Athlete pathways

The benefits of regular sport and physical activity are numerous and supported by a broad body of research and evidence. ³⁴ Participation in sport and physical activity generally varies significantly across an individual's life course. ³⁵

First Nations participation in sport and physical activity is often difficult to analyse. Adult participation at a grass-roots level is often lower than the broader community, but First Nations children may be more active, or more involved in organised sport, depending on age, gender, socio-economic factors, or where they live. ^{36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41}

First Nations people represent an estimated 3.8% of the total Australian population. ⁴² At an elite level, First Nations athletes have a higher than population average representation in certain sports (e.g., around 12% of the total mens’ and womens’ National Rugby League (NRL) 2021 playing group were First Nations representatives), but in other sports their representation is significantly below the population average. ^{9, 43, 44, 45}

First Nations players often develop their skills through more informal games before being introduced to a more directive, coached approach when they enter the traditional Australian sport talent pathway or elite sport system. This may be a challenging cultural transition or effect for both First Nations players and traditional sport organisations and coaches. ^{46, 47, 48, 49}

While First Nations individuals come from a broad variety of communities and backgrounds, for some, moving from small to larger communities may be the first time they have left their home community. English may be their second language, and they may have never used systems such as public transport before. Additional support and understanding may initially be required. ^{30, 50}

Several reviews and guidance documents have provided recommendations to help First Nations athletes adapt and thrive in high performance environments.

Creating culturally safe organisations and environments

• All industry stakeholders investing in programs and opportunities to address cross-cultural awareness and provide support to First Nations individuals. ^{50, 51}
• Having cultural training, liaison officers, and/or First Nations mentors available to provide advice to non-Indigenous coaches, officials, athletes, and staff. This can help improve cultural awareness and empathy and provide practical advice and actions to develop culturally safe environments. ^{30, 50, 51}

Talent identification and athlete pathways

• Developing parallel pathways for First Nations players which link to mainstream opportunities, including supporting First Nations’ leagues, clubs, competitions, including On Country opportunities. ^{4, 23, 52, 53, 54}
• Providing more development opportunities for First Nations players within regions, with specialist coaches travelling more frequently to regions and staying for longer durations. ⁴
• Making selection criteria more transparent; having scouts visit the regions to identify talent; having a First Nations representative on selection bodies; and providing a code of conduct for selection. ⁴

Once players are selected

• Having club officials visit and understand the home community and culture of the player. ⁵⁰
• Discussing important cultural traditions (e.g., ‘Sorry Business’, cultural leave, and significant dates on the First Nations calendar). ⁵⁰
• Considering individualised approaches to relocating athletes, possibly in stages, e.g., if a person is from a remote area, maybe move to a regional centre first, rather than straight to a capital city to allow more time to adjust to urban environments and situations. ³⁰
• Connecting the player to local First Nations community and support networks, including mentors and contacts, where possible such as current or former First Nations players or coaches, or local community Elders. Ensuring these supports are available across a long period, not just at camps or special events. ^{30, 50, 51}
• Helping to mitigate home sickness by planning home visits or arranging for family and friends to visit the athlete. ⁵⁰
• Creating a family-like environment or team culture within each squad/team. Possibly having younger athletes stay with First Nations or other compatible families. ^{30, 50}

Ongoing development and support

• Providing education and personal development opportunities for First Nations athletes, such as managing finances, building self-confidence, and public speaking. ^{30, 50, 51}
• Organising regular (e.g., annual or biannual) First Nations forums. ^{30, 50}
• Include cultural aspects within program delivery. ^{30, 50, 51}

Many available reviews and guidelines focus on specific sports, and primarily on athlete experiences. However, they may also be a valuable starting point for discussion and development for other sports, clubs, schools, or organisations who want to provide a safe, and culturally supportive environment for First Nations people, and for other participants, such as coaches and officials. ^{50, 55}

High performance participation

There is limited consistent data available on the number of First Nations athletes in high performance sport (e.g., Olympic and Paralympic teams, professional leagues, etc.). Statistics are often reported in media style articles, based on manual counting, and may not be updated frequently. Some examples include:

• Players Launch 2025 Indigenous Map, opens in a new tab, AFL Players' Association, (15 May 2025). The map showcases the cultural diversity within the playing group, with this year’s map featuring 59 language groups of 63 AFL and 22 AFLW current players.
• AFL is alert, not alarmed, at fall in Indigenous representation, opens in a new tab, AAP, AFL.com.au, (13 May 2024). THE AFL is pushing for greater Indigenous representation in official roles but isn't alarmed at a drop in the number of First Nations players at the elite level, chief executive Andrew Dillon says. The number of Indigenous players in the AFL has dropped to 71 this season from 87 four years ago.
• Two years on from the Jemma Mi Mi incident, Super Netball is in a better place to celebrate First Nations Round, opens in a new tab, Brittany Carter, ABC, (25 May 2022). The number of First Nations players in Super Netball has risen to three this season, with Donnell Wallam making her debut at the Queensland Firebirds alongside Mi Mi, and Melbourne Vixens training partner Gabby Coffey appearing for the Collingwood Magpies under COVID protocols.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team members history, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth Games Australia, (accessed 11 August 2025). It was in 1962 that we first saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes compete at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games on home soil in Perth. Eddie Barney, Adrian Blair and Jeff Dynevor represented Australia in boxing and Percy Hobson in athletics (high jump).
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Players, opens in a new tab, Rugby Australia, (accessed 11 August 2025). Provides a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders players in order of debut including in the Wallabies, Wallaroos, Men's, and Women's Sevens teams.
• History of Indigenous Athletes in Australia, opens in a new tab, Jake Stevens, Jump Media and Marketing/Athletics Australia, (accessed 11 August 2025). Provides a brief history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in athletics including identifying several significant athletes.
• Indigenous Australian Olympians, opens in a new tab, Australian Olympic Committee, (accessed 11 August 2025). Australia has been represented by 59 Indigenous athletes at the Summer Olympic Games and by one Indigenous athlete at the Winter Olympic Games.
• Indigenous map showcases NRL, NRLW players' heritage, opens in a new tab, NRL.com. (accessed 11 August 2025). More than 70 NRL and NRLW players are Indigenous Australians and, in conjunction with the NRL, they have charted their family backgrounds from the many First Nations territories of the nation's first inhabitants dating back 60,000 years. Indigenous representation within the NRL and NRLW competitions makes up 12% of the overall playing group.
• In 2020 the ABC reported that there were 87 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players in the Australian Football League (AFL), and 22 in the women's AFLW competition. This is approximately 11 and 5 per cent of the entire playing cohorts, significantly higher than their population representation. ²
• In 2017 the John Moriarty Foundation identified that there were a total of 40,493 Indigenous participants in football (soccer), approximately 3.3% of the overall total participants. 426 registered coaches, and 143 referees identified as Indigenous. There was no specific information on the number of players at the elite level. ⁵⁶
• In 2021/22, Water Polo Australia highlighted that 1.74% of all members identified as First Nations peoples, and there have been three known First Nations Olympians (Nathan Thomas, Dean Semmens, and Joel Swift). ¹¹
• Wikipedia provides several lists of Indigenous Australian sportspeople, opens in a new tab, Indigenous Australian Paralympians, opens in a new tab, and Indigenous Australian Olympians, opens in a new tab.

Resources and reading