This weekend the Suncorp Super Netball League will celebrate Inclusion Round.
The round provides an opportunity to champion netball as a sport for everyone, with national inclusive causes being highlighted by all eight teams.
Each match will shine a spotlight on the causes which align with the host clubs' organisational and team values. The host clubs will collaborate closely with their opponents to ensure that they’re also part of the journey to celebrate inclusion.
Netball Australia interim CEO Stacey West reflected on the importance of Inclusion Round.
“Netball Australia is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where every individual is valued and has the opportunity to thrive,” West said.
“Inclusion Round provides a platform for the netball community to celebrate inclusion and diversity, recognising people are the fabric of our sport, regardless of background.
“Each Suncorp Super Netball club will shine a spotlight on causes which align to their organisational and team values and we can’t wait to see inclusion championed across the round.”
These initiatives will be promoted across league and club channels, as well as Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
A 2024 Inclusion Round logo will also be used across the week. The logo, which includes all colours of the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride flag, was created to highlight pride as a key inclusion initiative.
Here's how each club will celebrate inclusion this week:
Lightning v Mavericks
The Sunshine Coast Lightning and Melbourne Mavericks will be championing Pride during their Inclusion Round clash.
The Lightning will wear rainbow bibs and have pride and trans flags across all assets.
There will also be pride giveaways, an LGBTQIA+ artist playlist and a rainbow guard of honour at the match. The Lightning will also have an Auslan interpreter on site for the duration of the game.
The Mavericks will also wear rainbow bibs in support of Pride.
Swifts v Fever
In Sydney, the NSW Swifts and West Coast Fever will also celebrate pride. Athletes will wear pride bibs and ribbons. The pride flag will be across assets and there will be rainbow seats and signage through the venue on game day.
The Swifts have partnered with Proud2Play, an Australian organisation dedicated to promoting LGBTQI+ inclusion in sports and recreation.
Thunderbirds v GIANTS
Over in Adelaide, the Thunderbirds match against the GIANTS will celebrate Australia’s multicultural community within netball and champion their athletes from multicultural backgrounds.
The Thunderbirds will have Jamaican performer at the game and there will be celebration of different cultures in the stadium.
Both the Thunderbirds and GIANTS have also opted to wear rainbow bibs to show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Vixens v Firebirds
The Vixens will celebrate ‘everyone belongs’ as their theme for the round, a campaign representing Netball Victoria’s four key pillars of inclusion: First Nations communities, LGBT+, multiculturalism, and people with a disability. They will have an ‘everyone belongs’ logo across all assets with the Vixens to wear an ‘everyone belongs’ warm up tee and bibs.
The Firebirds have chosen to don pride bibs for the match to show their support of the LGBT+ community.
Ahead of the match there will be a curtain raiser played by the Victorian Marie Little Shield team, a citizenship ceremony, and pre-game activations from the Koorie Heritage Trust, Special Olympics, Victorian men’s netball, and Queer Sports Alliance. During the match there will also be an Auslan interpreter on site.
Every Inclusion Round match will be live and on demand on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
