Indigenous Nationals
Indigenous Nationals is a multi-sport competition for Indigenous students. The annual event brings together student-athletes from universities across Australia to compete in a variety of sports. The event will be contested in a mixed competition across touch football, basketball, netball, and volleyball.
Indigenous Nationals is an amazing environment that celebrates the rich sporting culture of Indigenous Australia while acknowledging the heritage and history of the participating student athletes.
The event is now in its 30th year, returning to the lands of the Awabakal and Worimi Peoples (Newcastle), where the event originated through a class project of students enrolled at the Wollotuka School for Aboriginal Studies, University of Newcastle.
In 2026, the Indigenous Nationals will be held in Newcastle, New South Wales, between Monday 29 June and Friday 3 July. Learn more about Indigenous Nationals on the UniSport website.
2026 Season
Preparations are underway for the 2026 Indigenous Nationals, with the Curtin team now selected and training already in progress.
This year, Curtin will send a team of 15 student-athletes and 4 staff to Newcastle, New South Wales. The team will be officially celebrated at the Indigenous Nationals Launch on Wednesday 27 May.
Before heading to Nationals, the team will compete in the Western Series Indigenous Games at The University of Western Australia on 19 May, where universities from across Western Australia will compete in all four Indigenous Nationals sports. Curtin will be looking to defend the title after taking out the overall win in 2025.
The 2026 leadership group includes captains Rhiannon Dunn and Sanchiago Loberio, with Nikita Penny McDonald and Elliot Logan named as vice captains. Sanchiago and Elliot both return to the leadership group in 2026.
Santchiago Loberio
It’s a privilege to both be back on the team and also lead the team as a captain again this year. I’m hoping I can help make this an amazing experience for all members of the team, as I’ve had amazing experiences myself over the last three Indigenous Nationals I’ve been a part of. I’m really looking forward to all the laughs and memories we’ll make together as a team.