Australia's representative Indigenous netball team will compete on the international stage again in 2025, with the PacificAus Sports Netball Series set to return to Meanjin in February.

After debuting at the Pacific Series in June, the First Nations Black Swans will return next year alongside inaugural inclusion the Scottish Thistles and returning side Papua New Guinea Pepes, Netball Australia confirmed on Tuesday.

The Fiji, Samoa and Tonga national sides round out the sides to feature at Nissan Arena.

"It's a chance to introduce new players to a culturally safe high-performance environment, demonstrating those high-performance behaviours and build their capacity and skillset to re-enter their home pathway program with confidence," Netball Australia First Nations engagement manager and Queensland Firebirds ANZ Championship winner Beryl Friday said of the Black Swans.

"The Series is a great opportunity for the squad to get out on court together and start building connections. It's an opportunity to highlight their individual strengths and playing diversity whilst demonstrating the natural skill and flair that First Nations athletes possess.

"Off court, it's a chance to grow and learn from each other as First Nations women and continue to build leadership skills that we can take back to our communities."

After falling to then-three time running, and eventual fourth-consecutive series winners Tonga in their opening match, the Black Swans strung together wins to finish the pool stage on top of the ladder.

Unable to compete for gold as an invitational side, silverware was on the line when the setup returned at the Australian Netball Championships.

Netball Australia later hosted the inaugural First Nations Tournament in Naarm.

PNG - who played their first Pacific Series in 2021 and last featured in 2023, have jumped from 42nd to 29th in the world rankings in the previous two years.

It's something head coach Lua Rikis credits to international tournament and Netball Australia high-performance exposure.

"This will be my first international event as the Pepes Head coach, so l am excited and nervous at the same time because this comes with a lot of expectations," Riki said.

"We are clear as a team on what we want to achieve at this tournament. Our main aim for this Series is to maintain consistency and be competitive."

Last week, the federal government supported PacificAus Sports and Cricket Australia co-announced upcoming matches between PNG and Australian Indigenous XIs within a three-year funding commitment.

The netball tournament will also be a rare chance for world no.10 Scotland to share the court with some of the southern hemisphere's best talent.

The Thistles have played in just seven matches against Pasifika nations since the 2015 World Cup.

"Every game will be a great battle. The recent Pacific matches have been fierce and hard-fought, with their creativity and flair, so it is a great challenge for us to be sharp, alert and reactive to the variables in front of us," Scotland coach Kath Tetley said.

The Thistles finished runners-up to Wales at the first Celtic Cup earlier this month.

2025's series is scheduled for February 17-22 in Meanjin.