Aggie Bradshaw
29 March 2023: Teams from the University of Canberra, the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) competed in basketball, netball and volleyball at the inaugural Indigenous Intervarsity competition, in preparation for Indigenous Nationals in June.
2023 marks the first year that UC will attend the UniSport Australia Indigenous Nationals, held at Monash University on the land of the Kulin Nation.
University of Canberra Director of Sport Carrie Graf said the institution was incredibly pleased to be able to host such an important event for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
“The Indigenous Intervarsity event is an integral part of the process of preparing our students to take part in Indigenous Nationals,” she said.
“UC Sport and the Ngunnawal Centre are incredibly proud to be collaborating on this event as a sporting and cultural opportunity for our First Nations students.”
Ngunnawal and Kamilaroi man Richie Allan welcomed the students to the land of the Ngunnawal people, before the games got underway.
The event finished with the group meeting on the Northern Concourse to enjoy a meal made with native ingredients.
UTS student and Bardi Jawi man TJ Bin Hitam-Keeffe said the event was a very positive experience.
“It was so good to see everyone come together and enjoy some healthy competition,” he said.
“It was fun and social and connected us, and I think that's special. I really enjoyed the day, and I am glad I got to meet all these people.”
The ANU’s Shakira Tyson said having the opportunity to connect with different mobs was something that the two Canberra teams will continue into the future, as they are set to train together ahead of the 2023 Indigenous National event in June.
“I like how we can come together, into a family – a big family,” she said.
“We come from different mobs, but we all come together and become one. It was nice to sit in a circle and hear where everyone’s from.”
