By Sophie Taylor
Netball is, and always has been, synonymous with strong women.
The leaders of old, who stepped up to break down barriers.
The new era of professional players, who fight for better.
The next generation, who will march netball forward in the future.
There is no denying the impact of powerful women. Netball’s ability to empower women is credit to a strong grassroots and community program steeped in feminism, strength and natural leadership.
From the smallest Woolworths NetSetGo participant to Origin Diamonds Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich, netball galvanises women and girls to push boundaries, develop deeper connections and have a hell of a lot of fun while doing it.
YOU SHOWED UP IN 2024
Netball remains Australia’s leading grassroots entry level program for girls with over 50 thousand registered Woolworths NetSetGo participants in 2024.
Close to 40,000 females completed formal accreditations, ranging from the 19,308 Foundation Coaching Accreditation awardees, to the 16 All Australian (AA) Badge Umpire Accreditations awarded.
More than 350 women coaches and umpires attained qualifications throughout the Pacific, boosting local netball talent and pathways.
Four Pacific Netball Federations transformed from volunteer-led, to a paid, female-led workforce, with 18 women appointed into senior leadership and decision-making roles.
Netball Australia’s charity partner, the Confident Girls Foundation provided travel grants to eight all-abilities teams to play in the 2024 Marie Little Shield tournament, adding to the 85,413 girls and women who have been supported by its programs since the Foundation’s inception.
The Confident Girls Foundation and Suncorp Super Netball raised $70,900 in recovery grants to support netball clubs across Australia.
Origin Diamonds Courtney Bruce and Sarah Klau share a powerful friendship off the court despite being fierce rivals in SSN.NETBALL KNOWS NO BOUNDS
Origin Australian Diamond Courtney Bruce knows that all too well.
A self-confessed “shy 23-year-old” attending her first Origin Diamonds camp back in 2016, Bruce leaned on the strong women around her.
“My biggest supporters in the Diamonds environment were Caitlin Thwaites and CBass (Caitlin Bassett),” Bruce said.
“They took me in under their wings and made me feel safe and welcome.”
Empowered by netball, Bruce has the strength, resilience and confidence to forge her own journey - despite what others may think of her.
“I am a daughter, I am a friend,” she said.
“I've got a kind heart and I'm really passionate about helping everyone have the same opportunities that I have been welcomed and had in my life.”
It’s a similar story throughout Australia.
Belle Vue Park Primary School student Arwa is empowered by her Panthers teammates every day – both on and off the court.
“When I first started, I did not talk very much,” she said.
“The whole team helped me to learn the skills and then I spoke up more and was not shy.”
The school’s netball club, launched by schoolteacher Paul Baks in 2022, was intended to increase physical activity levels for culturally diverse females at the school.
The change has been remarkable.
“The Panthers have empowered all of the females who play,” Baks said.
“Before Panthers, the boys dominated the play and court spaces, and the girls were seen and not heard.
“Now they are seen, they have a voice, I hear them talk in class all the time now.
“They have grown into stronger women who now know how to be present, strong and powerful.”
Woolworths NetSetGo had over 50,000 female participants in 2024.From community level to the elite, cultural safety plays a key role in allowing netballers to put their best foot forward.
First Nations Black Swans captain Scarlet Jauncey takes strength in her connection to her First Nations sisters from across the country.
“It means a lot to me to be a Black Swan and getting to step out on the court,” Jauncey said.
“Knowing I'm representing my family and my culture and doing it alongside my sister and my sisters I've made in the team.”
The Black Swans are proudly supported by the Confident Girls Foundation (CGF), who are committed to creating better pathways to netball excellence.
CGF ambassadors and Origin Diamonds Amy Parmenter, Paige Hadley and Bruce explained how netball is more than “just a sport”, reinforced by the Diamonds’ Sisters in Arms motto.
“It’s a powerful platform for women to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and prove their excellence in every field,” they said.
It drives social change by fostering leadership, increasing visibility and representation, and creating a supportive environment where women can thrive.”
Learn more about the 2025 International Women’s Day theme HERE.
