The Indigenous Nationals will be held in Naarm (Melbourne) this week, with Monash University hosting the 27th instalment of the annual sporting and cultural event.
The week-long multi sport competition will bring together more than 500 student-athletes from 33 participating universities at Monash's Clayton Campus, for what will be the largest Indigenous Nationals event to date.
The 2023 competition will see student-athletes compete in basketball, netball, touch rugby and volleyball competitions, with the best performing university to be crowned overall champion.
Now referred to as the Indigenous Nationals, the competition was founded as the National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games in 1996 at the then Wollotuka School for Aboriginal Studies at the University of Newcastle.
Director of the William Cooper Institute and a proud Yorta Yorta and Boon Wurruung man Jamil Tye said Monash there is an air of anticipation ahead of this year's event.
"We are extremely excited to be hosting the Indigenous Nationals - the first time the Nationals have been here at Monash University," Mr Tye said.
"The William Cooper Institute led the design of the program to ensure the appropriate cultural overlay which will support the delivery of this event that recognises and respects local Traditional Owners."
Proud Boandik man, Monash University student participant and 2023 Co-Team Manager Cameron James said the event will be a vibrant gathering of culture and sport, as well as the sharing of histories and a celebration of mob coming together.
"Indigenous Nationals is a culturally vibrant, competitive environment that allows mob from universities all over Australia to come together," Mr James said.
"It's electric, welcoming and full of joy. With a little bit of competitive spirit thrown into the mix, everyone is just trying to meet other mob.
"In a sporting environment, it makes it very easy to connect and chat. This is why my favourite aspect of the games is the social part that occurs in and around the day's events.
"It's the incidental interactions that build the best friendships and I definitely found that in Brisbane last year and hope the same environment can be found at Monash this year."
Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Senior Vice-President (Education) Professor Sharon Pickering said the university values the opportunity to celebrate the rich sporting culture of Indigenous Australians, and will commit fully to realising the immense potential of this significant event.
"Monash is incredibly proud of its contributions to the advancement and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities both in Victoria and across the nation," Professor Pickering said.
"With over 50 years of Indigenous programs and engagement - the university with the longest history of engagement in Indigenous education in Australia - Monash has played a significant role in initiating change.
"While we are justifiably proud of our contribution, we acknowledge that there is more we can and will do to ensure Monash provides a transformative educational experience for our First Nations students.
"The privilege of hosting the 2023 Indigenous Nationals and thereby bringing together student-athletes from universities across Australia represents such an experience."
The competition will be managed by UniSport Australia, with competition to be held from June 26-30.
