Celebrating Culture, Community and Competition at UniSport Indigenous Nationals
Published Fri 10 Jul 2026
As NAIDOC Week comes to a close, we are reflecting on the outstanding efforts of the First Nations student athletes who proudly represented Adelaide University at the 2026 UniSport Indigenous Nationals in Awabakal and Worimi Country in Newcastle.
Held from 29 June to 3 July, the 30th edition brought together 31 universities from across Australia, celebrating First Nations culture through sport, connection and community. A team of 16, comprising of both men and women, travelled to Newcastle to compete across Netball, Basketball, Touch Football, and Volleyball events. The team delivered great performances throughout the week, highlighted by a third-place finish in Netball and strong performances in Basketball and Volleyball, helping Adelaide University finish 11th overall.
The achievements of the team reflect the values celebrated throughout NAIDOC Week (5–12 July), recognising history, culture and achievements while highlighting the importance of community, inclusion and connection. Indigenous Nationals was able to provide our First Nations students with the opportunity to represent their university, connect with students from across the country, celebrate their culture, share a Kaurna cultural dance, and build lifelong friendships.
Tirkangkaku / Adelaide University congratulates all 16 athletes who represented Adelaide University and carried the pride of its community onto the national stage - competing with purpose, celebrating culture and building connections that extend far beyond the court and field.
