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The Curtin Kardas have proudly represented Curtin University at the 2026 UniSport Indigenous Nationals, held in Newcastle on the lands of the Awabakal and Worimi people.
In the 30th anniversary of the Indigenous Nationals, universities from across Australia came together for a week of sport, culture, connection and community.
The Kardas began their journey with a visit to Nobby’s Beach, where they acknowledged their presence on Country and paid respects to the Traditional Owners. The team was welcomed by a special moment on the water, with whales and dolphins spotted during the visit.
Players attended accreditation, where they had access to the Walkabout Barber, a free haircut and beauty service by mob for mob, before the Opening Ceremony and Dance Ceremony.
The Welcome Ceremony included addresses from the Wollotuka Institute, the University of Newcastle, UniSport Australia Chair Bill Shorten, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy. Elders in residence from the Wollotuka Institute presented each university with a message stick and touch football, marking the beginning of the week.
Tuesday 30 June
Competition began on Tuesday 30 June with basketball, where the Kardas were placed in Pool H alongside Flinders University, Victoria University and Swinburne University.
Curtin opened the day with a close 19–14 loss to Flinders University. After a difficult start, the Kardas found momentum in the second half, with Blake Tapper adding energy to the team’s offence and the group working the ball well before taking their shots.
The Kardas bounced back strongly in their second game, claiming a 30–12 win over Victoria University! Curtin came out firing, with strong defensive pressure, crucial scoring from Blake, and key rebounds from Hayley and Charlotte. Pascal, Santchiago, Tyrell and Ciara also joined the scoreboard in the second half to secure a strong whole-team win.
In their final basketball match, the Kardas were defeated 33–15 by Swinburne University. Despite the result, the team showed strong teamwork and used the mixed basketball rules well to close the gap before half-time. Swinburne finished strongly in the second half, but the Kardas continued to fight until the final whistle.
Curtin finished third in Pool H, behind Swinburne and Flinders, and ahead of Victoria University.
Wednesday 1 July
On Wednesday, the Kardas took to the netball court with heart and spirit. The team started strongly, defeating RMIT 30–4 and recording their first opening-game win in two years. Jilaya and Charlie were standout shooters, helping lead the Kardas to a dominant result.
Their second match against Bond University ended in an 11–11 draw after a closely contested game. Following the match, Bond presented the Kardas with a message stick created by one of their students, a gesture that reflected the spirit of respect and connection throughout the competition.
Curtin’s final netball game against the University of Queensland was another intense contest. The Kardas were two points down at half-time and fought hard to close the gap, but UQ’s shooting accuracy proved the difference, with Curtin narrowly defeated 20–18.
The final loss to University of Queensland meant the Kardas finished second in Pool E, and out of finals contention.
Thursday 2 July
On Day 4, the Kardas were up early for touch rugby, taking to the field with energy and determination. Their opening match against the University of Newcastle was a tough contest, with the Kardas working hard to defend and move the ball under pressure. While the final score finished 8–0, Curtin’s effort and persistence remained strong throughout.
In their second match, the Kardas celebrated their first try of the day against Bond University. Blake scored with lightning reflexes down the wing, giving Curtin a well-earned point and plenty to celebrate. Bond went on to win the match 11–1, but the Kardas left the field proud of their effort.
Special recognition was given to Santchiago and Nitika for their strong performances on the field, with their efforts also acknowledged by Bond University through a special gift created by their students.
Being placed in Pool A was a tough draw for the Kardas, who had limited touch experience in comparison to two of the strongest teams. We finished third in Pool A.
Friday 3 July
Friday was the final day of competition, returning to the court for volleyball, where the team finished the week on a high.
Curtin opened against the University of Wollongong in a tightly contested match. The teams were evenly matched throughout, with UOW taking the first set before the Kardas fought back to win the second. The match went into overtime, with Wollongong narrowly taking the 2–1 win.
Unfazed by the result, the Kardas responded with energy and tenacity in their second match, defeating James Cook University 2–0.
The final match of the week saw Curtin take on Western Sydney University. After four months of training and competing together, the Kardas gave one final strong performance, winning the match 2–1 and finishing their Indigenous Nationals campaign with back-to-back volleyball victories.
Pascal was recognised for his powerful striking, while Elliot was acknowledged for his leadership and expert captaincy throughout the volleyball campaign.
A strong second-place finish in Pool D again meant the Kardas didn’t make finals, which is the unforgiving format of pool tournaments.
The Kardas finished 18th overall, bringing home a week of hard work, perseverance and proud representation for Curtin. While not every result went their way, the team showed grit, teamwork and respect across all four days of competition.
The overall champions for the 30th anniversary of Indigenous Nationals, and achieving a three-peat, were the students from University of Newcastle and Wollotuka Institute. The Kardas congratulate the Wollies on their well-deserved win.
We extend a special thank you to Kardas player Tannah Shehan, who sent through match results and updates throughout the week. Her support helped us share timely updates with the Curtin community and celebrate the team’s efforts across the competition.
The Kardas now look ahead to the 2027 Indigenous Nationals, which will be held at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland.
