The University of Western Australia is expected to welcome over 500 Indigenous student athletes from 30 universities across the nation on Monday 23 June 2025 for UniSport Australia Indigenous Nationals.

The week-long multisport competition will bring together Indigenous student athletes from universities across Australia. The event celebrates the rich history of sporting culture of Indigenous Australia whilst acknowledging the heritage and history of contribution of Indigenous athletes to sport. At The University of Western Australia (UWA), sport plays a central role in the lives of students, encouraging new friendships, skills and healthy campus life. Starting where kaardtdijin (knowledge) began. The University of Western Australia sits on sacred soil alongside the Derbal Yerrian (Swan River) on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. The site of UWA has been a place to gather and learn for tens of thousands of years, sharing life lessons through stories that have been passed down from generation to generation of the world’s oldest continuous culture.

"We are honoured to host the 2025 Indigenous Nationals on Whadjuk Country.  This event is more than just a competition, it's a celebration of culture, community,  and the achievements of Indigenous student-athletes.

Kristina Mitsikas, Senior Manager Inclusion

UniSport Nationals, held from 23 - 27 June, will see UWA transform into a cultural hub for 500 Indigenous students across teams from more than 30 Australian Universities and tertiary institutions. Each university team will compete in mixed sports including basketball, netball, touch rugby and volleyball. 

"We look forward to welcoming teams from across the country to share stories, build friendships, strengthen connections and create lasting memories through sport," Ms Mitsikas said.

Jake Wilkins, UWA Sport's General Manager, said that UWA Sport is excited to collaborate with UWA School of Indigenous Studies and UniSport Australia to provide UWA Maaliwah athletes with the unique opportunity to compete and represent their culture in their home state. 

This year, UWA will register two teams to compete across the five days of the multi-sport event. The UWA Maaliwah team have a rich history competing at Indigenous Nationals, as one of the first university teams outside NSW and the ACT to compete in the event. UWA’s prominence is reflected in the seven championships and six runner-up titles that the university has achieved since its involvement in the event.

For more information on the 29th Indigenous Nationals, visit UniSport Australia.