For the first time in our university’s history, Flinders proudly competed at the 29th UniSport Australia Indigenous Nationals, held on Whadjuk Noongar Country at The University of Western Australia.
This annual event brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student-athletes from across the country to celebrate culture, community, and competition across four mixed-gender sports: basketball, netball, touch football, and volleyball.
Third year Bachelor of Nursing student Tara said the trip was unforgettable, and she’s made lifelong friends amongst her teammates and fellow competitors.
“I feel privileged that I was selected to compete in my final year of Uni before graduating. This trip is truly an unforgettable one. From connecting deep with Noonga country and their mob, to witnessing the pride on all students faces on and off the courts/ fields having fun and meeting mob to celebrating all Yungkurrinthis big and little wins over the week, are moments that I will be forever proud of for my team and how far we all came,” she said.
Flinders finished 23rd out of 32 universities—a fantastic outcome, especially for a group that had never competed in some of the sports before. But the real win came off the court.
From the outset, students came together to define two key values for the week: Community and Achievement. These words shaped everything we did—on the field, in the stands, and back at our accommodation.
Kianna, currently in the first year of a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), was daunted by the prospect of taking part in the competition, but is so glad she did.
“Indigenous Nationals has been the best experience I have had out of uni so far and I look forward to hopefully experiencing it again throughout my course. Meeting mob and being able to experience everything we did in such a culturally safe environment was so empowering and makes me incredibly excited for the future of our people,” she said.
“Thank you massively to Keegan, Cam, Soraya and Aunty Lou for organising and supporting us on our trip, truthfully they done the hardest part and it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
The team also proudly wore a custom-designed Indigenous playing strip, created by Flinders student and teammate Mya Damon, which added to the sense of identity and pride.
This opportunity was made possible through the generous support of the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement, with special thanks to Flinders Sport and Fitness, particularly Cameron Taeuber, for their help in bringing the trip to life. On the ground in Perth, Louise Mitchell, Soraya Butler and Keegan Popowski were instrumental in supporting our students throughout the week.
Indigenous Nationals is more than just a sporting event; it’s a space for students to connect, grow, and lead. For many, it was a transformative experience that strengthened cultural identity, built new networks, and created memories that will last a lifetime.