UniSport Media Release
For release: 6 July 2023
UniSport Australia (UniSport) in partnership with the Wollotuka Institute, today announced that the University of Wollongong will host the 28th Indigenous Nationals in 2024.
UniSport acknowledges the Dharawal and Wodi Wodi peoples as the traditional owners of the lands on which the 2024 competition will take place.
The Indigenous Nationals connects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from around Australia in a powerful way through sport, promoting positive role models, health, fitness, and wellbeing.
UniSport Chief Executive Officer, Mark Sinderberry congratulated the University of Wollongong for winning the rights to host the 2024 Indigenous Nationals.
“UniSport is committed to providing opportunities to connect students to their universities in a meaningful way. It strengthens students’ connections with their respective university and an opportunity for universities to have purposeful engagement with their indigenous student cohort on campus.” Sinderberry said.
The four-day competition hosts over 500 student-athletes who participate in Basketball, Netball, Touch Football, and Volleyball to determine the overall champion.
University of Wollongong Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy, Jaymee Beveridge is thrilled with event coming to Wollongong.
“The University of Wollongong is beyond thrilled to host the 2024 Indigenous Nationals. This is an amazing opportunity to showcase our beautiful campus and share Wollongong with visitors from all over Australia. We look forward to a delivering a week filled with sporting events, social activities and sharing of Country with over 500 student athletes and team managers. 2024 looks exciting for our Wollongong Community,” said Beveridge.
Alongside the University of Wollongong, UniSport would like to recognise the support of Destination Wollongong in securing the 2024 Indigenous Nationals in the Wollongong region for the first time.
Jeremy Wilshire – Major Events & Special Projects at Destination Wollongong states "being proud of both of our Dharawal heritage and the modern contribution of the University of Wollongong to our city, we are delighted to host the UniSport Indigenous Nationals for the first time.
We trust the participants will get to enjoy some of the amazing things to see and do while they’re in the Illawarra – from our great outdoors, to attractions, thriving foodie scene, and of course, our cultural product, including the Dharawal Cultural Experience at our Visitor Information Centre."
For more information on the Indigenous Nationals click here
About Indigenous Nationals
National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games (NITESG) began in 1996 as a joint class project between 13 students enrolled in a Diploma of Aboriginal Studies (Community Recreation) at the then Wollotuka School for Aboriginal Studies, The University of Newcastle.
Now referred to as Indigenous Nationals, the event is a week-long multisport competition for indigenous student-athletes. The annual event aims to bring together student-athletes from universities across Australia to compete in a variety of sports and crown one university team the champion of the games. Indigenous Nationals is an amazing environment to not only celebrate the rich sporting culture of indigenous Australia but to also acknowledge the heritage and history of the participating student-athletes.
About UniSport
UniSport Australia (UniSport) is the peak body for university sport in Australia. 43 universities are members of UniSport, representing a population of over one million students. UniSport’s ambition is to become an integral partner to Australian universities and to deliver an outstanding student experience at our national intervarsity competitions.
More information on UniSport: www.unisport.com.au
For more information please contact:
Kylie Bloodworth
Marketing and Communications Manager
Mobile: 0449 949 916