Netball Australia is proud to announce the establishment of its First Nations Cultural Council, a landmark initiative that reflects a bold and enduring commitment to First Nations empowerment, cultural safety and systemic reform across the sport.
The creation of the Council marks a major shift in how netball engages and works alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It places First Nations voices at the centre of decision-making, not only as contributors to the game, but as co-designers shaping its future and evolution.
Netball Australia CEO Stacey West said the initiative represents a long-term, organisation-wide commitment to doing things differently.
“Cultural safety and systemic reform is not a project - it’s a journey,” West said. “It’s about truth-telling, building trust, and transforming how we work and think.
“In the development of First Nations-led initiatives, every step will be co-designed and co-decided with our First Nations Cultural Council.”
Liz Ellis AO, Chair of the Netball Australia Board, said the Council represents an important step in embedding First Nations leadership across the sport.
“This is about ensuring First Nations voices are at the heart of netball, shaping its future and guiding how we grow, govern and connect,” Ellis said.
Ali Tucker-Munro, Netball Australia’s General Manager First Nations and proud Kamilaroi woman, said the establishment of a Cultural Council, rather than a traditional advisory group, is about more than just advice.
“It’s about shared leadership, truth-telling, and creating space for First Nations voices to influence, direct and decide on the future of our sport,” Tucker-Munro said.
The Council brings together respected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders from across the country, including Tricia Stroud, a proud Kungarakan and Waramungu woman with family connections throughout the Northern Territory.
Stroud brings a wealth of senior leadership experience from roles including Chief Operating Officer at the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, and her current position as Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations where she oversees the governance and compliance of more than 3,000 First Nations corporations nationwide.
“As a mother and grandmother to netball lovers, I understand the joy and opportunity the game provides,” Ms Stroud said.
“To help strengthen recognition for the value our girls bring to the sport is an opportunity I will cherish.”
A key focus of the Council will be co-designing Netball Australia’s inaugural Cultural Safety Framework. The phased national initiative will ensure netball environments are inclusive, respectful and safe for all, with First Nations experiences at the centre.
The first phase of the Cultural Safety project, beginning in 2025, will focus on High Performance and Pathway environments. It will define what cultural safety means in practice, set clear principles, and develop practical tools and resources to embed these standards across the sport.
The second phase will expand this work to the participation and community levels, ensuring the same standards of respect and inclusion are felt across the game.
Tucker-Munro gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation whose donation directly supports the creation of netball’s inaugural Cultural Safety Framework.
“A Cultural Safety Framework will enable us to truly understand, address and embed cultural safety within the sport,” said Tucker-Munro.
“With the Council’s leadership, we will build a sport that not only celebrates First Nations excellence but is fundamentally shaped by it.”
First Nations Cultural Council Members
Aunty Debra Walker
Aunty Debra Walker is a proud Ngarrindjeri woman whose career has been dedicated to strengthening and empowering Aboriginal communities. With more than 25 years of experience in Aboriginal health across the northern suburbs of Adelaide, she has built a respected legacy grounded in advocacy, cultural knowledge, and genuine community connection. For the past nine years, Aunty Debra has provided vital support and advocacy for Nunga students and their families as an Aboriginal Community Education Officer with a particular focus in creating culturally safe spaces, strengthening identity, and ensuring students have every opportunity to thrive in their education. Aunty Debra is also a member of the Nunkuwarrin Yunti Board, providing strategic direction to one of South Australia’s key Aboriginal health and wellbeing organisations.
With over 30 years of involvement in Aboriginal community netball, Aunty Debra is deeply passionate about supporting young people through sport. Aunty Debra plays an active role on the committee for the Kaurna Football/Netball Association, where she continues to champion community-driven programs and pathways that uplift and inspire the next generation. She has witnessed generations of players grow in confidence, skill, and cultural pride - many progressing to elite pathways. Seeing increased opportunities for Aboriginal youth in high-level sport is something Aunt Debra finds incredibly rewarding.
Cheryl Kickett-Tucker AM
Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker AM is a proud Wadjuk, Ballardong and Yued yok from the Noongar Nation of Western Australia. She is a highly respected Traditional Owner, research academic, community development practitioner, youth coach and children’s author.
