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Netball NSW is delighted to announce the athletes selected to represent New South Wales at Netball Australia’s inaugural First Nations National Tournament scheduled to be held in Melbourne this September.

With the support of FDC, the NSW First Nations Team will contest the Tournament which aims to provide accelerated and equitable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants in netball.

The Tournament will take place at the State Netball Centre in Melbourne from Friday to Sunday, 13-15 September.

The Tournament will feature Under-23 aged teams from every State and Territory who will compete across three days of competition.

Alongside NSW the Tournament will also have teams representing Victoria, ACT, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

“The 2024 pilot First Nations Tournament marks the first step of a national First Nations netball competition,” Netball Australia CEO Stacey West said.

“It will provide the opportunity for Netball Australia and its Member Organisations to develop what an ongoing First Nations tournament can grow to become as our sport moves forward on its collective First Nations journey.”

First Nations coaches, umpires and officials from around the country will also take part in the inaugural event, further showcasing the depth of Indigenous talent that exits across the netball landscape.

Leading the NSW team in Melbourne will be Colleen Mitchell (Head Coach) and Kellyanne Huggins (Assistant Coach), while Emerging Umpire Ryan Ahearne will also be participating.

The Tournament follows several national First Nations programs established this year including a pilot First Nations Coaching Course, as well as the formation and debut of Netball Australia’s First Nations Invitational Netball Team, the Black Swans, at the 2024 Pacific Netball Series.

Netball Australia’s First Nations Engagement Lead Ali Tucker-Munro expressed the importance of the inaugural Tournament.

“I cannot wait to see our girls in action, as well as the opportunity to connect with mob from across Australia who share the same passion and love for our great game that I do,” Tucker-Munro said.

“The introduction of this First Nations Tournament demonstrates the commitment from Netball Australia and all Member Organisations to take the required steps to ensure our sport is a safe inclusive space for First Nations Australians, whilst recognising and nurturing the First Nations talent we know exists within our communities across Australia.

“I’d also like to thank our partners who have demonstrated a deep understanding of what it means to invest in programs that create opportunities specifically for our strong staunch First Nations women and girls.”

Russell Grady, Managing Director of FDC, who are supporting the NSW team, said:

“As long-term supporters of women’s sport and GIANTS Netball, FDC were thrilled to be offered the opportunity to assist Netball NSW in participating in the pilot First Nations Tournament. We would like to thank Netball Australia for introducing this great initiative.

“The impact that such an event will have on encouraging and developing the talents of First Nations netballers across the country, and contributing to the overall strength of our game, cannot be underestimated.

“FDC are very proud to be able to support such a worthwhile event and look forward to its future successes”.

Netball NSW CEO Tracey Scott said:

“Netball NSW firmly believes that there should be an annual First Nations National Tournament in the high-performance calendar and we confirmed our commitment to this initiative immediately upon it being raised as a possibility.

“I would like to sincerely thank FDC for their support to enable us to participate and Netball Australia for working collaboratively with its Member Organisations to ensure the tournament commences this year.”

The 2024 First Nations Tournament will be free for patrons to attend.

NSW FIRST NATIONS TEAM

Acacia Elers (Newcastle/Worimi)
Alirah Watton (Dubbo /Gamilaroi )
Ayla Clark (Sutherland Shire /Worimi)
Charlotte Ryan (Randwick/Dharawal)
Ellie Stacey (Maitland/ Wonnarua)
Jayda Grant (Wyong District/Wiradjuri)
Jaylah Boney (Charlestown /Ngemba/Barkinji)
Mia Evans (Illawarra Distrit/Kamilaroi)
Sarah Graham (Newcastle/Biripi)
Tahlia Robertson (Sutherland Shire/Noongar)
COACHING TEAM
Colleen Mitchell (Head Coach / Ku-Ring-Gai/Worimi)
Kellyanne Huggins (Assistant Coach/Maitland/Gomeroi)
OFFICIALS
Ryan Ahearne (Umpire/Randwick/Wiradjuri)

Netball NSW is proud to introduce the organisation’s Aboriginal Artwork, Harmony on the Court, which will be integrated into all elements of Netball NSW going forward.   

