{
  "id": 8114798,
  "title": "First Nations netballers driving change, bringing cultural safety",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/first-nations-netballers-driving-change-bringing-cultural-safety-8114798",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T22:20:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-18/netball-first-nations-netball-tournament-culturally-safe-spaces/107166430"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "While netball may be Australia's top participation sport for girls and women, it has struggled to produce elite Indigenous talent. Only three Indigenous women have represented the Diamonds: Marcia Ella-Duncan, Sharon Finnan-White and Donnell Wallam, who left Australia for New Zealand in 2024. In response, Netball Australia launched measures to promote cultural safety for First Nations athletes, including the formation of the Black Swans, the First Nations Tournament and Spirit Series. Coach Gillian Lee advised 26-year-old Gabby Coffey, who represented Birmingham in the UK, to move down south to pursue her netball career. Coffey, who grew up in Alice Springs, said the transition to Melbourne was difficult and there was not enough support for First Nations athletes. Coffey believes role models are crucial, as there are only two Indigenous players in Super Netball. Scarlet Jauncey, a Yaruwu woman from Rubibi/Broome in Western Australia, agreed that more focus should be on bringing Indigenous girls into the elite level. Both Coffey and Jauncey believe playing for the Black Swans provides them with inspiration and a goal to strive for.",
  "summary": "Netball has long lacked Indigenous representation at the elite level. The introduction of the First Nations Tournament and Black Swans are some measures the code is taking to address cultural safety.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News",
        "title": "First Nations netballers driving change, bringing cultural safety",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/first-nations-netballers-driving-change-bringing-cultural-safety",
        "published": "2026-09-17T22:20:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}