The NAIDOC Netball Carnival is set to once again play an important role in showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture when it takes place on Sunday 15 November.
The Carnival introduces Indigenous athletes to competitive netball and has become one of the most significant events on the Netball WA calendar.
Yvonne Kelly-Osborne, an Indigenous woman who has been involved in the Carnival for nine years as both a player and a volunteer coordinating teams, said the Carnival provides an opportunity to bring together the community and celebrate each other, the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“Not only does the NAIDOC Netball Carnival allow our mob to touch base, it also provides a platform to showcase our culture through art and storytelling,” said Kelly-Osborne.
“Every year I’m seeing more and more Aboriginal designed netball dresses that tell significant stories of our people worn proudly by our young talent.”
Throughout its lifetime, the NAIDOC Netball Carnival has seen some amazing talent pass through its gates as the Carnival exposes young Indigenous netballers to competitive netball.
“There is so much talent in our community. Every year I work hard to bring new people who are new to the netball environment to allow them to develop a love for the sport and showcase their skills,” said Kelly-Osborne.
“It has been so positive to see the rise of players like Donnell Wallam, who have previously participated in the NAIDOC Netball Carnival and have been developed through the pathway and now play in the best competition within our state.”
“Donell is an example of a remarkable player and a strong role model for our younger generation.”
Kelly-Osborne highlighted the importance of the NAIDOC Netball Carnival as a taster for the sport but insists more can be done around the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes to play at the elite level.
“There’s no denying there is an under-representation of our people at elite levels in netball and given the recent focus on this around the country, I’m hoping to see improvements in this space.”
Earlier this year, netball’s peak organisations pledged to take significant action to break down the barriers that have prevented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, coaches, umpires and administrators from flourishing in the sport.
The Declaration of Commitment, signed by 20 national, state and territory-based member organisations and club bodies, requires the entire netball system to understand and then resolve the issue of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander under-representation at elite levels.
Netball WA General Manager of Community Netball, Liz Booth said Netball WA is committed to closing this gap.
“The work we are doing in this space, particularly through our Gold Industry Group West Australian Netball League Clubs and Community pathway programs to be guided by the research arm of Shooting Stars is to add value and drive change to create better representation of Aboriginal girls and women across our pathway,” said Booth.