Designed by Chloe Eastwood and Tay-la Shearley of Bindi Bindi Art, the design depicts vibrant hues and intricate Aboriginal designs, transforming a netball court into sacred ground.

Harmony on the Court embraces the colours of Netball NSW while reflecting the land, waterways, and natural fauna found across the state. It showcases the unity and diversity of Associations and Clubs, engaging participants, creating community and life-long connections.

The court’s markings intertwine with Dreamtime symbols, signifying a rich cultural tapestry and profound land connection. The regions across NSW are connected like players on the court, working together towards common goals, demonstrating the power of teamwork and unity, where everyone’s role is crucial to the success of the team.

Intricately placed symbols represent the connection between players on a court, and the regions across NSW that play their part in the landscape of netball, each a tribute to the ancestral pathways, connecting the Aboriginal community to their land and heritage.

The artists, Chloe and Tay-la, are proud Ngemba and Wiradjuri women who have a strong connection to the Darug community and also consider it home.

“Our connection to Netball NSW is deeply rooted in our personal experiences and a shared passion for the sport’’ say Chloe and Tayla

“Both of us grew up playing netball, fostering a love for the game that extended beyond the court. Whether actively participating or avidly spectating, netball has been an integral part of our lives.

“Now, as parents, we are excited to further nurture this connection by enrolling our daughter in her first year of playing netball. This marks not only a continuation of our family’s involvement in the sport but also a new chapter in our shared journey with Netball NSW, as we pass on the legacy of our love for netball to the next generation.”

The design radiates Netball NSW’s core values:

• Creating an inclusive, welcoming environment
• Fostering teamwork and unity
• Striving for excellence
• Promoting fun and passion for the game

These elements merge to form a dynamic representation of a community rooted in tradition, excellence, and a shared love of the game.

Netball NSW CEO Tracey Scott thanked Chloe and Tay-la for showing through their art netball’s connection to community and land.

‘’Harmony on the Court certainly embodies netball in NSW through the lens of Aboriginal culture and pays homage to the Netball NSW Vision, Purpose and Values,’’ she said.

‘’We are excited to showcase the artwork through our pathways, programs, competitions and the Netball NSW brand.’’

Netball NSW thanks all the artists who put forward an Expression of Interest to design the organisation’s First Nations artwork.

Four new magistrates will bring a diversity of experience to the Local Court of NSW.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley welcomed the expertise of the new appointees, Danielle Mansour, Jennifer Wong, Maryanne Higginson and Rachael Wong.

They bring more than eight decades of legal experience between them, with professional backgrounds spanning the Crown Solicitor’s Office, the NSW Police, the court registry, advocacy for victims and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Following the swearing in of the new magistrates, there are now 79 female and 75 male magistrates in the NSW Local Court.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“These four remarkable women are excellent appointments for the NSW Local Court.

“We live in a diverse society in NSW and judicial officers need to reflect the community in which they serve.

“The new magistrates have an impressive range of experience across the justice system and will be a tremendous asset to the Local Court.”

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Magistrates’ biographies:

Danielle Mansour

Ms Mansour has two decades’ experience in criminal law, most recently as solicitor advocate with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. She commenced her career with the NSW Police, where her roles included work as a liaison officer with diverse communities and as a Police Prosecutor.

Jennifer Wong

Ms Wong has spent more than a decade at the Crown Solicitor’s Office, primarily with the Child Protection Practice Group. Admitted as a solicitor in 1999, her career spans Victims Services, Women’s Legal Services NSW and the Community Legal Service for Western NSW.

