Some of Australia's best Indigenous talent are part of a 20-strong squad named to represent the Black Swans — the First Nations national team — as part of initiatives by Netball Australia to increase representation throughout the sport and help rectify its troubled past with First Nations peoples.

Indigenous women have a long history of playing netball, yet they have rarely been seen within it, says Beryl Friday, the league's First Nations engagement manager and former Queensland Firebirds championship player.

And many of those who have made it to the top level, have left finding it a "place of trauma".

"I remember my mum and my aunties playing, and I know my grandmother played when she was a young girl as well," Friday, a Kuku Nyungkal woman of the Kuku Yalanji nation, told ABC Sport.

"So, we've always been in and around netball but sometimes probably a bit invisible, particularly at the top level.

"So having initiatives like the Black Swans is just trying to undo some of the wrongs that have been done to us in the past and make the pathways a little bit safer for the next crop of girls coming through."

This year, there were just two contracted First Nations players in Super Netball — Queensland Firebirds star shooter Noongar woman Donnell Wallam and Sunshine Coast Lightning's Wakka Wakka woman Leesa Mi Mi.

Gabby Coffey, a Wiradjuri woman, was a training partner with the Melbourne Vixens.

Wallam was not offered a contract with the Firebirds at the end of the 2024 season and has since signed with the Northern Mystics in New Zealand's top-tier competition.

This is a slight improvement from 2020, when the league had just one Indigenous player, Firebirds and Wakka Wakka woman Jemma Mi Mi.

However that year, Jemma Mi Mi was benched in Indigenous Round after being made its poster woman.

This drew vast fan and community criticism and resulted in the sport pledging a declaration of commitment to help break down the barriers preventing First Nations people from entering and reaching their potential.

Wallam is just the third First Nations woman to pull on the national team dress, along with Marcia Ella-Duncan and Sharon Finnan-White.

'Culturally safe'

Friday explained that it is important for Indigenous players to have opportunities to develop their skills in a culturally safe environment.

She said as First Nations peoples, they have a different way of knowing, doing and being, and whether unconsciously or not, they can code switch to fit the majority in certain settings.

"[But] when we're in a culturally safe environment, we can talk our slang and our lingo and know that we are on the same wavelength," Friday said.

"Because that's who we are, innately, as First Nations people and women in particular. So first, a culturally safe environment is just doing that, it's allowing us to be who we are without judgement."

Coming together in a non-judgemental environment means First Nations women can all learn from each other about culture.

"We help each other in our learning journeys, in our culture and developing those leadership skills off the court, but also on the court," Friday said.

"We know that we will have our best intentions at heart and we're supportive of each other's growth."

Moreover, Wallam has infamously dealt with ongoing experiences of racism within netball, including being on the receiving end of a racist letter just before this year's Super Netball's NAIDOC week celebrations in early July.

After the inaugural squad, about 80 Indigenous players, coaches and umpires became connected in a community where they could use each other as a support system.

'Part of netball's history'

The Black Swans debuted earlier this year at the 2024 Pacific Netball Series, where they finished top of the table but were unable to compete for silverware being an invitational team.

Next February, they will compete as domestic invitees at the 2025 PacificAus Sports Netball Series against the Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga national sides and the inaugural inclusion of the Scottish Thistles.

Friday was a part of the inaugural Black Swans First Nations team in a key mentor role.

She will continue with the new squad, which includes 12 returning members and eight debuts.

Olivia Clark, Kamilaroi goaler and returning Black Swans representative, said there was a lot of joy and pride in being able to represent their culture on a large scale.

She now wants to use her experiences in the pathway to help others within it.

"I honestly never thought I would be a part of netball's history," Clark said.

"It allowed me to play and meet some other extraordinary First Nations netball players from all around the country that I wouldn't have ever played with if it wasn't for this opportunity."

'From grassroots up and the top down'

There is no one common goal with the introduction of the First Nations squad, Friday said.

While they would like to see more Indigenous Super Netball and Indigenous players, they also want better representation at all levels within the sport.

She'd also love to see a men's counterpart of the First Nations tournament.

"We want to see more coaches. We want to see more team managers … from grassroots up and the top down," Friday said.

"I know we're starting with the girls, but there is so much opportunity for this pathway and program to grow. But for me, I obviously would like to see more Indigenous players who are Diamonds."

This year, Netball Australia also ran a pilot First Nations tournament in September, in a bid to improve pathways from community into the elite system. It featured an under-23 team from every state and territory.

Finnan-White also established a First Nations Academy of Excellence (FNAE) to support emerging netballers, coaches and umpires through netball's pathways, which have not always been the most welcoming of spaces to First Nations people.

'Inspire young Torres Strait Islanders and Indigenous Australians'

The new squad includes the first ever Black Swans member of Torres Strait Islander heritage, Mabuyag and Saibai Island woman Maryke Babia, who was identified at Netball Australia's inaugural First Nations Netball Tournament.

"It is a huge responsibility, but also a tremendous privilege," Babia said.

"My dad grew up in the Torres Strait on Mabuyag island and has passed down language, songs, art and cultural practices my whole life — embracing and celebrating culture at home.

"These values have guided me throughout my sporting journey. I hope to inspire young Torres Strait Islanders and Indigenous Australians."

Friday is hoping these younger players walk away with a better experience than some of her peers, who walked away from the sport after less than ideal experiences.

"And for some, netball might even have been a place of trauma," Friday said.

"Previous to the Black Swans last year, for the Pacific series, I hadn't really been involved in netball for at least a year — and had no intention of coming back into the sport — but I think it's important that I came back to pass on my knowledge to the next generation.

"And I know that many other First Nations past players feel the same. So I think it is changing our outlook on it, and it's great that it's changing from the inside too."