Former Netball Australia board member alleges there is racism ‘at every level of the sport’

A former Netball Australia board member alleges she was racially abused while working in the sport and that the issue is rife from top to bottom.

Netball Australia has been rocked by racism allegations.

One of the country’s leading workplace diversity practitioners has revealed she experienced racism while serving on the Netball Australia board and believes the behaviour exists at “every level” of the sport.

Nareen Young, now Associate Dean (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) at the University of Technology Sydney Business School, made the comment on ABC show The Drum in a segment addressing the Diamonds’ sponsorship saga.

“My observation and experience over many years is there is quite a lot of racism in netball at every level including the board,” she said.

Young, who served as a director on the NA board from 2013-2015, said she experienced racist comments from other board members following a meeting that would “knock your socks off”.

“An example I can give, this goes to racism, how it’s perceived and how it’s been normalised,” Young said.

“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.

Professor Nareen Young says she experienced racism while on the board of Netball Australia.

“I don’t think there is a recognition that it manifests in every single thing that’s done.

“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’.”

Young, who described herself as “that classic person who played netball as a kid, and until my mid 40s” said she was honoured to have been appointed to the board.

“I’ve been around netball a lot and my observation and experience over many years is there is quite a lot of racism in netball at every level including the board,” she said.

“Certainly I experienced some racism there.”

Netball Australia responded on Wednesday night in a statement.

“Netball Australia was not aware of these allegations but takes any claim of racism extremely seriously,” the statement said.

“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.”

Young said she was proud of the Diamonds players for “falling in behind” First Nations teammate Donnell Wallam, who reportedly has a conscientious objection to the Hancock Prospecting sponsorship of the Diamonds given company founder Lang Hancock’s historical views on Indigenous people.

Young hopes their views mark a change in the institutional racism she saw in the sport she loves.

“I’m really proud of those netties” she said during a discussion on the Diamonds players request not to wear the Hancock Prospecting logo on their dress during the upcoming series against England where Wallam is likely to make her debut, becoming just the third Indigenous player to represent Australia.

“I think 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.”

Captain Liz Watson’s comments ahead of Wednesday’s third Test though that the Diamonds welcomed Gina Rinehart’s interest in the sport had Young tweeting about the “abhorrent people”.

Thanks to you both @FinnanWhite for standing up to these abhorrent people. Gina Reinhardt needs to be a big girl and take responsibility. https://t.co/a1x081VR33

— Nareen Young (@nareenyoung) October 19, 2022

But Young believes the resolve of Wallam - a proud West Australian Noongar woman - to speak up could become a “tipping point”.

“I think maybe it’s just become a tipping point for (the Diamonds) players, for an Indigenous player to identify it and speak to it and these amazing women players to back her around sponsorship and because players make those games,” Young said.

“We forget about the rights of players, there would be no netball without the Diamonds. I think there is work done but it comes from a non Indigenous perspective.”

Originally published as Former Netball Australia board member alleges there is racism ‘at every level of the sport’