Maryanne Higginson

Ms Higginson has 35 years’ experience in NSW Local Courts and the administration of justice. She has held the position of Senior Manager and Hub Registrar, Illawarra South Region Hub, since 2021. Admitted as a solicitor in 1996, Ms Higginson’s career has covered senior management roles in the Children’s Court, the Sydney Civil Registry, the Downing Centre Local Court and policy officer roles.

Rachael Wong

Ms Wong has most recently been a solicitor at the Kingsford Legal Centre. Prior to this Ms Wong spent almost a decade with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, worked at the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) in Dubbo and with the NSW Crime Commission.

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The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to boost education outcomes across NSW, today unveiling a revamped primary school curriculum that is clear, evidence-based and carefully sequenced to ensure students receive the best education possible.

The revamped curriculum places greater focus on essential knowledge and provides more clarity for teachers on what all students need to learn, with more detailed and specific content.

With all NSW primary school syllabuses developed at the same time for the first time in 50 years, the new curriculum also improves connections across different subject areas so children can better apply their new knowledge and skills.

Today, syllabuses for Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), Creative Arts, Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) and Science and Technology are being released to teachers, with updated Maths and English syllabuses already in classrooms from this year.

The new integrated approach to teaching and learning will ensure students learn new concepts, information and skills in the right order and have more opportunities to apply it. For example, when a student begins learning about graphs in mathematics, they will then start using graphs in geography and science.

These changes have been widely supported by teachers, parents and school sectors, and reflect feedback from submissions made through two rounds of public consultation.

Under the former government teachers were only given one year to plan and prepare for these new syllabuses.

Following feedback from teachers and advisory groups that the curriculum reform schedule was unworkable, the Minns Labor Government revised the Curriculum Reform timeline, and teachers will now have two years to familiarise themselves with the updated syllabus before it becomes mandatory in all NSW schools on day one, term one 2027.

Schools may choose to implement the revised curriculum ahead of this deadline.

Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE)

The new syllabus introduces Human Society and its Environment (HSIE). HSIE will replace the separate subjects of History and Geography, to create a subject which explores the key themes of both History and Geography at a local, national, and global level, in an interconnected way.

The new HSIE syllabus will also include:

• Compulsory Civics and Citizenship content, including lessons on democratic roles and responsibilities, including and the role and history of voting in a democracy. 
• A strengthened focus on ensuring children have the skills to use tools for geography, such as maps and globes.
• Australian history, including Aboriginal cultures and history as well as the arrival of the First Fleet and the events and people that led to Federation.
• Topics that provide a window to the wider world, including ancient global civilisations.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)

The NSW Government is continuing work to support active lifestyles for young people across NSW, and encourage them to play outside, not on their phones.

The new PDHPE syllabus will support this focus, with for the inclusion for the first time of content addressing the healthy use of digital devices. and the importance of balancing screen time with outdoor physical activity.

The updated curriculum will also make the teaching of fundamental movement skills explicit. This aligns with the latest research on the importance of developing essential movement skills in childhood to create a foundation for activity into adulthood.

Further, for the first time the syllabus includes content to support students with physical disabilities to develop movement skills. Previously there was no explicit support for students with a physical disability.

The new PDHPE syllabus also includes age-appropriate lessons on respectful relationships and consent. For example, students will learn how and when to seek, give or deny consent in age-appropriate scenarios such as sharing toys or joining a game, and accepting how others respond.  

Educating children on these issues from a young age is vital, but it is also paramount this work is done in an age-appropriate way that can be built upon in later years, which is what this new curriculum ensures.

Creative Arts

This will be the first update to the Primary Creative Arts syllabus in 24 years. Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts all fall under the umbrella of Creative Arts, with the updated syllabus to ensure students have an equal opportunity to develop their skills in each creative area.

Previously, there were no clear guidelines for how much time should be spent on each creative area, which meant for example, some students received ample opportunity to learn about visual arts, but minimal time exploring drama.

