Indigenous students connect through sport at Intervarsity Day

Indigenous students from across Victoria came together for the first official Victorian Indigenous Intervarsity event, celebrating sport, connection and community.

Co-organised by Swinburne’s Moondani Toombadool Centre and Monash University’s William Cooper Institute, the event created a platform for Indigenous university students to connect through sport while preparing for the annual Indigenous Nationals tournament.

Inspired by Indigenous Nationals, typically held in late June, the event gives Victorian universities the opportunity to compete locally, build team cohesion and strengthen connections ahead of the national competition. It also plays an important role in fostering community among Indigenous students studying in metropolitan areas.

Moondani Toombadool Centre staff member and former Swinburne Indigenous Nationals participant Jake Edwards says the experience can be transformative. 

“I attended my first Nationals back in 2022 held in Brisbane,” he says. 

“The event for me was a turning point in my journey. It showed the importance of connecting with other Indigenous people and the way sport can bring people together.”

Students attending the event echoed this sentiment, highlighting the value of connection.

“I think events like this are really good because you don’t get many opportunities to meet other Indigenous people, especially in big places like Melbourne,” one student said.  

“It’s good to bring us all together.”

Growing momentum across Victoria

What began as a small event involving just a handful of universities has grown significantly. By the end of 2025, six universities were competing, with participation increasing to eight institutions in 2026.

This year’s event featured basketball and netball. Following its success, there are plans to expand future events into a two-day format and introduce additional sports, including volleyball and touch rugby.

Celebrating collaboration and achievement

The success of the day reflects strong collaboration across institutions and organisations. The Moondani Toombadool Centre thanks Enna and Alkira from the William Cooper Institute, Caz and the Monash Sport team, Rachael and the VAEAI team, Melbourne Institute of Sport, and Swinburne staff for their support.

On the court, Deakin University were named overall winners. Djura from Deakin was awarded MVP, alongside Huntah from the University of Melbourne. Swinburne’s Will and La Trobe’s Kaylah received Spirit Awards, recognising their leadership and sportsmanship.

With strong participation and positive feedback, the Victorian Indigenous Intervarsity event is set to become a key fixture on the calendar.