The Confident Girls Foundation has today been announced as the principal partner of the First Nations Black Swans, to support and enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
The two-year partnership will directly support the newly announced First Nations national team, the Black Swans.
The First Nations Black Swans, featuring 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netballers from across Australia, will take to the court for the first time during the Pacific Netball Series from 10-15 June at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
Confident Girls Foundation Chair Vicki Gillespie said the partnership was a significant step forward for First Nations pathway athletes.
“For a long time, the Confident Girls Foundation has supported a number of small projects across the country in Indigenous communities,” Gillespie said.
“However, when looking at our contribution towards reconciliation and equity for Indigenous Australians, it was clear that we needed to do more.
“Through this partnership with the First Nations Black Swans, we are empowering this group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to thrive in their sport like every other girl in Australia.”
First Nations Black Swans head coach and Netball Australia’s First Nations Engagement Lead Ali Tucker-Munro reflected on the importance of the partnership.
“This partnership signifies the start of demonstrable change,” Tucker-Munro said.
“The Black Swans is a First Nations designed program within Netball Australia. Critically, the financial support of the Confident Girls Foundation will go straight into Netball Australia’s First Nations programs – programs that our mob are directly involved in.
“Having the Confident Girls Foundation come on board as a principal partner demonstrates their genuine commitment to uplift and amplify opportunities for First Nations women and girls in our sport.”
Tucker-Munro noted the significance of this announcement during National Reconciliation Week, highlighted by this year’s theme Now More Than Ever.
“For me, post the Voice referendum, the theme speaks to allyship and respect,” Tucker-Munro said.
“Partnering with the Confident Girls Foundation, and their financial commitment, is a step forward in our sport, as is their respect for the principles of First Nations cultural agency.
“Our women – be it our nans, aunties, mums, or sisters – are often the heartbeat of our communities and families, with many often heavily involved in our sport.
“They get our kids to netball games and trials, drive often vast distances, mend shoes and dresses, mend hair and yes, even mend broken hearts after a loss.
“To have the Confident Girls Foundation recognise and value the First Nations women in the Black Swans team, many of whom are aunties, sisters, cousins and mentors themselves, is a display of an organisation that’s not just stepping up, but stepping forward.”
Netball Australia CEO Stacey West spoke to the significance of the announcement.
“Reconciliation Week is a week of reflection, a week of learning and a week of taking action towards equity and equality for First Nations Australians,” West said.
“This is an incredible partnership between the Confident Girls Foundation and the First Nations Black Swans that will importantly invest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait women and girls playing netball.”
