenous Diamonds) Donnell Wallam, Sharon Finnan-White and Marcia Ella-Duncan, but also more environments where First Nations people feel safe to participate in this sport. That's what we're committed to," West said.

First Nations Team of the Tournament

Goal Shooter: Lily Cubby, Queensland - Goal Attack: Jayda Grant, NSW

Wing Attack: Tierrah Miller, South Australia - Centre: Jayden Molo, Queensland - Wing Defence: Maryke Babia, Queensland

Goal Defence: Kiesha Muckan, Queensland - Goal Keeper: Aaleya Turner, South Australia