Monash University awarded hosts of the 2023 Indigenous Nationals

UniSport Media Release

For release: 1 July 2022

Image: QUT handing over the Indigenous Nationals Host University boomerang to Monash University

Image credit: Rogue Gun Photography

UniSport Australia (UniSport) in partnership with the Wollotuka Institute, yesterday announced Monash University as host of the 27th Indigenous Nationals in June 2023.

UniSport acknowledges the people of the Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of the lands on which the 2023 competition will take place.

The Indigenous Nationals connects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through sport, promoting positive role models, health, fitness, and wellbeing. The four-day competition hosts over 300 student-athletes who participate in Basketball, Netball, Touch Football, and Volleyball to determine the overall champion.

UniSport Chief Executive Officer, Mark Sinderberry congratulated Monash University for winning the rights to host the 2023 Indigenous Nationals.

“Monash University will provide a unique experience to participants as all events will be hosted at the world class facilities on their campus. UniSport is committed to providing opportunities to connect students to their universities in a meaningful way and hosting the event entirely on campus is a great way to highlight the benefits of university sport to the wider university community” Sinderberry said.

Monash University, alongside the William Cooper Institute, host the event for the first time and will bring a unique experience to student-athletes as all events will be hosted on their campus at Clayton.

Acting Director of William Cooper Institute, Jamil Tye explains “Monash University is delighted to have been selected to host the 2023 Indigenous Nationals. We can’t wait to welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes from across Australia to our Clayton campus, located on the unceded lands of the people of the Kulin Nation.

“We look forward to sharing and celebrating our Koorie culture together, whilst enjoying the camaraderie that comes with playing sport” said Tye.

QUT was 2022 games host, and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy) Angela Barney-Leitch congratulated Monash University, saying the event was an excellent opportunity for universities to build engagement with Indigenous communities.

“It is a powerful way to strengthen identity and resilience of current Indigenous students when they can look out and see that every one of their competitors are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders studying at theirs or another university,” she said.

For more information on the Indigenous Nationals click here

About Indigenous Nationals

National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games (NITESG) began in 1996 as a joint class project between 13 students enrolled in a Diploma of Aboriginal Studies (Community Recreation) at the then Wollotuka School for Aboriginal Studies, The University of Newcastle.

Now referred to as Indigenous Nationals, the event is a week-long multisport competition for indigenous student-athletes. The annual event aims to bring together student-athletes from universities across Australia to compete in a variety of sports and crown one university team the champion of the games. Indigenous Nationals is an amazing environment to not only celebrate the rich sporting culture of indigenous Australia but to also acknowledge the heritage and history of the participating student-athletes.

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About UniSport

UniSport Australia (UniSport) is the peak body for university sport in Australia. 43 universities are members of UniSport, representing a population of over one million students. UniSport’s ambition is to become an integral partner to Australian universities and to deliver an outstanding student experience at our national intervarsity competitions.

More information on UniSport: www.unisport.com.au

For more information please contact:

Kylie Bloodworth

Marketing and Communications Manager

Mobile: 0449 949 916

Email: kylie.bloodworth@unisport.com.au