The University of Newcastle goes back-to-back at Indigenous Nationals 2025

The University of Newcastle (UON) has claimed back-to-back titles at the 29th Indigenous Nationals presented by bp Australia, held last week at The University of Western Australia (UWA). The event brought together more than 500 Indigenous student-athletes and university staff from 31 universities for a week of spirited competition and cultural connection.

The competition, hosted in partnership with UWA sport and UWA School of Indigenous Studies, featured four sports; basketball, touch football, netball, and volleyball and was accompanied by several cultural experiences that began with a moving opening ceremony at UWA’s iconic Winthrop Hall and Great Court. 

The 29th Indigenous Nationals organising committee respectfully acknowledges the people of the Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, the traditional owners of the land on which the event took place and pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. 

Led by a strong basketball and touch football showing, UON secured the 2025 Overall honours with a total of 160 points, ahead of Australian Catholic University (ACU) on 143 and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) on 129. 

UON Team Captain Leroy Reid said the team was proud to go back-to-back. 

“It’s a great feeling to get the win again this year,” Reid said of his team’s overall title. “Getting back-to-back wins is a big achievement for the team and we’re all really relieved to get to that stage. It’s a massive fun competition and we love hanging out with all the mob, getting to show your competitive side on top of that is something our team really loves, as well as making the connections.” 

Images Courtesy of Sports Imagery Australia

Crowning the Champions 

UON got the first points on the board in the basketball competition, defeating Monash University 32-23 in a fast-paced final, with Jessica Love (UON) named MVP and Brooklyn Brougham of the Australian National University (ANU) winning the Basketball Spirit of Sport award. 

The touch football final was an overtime thriller, as UON repeated their 2024 success, edging out the University of Sydney (USYD) 6–5 after the scores were locked at four-all at full time and a drop-off was needed to decide the overall winner. CJ Booth (USYD) was chosen as the MVP, with the University of Technology Sydney’s Jordan Williams winning the Touch Football Spirit of Sport award. 

Netball saw UON fall short of defending their 2024 title, this year against a strong ACU outfit, over four thrilling quarters, losing 19-12 in the gold medal match. Latifah Rogers from ACU and Chad Buckman from the University of New South Wales were both awarded MVP honours, with Alkira Johnston (UON) winning Netball’s Spirit of Sport award. 

In front of a capacity crowd and to close out the Indigenous Nationals sporting competitions, Monash University took top honours in Volleyball, defeating QUT in straight sets, with Kelsey Doyle from QUT securing the MVP title and Alli Charles of Monash University taking home Volleyball’s Spirit of the Sport award. 

Spirit of the Games Award 

The ‘Spirit of the Games’ award, voted on by team managers and UniSport staff, was awarded to Edith Cowan University for consistently embodying the values of the Indigenous Nationals throughout the week. 

UniSport Australia CEO Mark Sinderberry commended all participants and praised the week’s atmosphere of cultural inclusion and pride. 

“The Indigenous Nationals is a celebration of strength, community, and culture. To see more than 500 students and officials come together in this way is powerful,” Sinderberry added, “it reminds us that sport is more than competition; it give us connection, pride, and opportunity.” 

“I want to thank our incredible hosts at UWA, our presenting partner bp, and every participant for making this edition so memorable,” Sinderberry concluded. 

Overall results: 

1st – The University of Newcastle (160 points) 

2nd – Australian Catholic University (143 points) 

3rd – Queensland University of Technology (129 points) 

Spirit of the Games: 

1st – Edith Cowan University (11 votes) 

2nd – Queensland University of Technology (8 votes) 

3rd – Southern Cross University (7 votes) 

The host of the 30th Indigenous Nationals will be announced later this week.

Follow UniSport Australia on social media for updates. 

About Indigenous Nationals 

The Indigenous Nationals began in 1996 as a class project by 13 students at the University of Newcastle’s Wollotuka School for Aboriginal Studies. Now in its 29th year, the event brings together Indigenous student-athletes from across Australia in a celebration of sport, culture, and community. 

About UniSport Australia 

UniSport Australia is the peak body for university sport, representing 42 member universities and more than one million students. UniSport delivers national intervarsity sporting competitions that enrich the university experience and champion student success. 

For media enquiries, please contact: marketing@unisport.com.au