When 20-year-old Maryke Babia takes the court for Australia's national Indigenous netball team next year, she'll be doing it for herself, her family, and for the next generation of young girls across Zenadth Kes.

The Mabuyag Island and Saibai Island woman was named in the First Nations Black Swans 2025 squad earlier this month, getting the call from former premiership Queensland Firebird and Netball Australia First Nations engagement lead Beryl Friday.

She'll be the first Torres Strait Islander to pull on the uniform.

"It's the biggest responsibility," Babia told National Indigenous Times.

"You've got your elders behind you...your cousins, your sisters, and you just want to make them proud and hold that name of being a Torres Strait Islander woman in sport there for everybody else to see - and inspire all the younger people.

"I feel like it's the biggest privilege ever to be handed this."

Babia said none were prouder than a long-time coach and biggest supporter - her mum.

Brisbane born and raised, the goal defence-wing defence took up netball at seven with the local Saints Netball Club, working her way up through the representative and high-performance pathways, not without setbacks and efforts to prove people wrong.

At 17, Babia was dropped from QUT's state premier reserves Ruby setup, to return back playing under her mum.

Babia said while it was "a punch to the gut…especially being a younger one" after limited opportunities that season, it also offered a "good learning curve".

Not long after, she'd found a new home with Brisbane East Tigers in the Ruby Series.

Babia was also secured a spot in the Queensland Future Firebirds Academy for 2025.

"It's good to have setbacks...you know where you want to go and where you can be. And you just work even harder and show them that they're all wrong, and then try and go from there," he said.

The Black Swans debuted at 2024's Pacific Series, making a splash against World Netball-ranked international outfits as an invitation addition, before taking on some of the country's best at the Australian Netball Championships.

In September, Netball Australia debuted the First Nations Tournament, bringing the best Indigenous talent from across the country together in state and territory colours.

There, Babia helped Queensland - coached by Sharon Finnan-White, the second ever Indigenous netball to play for the Diamonds, to top honours.

Ahead of elevating to the national Indigenous side, Babia said it's been "amazing" to see years of hard work - much from Finnan-White and inaugural Black Swans coach Ali Tucker-Munro, realised.

"I know that there's a lot of talent out there, and finally, having it recognized in these competitions is just amazing to showcase our talent."

Outside of Netball, Babia works full time for ARTIE Academy (Achieving Results Through Indigenous Education), a Queensland FOGS (Former Origin Greats) arm working with schools.

"I love it because it's something that I wanted in school. To have that support beside you, and that's what I'm trying to do for the kids I have now," she said.

In the Black Swans, she'll re-link with Queensland teammates Lily Cubby, Brook Lacey, Brianna Martyn and Jayden and Tia Molo.

Even WA's Jauncey sisters Jamaica and Scarlett as familiar faces from their short period living in Brisbane.

With plenty ahead of her, Babia has ambitions to be a trailblazer in the sport, "paving the way" for Zenadh Kes like Donnell Wallam has been for Aboriginal netballers in recent years.

"I'd like to be that Torres Strait Islander paving the way for us," she said.

"I would love to make the Australian Diamonds…to pave the way for any other Torres Strait Islander girls out there who are wanting to be like me."

The First Nations Black Swans return to the Pacific Series in Brisbane during February.