Cheryl is currently a Research Professor at Curtin University’s School of Education. She holds a PhD (Education) from Edith Cowan University, a Master of Science (Exercise and Movement Science) from the University of Oregon, and undergraduate and associate qualifications in Sport Science from Edith Cowan University.
A former National Women’s Basketball League player, state league captain and coach, Cheryl has over 30 years of experience in elite and community sport. In 2019, she was named Western Australian Local Hero in the Australian of the Year Awards for her leadership of Kaat Koort n Hoops, a basketball lifestyle program supporting Aboriginal and vulnerable young people. In 2020, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to tertiary education and the Aboriginal community.
Cheryl is Chair and Director of Koya Aboriginal Corporation and has served on several national and state bodies including the Indigenous Voice National Co-Design Group, the WA Aboriginal Sports Council, Basketball WA, and the Council of Australian Governments’ Working Group on Aboriginal Children’s Social and Emotional Wellbeing.
Stacey Campton OAM
Stacey Campton OAM has vast experience from working in Indigenous affairs across a variety of sectors that includes Federal Government, Higher Education institution, RMIT and First Nations not-for-profit, Children’s Ground.
Campton is a member of RMIT’s Regenerative Futures Institute Advisory Board and a member of the Gunggari language sub-committee working to revitalise and record Gunggari language for future generations. Campton’s netball expertise is vast having been a former national and international umpire, and current umpire coach, primarily in volunteer roles. Campton is the current High-Performance Umpire Coach with Netball Australia responsible for coaching and mentoring 12 SSN umpires; 12 Talent Identified umpires; and Pathway Umpires from every State and Territory including First Nations Tournament umpires. In 2025, Campton became a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to Netball and the Indigenous community.
Tricia Stroud
Tricia Stroud is a proud Kungarakan and Waramungu woman with family connections throughout the Northern Territory. She brings a wealth of senior leadership knowledge and strong governance expertise having held several Executive roles throughout her professional career.
Stroud is the former Chief Operating Officer at the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and is the current Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations, supported by the Office of the Registrar Indigenous Corporations (ORIC). As Registrar, Ms Stroud plays a vital role in regulating and supporting over 3,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations nationally, a third of whom are also registered charities, and has powers similar to those of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
Vonda Malone
Vonda Malone is the Director of Partnerships and Strategy at Indigenous Energy Australia (IEA). She is a proud Peiudu descendant of Erub Island in the eastern islands of Torres Strait and Yupungathi of Western Cape York.
Vonda brings extensive and distinguished experience in Indigenous affairs, governance, human rights, and social justice, with a proven ability to deliver transformative outcomes for communities. She is deeply informed by her lived experiences in the Torres Strait and Cape York, grounding her work in cultural integrity, community empowerment and equity. Throughout her career, Vonda has championed initiatives that advance the rights, wellbeing, and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, addressing complex and intersecting matters such as climate change and adaptation, cross-border international matters, housing, health reform for cultural safety, preventative health and COVID-19 response and disaster management for long-term community resilience.
Vonda previously served as a Commissioner of the Queensland Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry, which provided opportunities for all Queenslanders to engage in truth-telling to foster healing by sharing and acknowledging our history and difficult truths.
Before this, Vonda was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), the peak Australian Government agency for the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area. Vonda made history in 2016 as the first female Mayor of the Torres Shire Council, serving from 2016 to 2022. In addition, her leadership extends across a range of community and regional organisations. She has held chair roles with Community Enterprise Queensland/Islanders Board of Industry Service and the Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance (TCICA), representing 14 councils. Vonda is also the founder and former Chair of Torres Health, the first community-controlled health organisation in the Torres Strait.
Vonda’s leadership and advocacy have earned national and international recognition, including being named the McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year and receiving a Centenary Medal. She is a fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and a fellow of the United Nations Office of the Human Rights Commission (Geneva) with extensive exposure to United Nations mechanisms advancing the rights of Indigenous peoples.
In 2023, Vonda was recognised among Far North Queensland’s Most Influential Women and listed among the Top 100 Movers and Shapers.
