By Elizabeth Winter
The inaugural Spirit Series has concluded following a memorable week at Netball Central in Sydney, with the First Nations Black Swans crowned champions after three days of international competition against the Fiji Pearls, PNG Pepes and Singapore Vandas.
Held during NAIDOC Week, and delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports and Netball NSW, the tournament was about far more than results on the court.
Designed to celebrate First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in netball, the Spirit Series united athletes, coaches and officials through high-performance competition while placing culture, connection and community at its heart.
Ali Tucker-Munro, proud Kamilaroi woman and General Manager First Nations at Netball Australia, said the tournament’s inception was to demonstrate culture at the heart of high performance.
“For me, it’s been really important to create a tournament that illustrates when you step out on that court, you draw your strengths from your culture,” she said.
Held during NAIDOC Week, this year’s theme – 50 Year of Deadly – provided a fitting backdrop for the tournament, reinforcing the importance of creating culturally safe environments where future generations of athletes can thrive.
“I want to make sure at Netball Australia we play a role in ensuring the next 50 years is different for our kids playing netball,” Tucker-Munro said.
The Spirit Series was held during NAIDOC Week.
“Where there’s real sense of belonging, where you can come into spaces and feel really culturally safe and that you don't need to check your culture or your community at the door.”
The week began with a Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Raymond Weatherall on the lands of the Wangal People of the Dharug Nation, welcoming each team to Country.
Following this, the Wagana Dancers shared stories of connection through movement, inviting athletes to join them, after which players participated in a weaving workshop led by Black Swans Assistant Coach and proud Gamilaroi woman Natalee George.
Those experiences laid the foundation for a tournament celebrating cultural exchange alongside competition.
Across four days of match play, the teams showcased emerging talent, trialling combinations building up valuable international experience ahead of key upcoming events such as the Netball World Cup Oceania Regional Qualifiers.
PNG Pepes Head Coach Lua Rikis said the tournament had been invaluable preparation ahead of the qualifiers.
The Pepes used the tournament as preparation for the Netball World Cup Qualifiers.
"This has been a great learning experience,” Rikis said,.
“We've played against higher-ranked teams and experienced a really high level of competition.
“It's given us the opportunity to test combinations ahead of September and will certainly help our preparation."
While the Black Swans lifted the trophy, every nation demonstrated the growth, strength, and significance of netball across the region.
The tournament also provided an opportunity for several athletes to make their international debuts.
Seventeen-year-old Black Swans defender Darcy May-Martin, the youngest player in the squad, said representing the team alongside players she had looked up to was a dream come true.
The Black Swans were crowned champions.
“It’s so exciting to be here be surrounded by other Indigenous girls who love the same sport,” May-Martin said.
“I've looked up to these girls for so long, to now be defending with them it definitely still hasn't kicked in.”
For the Crest Fiji Pearls, 16-year-old debutant Esther Dawai realized a lifelong ambition by earning her first cap for the Pearls.
“I've been dreaming of wearing the blue dress and representing Fiji,” Dawai said.
“ I’ve kept chasing that dream, and here I am.
“I hope girls back home can see that anything is possible.”
Fiji were one of the nations taking part in the Series.
Beyond competition, the Spirit Series brought together leaders from across the sport to explore the future of First Nations participation and leadership in netball.
A special panel discussion featured Tucker-Munro; Tracey Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Netball NSW; Courtney Fewquandie, proud Butchulla and Gubbi Gubbi woman and the First Nations Advisor at the Australian Sports Commission; and Vicki Gillespie, Chair of the Confident Girls Foundation.
Scott reflected on the role leaders play in supporting First Nations pathways in netball.
“Absolute commitment to cultural strength and responsibility,” Scott said,
“As a person in a role who has a chance to shape opportunities and conversations, the allyship of ensuring the next 50 years looks very different from the last 50 is crucial.”
The panel were also joined by Senators Nita Green and Dorinda Cox who showed their support for the tournament and netball.
Leaders from across the sports industry came together for a panel discussion.
Off the court, the Black Swans also visited Redfern, a location where generations of Aboriginal leaders call for justice and self-determination, to deliver a community netball clinic and inspire the next generation of players.
Netball Australia First Nations Engagement Manager and proud Kuku Nyungkul woman Beryl Friday said the visit highlighted the broader purpose of the tournament.
“Seeing our athletes connect with the next generation was a powerful reminder that pathways aren't just about developing elite athletes,” Friday said.
“They're about creating role models, building confidence, and showing young people they belong in our game.”
Tucker-Munro echoed Friday’s statement in that visiting Redfern was an opportunity to acknowledge the generations of Aboriginal leaders who fought for greater representation and visibility.
“It was just a way to pay homage to the community and to the kids that live there now,” Tucker-Munro said.
The Black Swans connected with the next gen at a community clinic in Redfern.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to give back to Mob.”
The Spirit Series also provided the opportunity for coach development as well as athletes.
First Nations coaches from across New South Wales participated in a program delivered by Coaching Unlimited and Tucker-Munro, who has also served as a former GIANTS Assistant Coach.
“We’re bringing in Mob who have shown a real passion for netball and building their skillset and capability in a culturally safe space,” she said.
“We’re deconstructing things so they take it back to their community.
“That's the ripple effect. We're at the start of our journey in all these programs, but I'm excited with what's on the horizon.”
The series celebrated pride, culture, and excellence for First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in netball.
In addition to this, former Melbourne Vixens Head Coach Simone McKinnis led a session with all participating coaches including those from PNG, Fiji, and Singapore, encouraging progression through authentic discussion.
Beyond just netball, the Spirit Series will leave a legacy far beyond the final whistle.
By bringing together First Nations and Indo-Pacific teams, the tournament established a new platform celebrating identity, strengthening international relationships and growing opportunities for women in netball across the region.
The Spirit Series was delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports and Netball NSW, and proudly supported by the Confident Girls Foundation, Suncorp, and Arrpwere.
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy program that provides Pacific athletes, officials, and administrators access to high-performance training and elite competition. Through partnering with Australian national sporting organisations, like Netball Australia, the program aims to strengthen relationships across the Pacific through sport.
