Team Wollotuka named back-to-back national champions
The University of Newcastle has been announced as the 2025 Indigenous Nationals winner for the second year in a row, after a group of talented students retained the trophy at the annual university sport games.
Supported by the University’s Wollotuka Institute, the back-to-back champions competed against 31 other universities in a mixed competition across four sports - touch football (first), basketball (first), netball (runners up) and volleyball (top eight).
The 29th Indigenous Nationals was held from 24-27 June in Boorloo on Whadjuk Country, Perth and hosted by University of Western Australia.
The Wollotuka team, made up of inspiring Aboriginal students from a range of disciplines, was also recognised for their individual sportsmanship on the field.
Most Valuable Player awards were presented in each sporting category. Anaiwan woman and Bachelor of Education student Jessica Love received the MVP award for basketball, while co-captain, Kamilaroi woman and Bachelor of Medical Science student Alkira Johnston, was recognised for embodying the spirit of the games in the netball competition.
Loren Collyer, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Leadership and Head of The Wollotuka Institute, said it was an amazing effort from the athletic Wollotuka students.
“I want to congratulate our students for not only winning the games but also representing both the University and their communities to the highest standard.
“I can’t think of a better way to bring the trophy back home, back to where it all started, here at the University of Newcastle.
“We are already preparing for the 30th Indigenous Nationals. We’ve been named host of the 2026 games, so we’re looking forward to having community support when our two-time national champions defend the trophy on home soil.”
The 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 at the University of Newcastle.
It has now grown into a major event on the University calendar. 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.
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.