Netball Australia is under fire yet again this week after a former board member claimed she had experienced racism while in her role with the sport's governing body.
Nareen Young, who is now the Associate Dean at the University of Technology Business School, alleged that racism exists at ‘every level’ of netball in the country.
It signals yet another controversy surrounding the netball governing body, after a dispute between players and officials over their new sponsor Hancock Prospecting.
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Nareen Young appeared on ABC’s The Drum where she claimed the discrimination she experienced while at Netball Australia would ‘knock your socks off’.
She said: “My observation and experience over many years is there is quite a lot of racism in netball at every level including the board.
“I experienced some racism there.”
She then praised the players for standing with Indigenous player Donnell Wallam who refused to wear uniform branding the Hancock Prospecting logo.
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She added: “I’m really proud of those netties.
“It’s really interesting that this issue has come from them, as a women’s sport, and an Indigenous player has raised an issue and her teammates are falling in behind her.”
Young went on to explain the hardships and experiences she had while in the role in regards to the racism she endured.
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She said: “I’ll give you an example, and this goes to a whole lot of issues about racism and how it’s perceived and how it’s been normalised.
“One of my first meetings they were talking about One Netball – their diversity program and how proud they were of it.
“Indigenous players make up so many local (carnivals) ... there was then a promotional video made and released about netball and it was just all these blonde people.
“I don’t think there is a recognition that it manifests in every single thing that’s done.
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“I had some things said to me by other board members that would knock your socks off - not at a board meeting, after a meeting - and in that moment I thought ‘not much point’.
“I went back and talked to very high-profile black netball players, and said it looks like it’s the same as it is at local comp level, and they said absolutely.”
Netball Australia gave a statement to Fox Sports in response to the allegations.
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They said: “Netball Australia was not aware of these allegations but takes any claim of racism extremely seriously.
“In 2020 a coalition of netball’s peak organisations signed a Declaration of Commitment, pledging to take significant action to break down the barriers that have prevented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, coaches, umpires and administrators from flourishing in the sport.
“Netball Australia made a public commitment to listen, learn and change by engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and hearing about their experiences within netball.
“This incredibly important work continues and we welcome the opportunity to further understand these allegations.”
Yet another difficult challenge to navigate for the national body with the players also moving to distance themselves from the mining giant Hancock Prospecting.
The sponsor is spearheaded by Gina Rinehart, whose record on Indigenous and climate matters is less than flattering.
Hancock Prospecting agreed to a four-year $15 million sponsorship of the national team.
Topics: Australia
Jayden Collins