Over the past 12 months, Netball Victoria has continued to turn the commitments of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan into practice, strengthening opportunities for First Nations athletes, coaches and communities across the state.
From introducing the Victorian First Nations State Team into the high performance environment to expanding talent identification opportunities, supporting First Nations coaches and embedding cultural awareness across our competitions, the past year has seen important progress across the organisation.
Netball Victoria’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Office of the CEO Tanya Gamble said why the Rap is valuable at Netball Victoria.
"The RAP at Netball Victoria is important for netball because it helps build respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and create a more inclusive environment for everyone and contribute to reconciliation in Victoria', she said.
Building First Nations pathways into high performance
A key focus over the past 12 months has been strengthening pathways for First Nations athletes and creating opportunities to progress into high performance environments.
The Victorian First Nations State Team entered its second year of competition, with 2025 marking the first year the team was formally classified within Netball Victoria’s high performance program. The team finished fourth at the 2025 First Nations tournament, building on the foundations established during its inaugural campaign.
In 2026, the Victorian First Nations State Team returned to the tournament, competing on home soil at the State Netball Centre in Melbourne. The team finished fifth, continuing to build its experience and development within the high-performance pathway.
The move into the high performance space saw the program expanded to include a strength and conditioning component, with athletes gaining access to the same high performance facilities used by the Melbourne Vixens.
The pathway has already begun to deliver further opportunities, with two Victorian athletes selected in the national Black Swans 2026 and 2027 squad, competing at an international level.
Talent identification has also continued to expand at community level. Netball Victoria began identifying emerging talent at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd (VACSAL) carnival for potential invitations to First Nations trials, creating another connection between community participation and representative pathways.
VACSAL has been an important part of Netball Victoria’s First Nations work for many years, with its statewide football and netball carnivals bringing First Nations communities together through sport and providing opportunities for young athletes to be identified and supported along their netball journey.
Creating opportunities for First Nations coaches
Supporting First Nations people to participate and develop across all areas of the game is another important part of Netball Victoria’s RAP commitments.
In December 2025, we supported Netball Australia to deliver a Foundation Coach face-to-face workshop in Bairnsdale. The workshop was delivered by Judi Buhagiar and proud First Nations woman Judi Anne Alexander, with four First Nations coaches attending.
Providing culturally relevant development opportunities helps build coaching capability within First Nations communities while creating stronger connections between community netball and the broader coaching pathway.
"Netball Australia made the decision and funded it through Visit Vic. I would say Netball Australia targeted areas of high Indigenous population," Buhagiar said.
Building cultural capability across Netball Victoria
Progress has also continued behind the scenes, with work underway to strengthen how Netball Victoria supports an inclusive and culturally safe workplace.
As part of our People and Capability commitments, Netball Victoria has developed an Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy and an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.
We have also continued to review recruitment practices to create more inclusive opportunities. This includes tailoring how First Nations roles are promoted, with positions being advertised through First Nations-specific employment networks and job boards to help reach a broader range of candidates.
These changes form part of the ongoing work to build cultural capability and ensure reconciliation is reflected not only on court, but across the organisation.
Celebrating First Nations culture through the Melbourne Vixens
The Melbourne Vixens have continued to play an important role in celebrating First Nations culture and storytelling through the Suncorp Super Netball First Nations Round.
The 2026 Vixens First Nations Dress was designed by proud Djab Wurrung, Kirrae Wurrung and Peek Wurrung woman Tarni Jarvis, with the design centred around the theme of leadership transfer and the club’s connection to Country.
The design features the Birrarung River running along the side of the dress, alongside a journey symbol representing the path travelled by the players and club and the direction they are heading next.
On 21 May 2026, Tarni presented the dress to the Melbourne Vixens players at a special dress presentation attended by Vixens players, coaches and support staff, members of the First Nations Advisory Group, RAP Group and Netball Victoria staff.
“I wanted to capture the theme of change within the team, communicating the ever-evolving and growing nature of both the team and the broader organisation,” Jarvis said.
“In essence, the piece reflects the transfer of knowledge from one group to the next, and the continued journey and growth of the team through change and development, “she said.
The First Nations Round also created opportunities for connection and cultural celebration, with a Welcome to Country delivered by Colin Hunter and didgeridoo performance by Paul Kelly. First Nations scarves and merchandise were available for supporters, while Vixens players wore Tarni’s design across their dresses and warm-up tops.
The Vixens presented the NSW Swifts with a First Nations gift featuring possum skin and fur, continuing the focus on connection and respect between clubs.
Bringing First Nations celebration to the VNL
First Nations Round extended across the Victorian Netball League, with all VNL clubs participating on 27 May 2026.
The evening began with a meet-and-greet bringing together VNL clubs, Netball Victoria staff and the Netball Victoria Advisory Board, creating an opportunity to connect and share in the importance of the round.
VNL clubs took part in a First Nations education and awareness session, supporting greater understanding of First Nations culture and reconciliation across the league. The celebration was also brought to life on court, with Gippsland Stars, Casey Demons, Bendigo Strikers, Melbourne University Lightning, Hawks Netball, Western Warriors and Wilson Storage Southern Saints each taking to the court in their own First Nations dress designs.
The clubs were joined by Netball Victoria’s First Nations-designed balls, posts and court decals, creating a strong celebration of culture, connection and community across the VNL.
Gippsland Stars’ First Nations dress was designed by Leonie Solomon Green (Monaro Ngarigo), aunt of First Nations player Holly Stephens. The artwork reflects Country, community and connection across Gippsland, adding a meaningful layer to the club’s celebration of First Nations culture.
Continuing the journey
The past 12 months have seen meaningful progress across Netball Victoria’s reconciliation journey, from strengthening First Nations pathways and supporting coaches to creating greater visibility and cultural awareness across our competitions and teams.
Our Innovate RAP provides a framework for this work, but reconciliation is an ongoing journey that requires continued action, learning and collaboration.
As we look ahead, Netball Victoria remains committed to building stronger relationships with First Nations communities and creating a netball environment where First Nations athletes, coaches, umpires, leaders and communities feel seen, heard, respected and valued.
