Netball Australia has today launched its 10 Year Strategy – Made in Netball, a purpose-driven roadmap to shape the sport’s future and grow Australia’s playing and non-playing community to two million people by 2035.
Made in Netball was launched by Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC at Admiralty House in Sydney.
Netball Australia Chair Liz Ellis AO said the strategy is a blueprint that will solidify the sport’s future and importance for Australians.
“So many Australians are made in netball, whether that’s someone currently part of the netball community or someone who grew up with netball as part of their lives, they can speak to how this game shaped them for the better” Ellis said.
“We see netball as a game for everyone and through this framework we have ambitious plans to share it with more people.
“On behalf of the Board, I welcome our new 10 year strategy and the opportunities it will offer to people from all backgrounds across the community to play, coach, umpire, volunteer, support, and be part of an expanding netball community.
“With a home Netball World Cup in 2027 and hopefully Olympics participation in Brisbane in 2032, this decade will put netball in the spotlight, and we will deliver this strategy in full to secure a stronger future for our sport.”
Netball Australia Chief Executive Officer Stacey West said the strategy sets out key goals to secure the sport’s long-term resilience and prosperity.
“Our purpose over the next decade is to ensure netball is not only the sport of choice for women and girls, and a powerful force for connection, inclusion and excellence,” West said.
“This strategy focuses on exactly that task.
“It outlines how we will elevate every aspect of the game, from grassroots to elite, from local courts to national conversations, so that netball continues to thrive in every community, and attract new participants and partners.
“We will achieve this by working in tandem with everyone who has a stake in the sport, united behind a shared vision for what netball creates, and where netball is headed.
“Our focus is clear - grow the game, deepen community connection and audience engagement, and amplify netball’s impact and legacy.
“As netball marks one hundred years in Australia in 2027, this strategy ensures we are not only honouring our past, but we are modeling a sustainable future for the next century.”
The 10 Year Strategy - Made in Netball outlines several key priorities including:
- To have a playing/ non-playing community of two million people by 2035
- To have the Diamonds recognised as the most recognised national female team in Australia and achieve the World Number One ranking
- To have Suncorp Super Netball as Australia’s most popular women’s sports league and the world’s most followed netball league
- Netball in Australia to achieve recognition as the gold standard of sports administration through operational excellence
- The creation of a framework that increases the participation and success of First Nations participants in our systems, creating a legacy that is wider than netball
- The development of a data strategy to grow and support the game and its fan base, including formation of an app that serves as a central digital hub for community engagement and a fan platform to better connect member organisations, participants and the national body