Science and Technology

Under the new Science and Technology syllabus, for the first time, students will develop an understanding of the human body, including, the skeletal, respiratory and circulatory systems.

The updated syllabus will also provide students with increased hands-on learning experiences including outdoor learning about animals, habitats and ecosystems.

Students will also learn about the earth and solar systems, climate, energy, food chains and electricity under the updated curriculum.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“This is a significant milestone in NSW Curriculum Reform that will reshape education in NSW for decades to come.

“For the first time, primary school teachers have a set of syllabuses that make sense together and will ensure students have a strong foundation upon which to build their knowledge.

“Teachers will have clarity on exactly what they need to teach, based on evidence – taking away the guesswork and streamlining workload.  

“I thank the teachers of NSW who were part of the syllabus writing process and who contributed their thoughts and expertise to consultation.

“The result is a NSW Primary School Curriculum that is evidence-based, supports teachers and will set students up for success.”

NSW Education Standards Authority CEO Paul Martin said:

“These are rigorous, world-class syllabuses that teachers will find exciting.

“They are sequenced, coherent, knowledge-rich, and infer a more explicit teaching practice.

“NSW teachers work with syllabuses every day, they deserve to be given the respect of clarity. I am pleased to be handing over syllabuses that do that.”

Eden will enjoy the benefits of bigger cruise ships and more frequent visits, thanks to the NSW Government granting planning approval for a modification to the existing Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension.

It comes off the back of Eden’s busiest summer cruise season on record, expected to pump an estimated $19 million into the local economy, based on previous data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Eden is well equipped to handle cruise ship visits, and the approved planning modification will ensure the region is fit for future cruise growth by allowing greater capacity.

The changes will open Eden up to larger cruise ships from all over the world over the next decade and beyond.

The modification application approval to the Eden Cruise Wharf includes:

• Removing the current cruise ship visit cap of 60 visits per season, helping to grow the number of visits for the long-term future;
• Allowing vessels up to 370 metres to call at the berth (up from 325 metres);
• The opportunity for overnight berthing, increasing the opportunity for visitors to explore and experience the beautiful Sapphire Coast and beyond;
• Removing the 100m length limit on other vessel types to call at the berth including naval vessels, optimising the use of this world class facility.

Minor physical modifications with minimal construction will be required to the wharf, with Port Authority currently preparing the Operational Environmental Management Plan which is expected to be ready by the end of 2024.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen:

“Eden is already our state’s largest regional cruise port – and we’re making it even better, lifting the cap on visits and increasing NSW’s already booming market share of Australia’s cruising industry.

“Cruising is one of Eden’s biggest economic drivers, so allowing bigger international ships to sail will bring enormous benefits to the region for years to come.

“Investing in our regional ports is a no-brainer. We want people from all over the world to experience everything our stunning state has to offer and ensure we all reap the economic rewards.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:

“Eden’s maritime history stretches back to its whaling days almost 200 years ago and has evolved to become the popular tourism destination it is today.

“This modern-day maritime project unlocks huge opportunities for the Sapphire Coast region to support the local economy and create ongoing local jobs.”

Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland MP:

“Cruise visitors bring a new energy to the local community, and locals – particularly our hard-working businesses – love seeing passengers step onto our shores.

“We’re pleased to grow our capacity and maximise the number of people who can spend time in our region, which is unparallelled in its natural beauty, hospitality, tours and charm.”

Port Authority CEO Captain Philip Holliday:

“We already have 26 cruise ship visits booked for upcoming summer cruise season in Eden and we look forward to welcoming the first ship, Disney Wonder, into the Port of Eden on 30 October.

“As the upcoming cruise seasons build momentum and more bookings are secured, we are likely to see a greater number of cruise ships add Eden to their itineraries, which could include first-time visits for Majestic Princess and Ovation of the Seas.

“As part of the planning modification approval, the next step is to ensure we have an updated Operational Environmental Management Plan in place for the start of the next season.”