Why Grant is ‘playing for something bigger’

Proud Wiradjuri and Darkinjung netballer Jayda Grant is the embodiment of this year’s NAIDOC theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.  

Her journey from last year’s First Nations Tournament to wearing the green and gold with the Black Swans reflects the Strength passed down by the trailblazers before her, the Vision to create a future where First Nations athletes are seen and celebrated, and the Legacy she is building for those yet to come.  

At just 18, every game Jayda plays is a powerful statement — honouring her culture, her family, and the generations who fought to open doors, while inspiring the next generation to dream even bigger. 

Last year’s First Nations Tournament changed the trajectory of her netball journey. 

The 18-year-old has since gone on to represent Australia as part of the First Nations national team, the Black Swans at the PacificAus Sports Netball Series. 

Her debut match on the international stage could not have gone any better, shooting at 100 per cent accuracy. 

Being part of the Black Swans team has been a highlight for Grant. 
 
“It’s one of the most meaningful moments of my journey, being a part of the team made-up entirely of First Nations women," Grant said. 

“It was more than just a game, there was this deep sense of pride and connection between us girls. 

“We played for something bigger than ourselves and that made the experience really powerful.  

“It felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.” 
 
The opportunity to play in the side handed her the chance to come face to face with international opponents for the first time. 

“Coming up against different countries like Samoa, I was nervous and scared,” Grant said. 

“But it's something I never thought I'd get the chance to do.  
 
“Once I was out there, it turned into one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences I've ever had.  
 
“It pushed me out of my comfort zone and showed me I'm capable of competing at that level and I'm so grateful for the opportunity, it's something I will never forget.” 
 
Grant caught the eye of Netball Australia First Nations Engagement  Manager Beryl Friday at last year’s First Nations Tournament. 

“I will always remember the first time  I saw Jayda play, NSW  versed  WA,” Friday recalled. 

“They lost the first quarter by a big margin and WA had some big name players. We thought they were going to smash them but then Jayda came on and completely changed the game. 

“I remember  thinking ‘who is this goal attack?’  

"She turned the game on its head, WA were making so many changes and there was nothing they could do to combat her.” 
 
Netball is in Grant’s blood, the young gun a relative of former Queensland Firebird Helena Saunders and squad member Melina Saunders who went on to play for the Canberra Darters.  

While Grant wasn’t able to watch them play in their prime, she’s always been inspired by them. 

“Helena was the vice captain of the Firebirds and shared the captaincy with Sharon Finnan-White,” Grant said. 

 
“The only two Aboriginal players to ever hold leadership roles at the Firebirds in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy team at the same time. 

“Knowing that's part of my family's legacy fills me with pride and motivates me to follow in their footsteps.  
 
“They've shown me Aboriginal women can lead at the highest level, and that's something I carry with me every time I step onto the court.”  
 
Grant has been able to learn from the experiences her aunts had as First Nations athletes. 
 
“I spoke to Melina about her experiences and what she said really stuck with me,” Grant said. 

“She told me how proud she was to represent our culture, but also how hard it is and how  difficult it could be navigating spaces where she often felt like you had to prove yourself twice as much.  

“She talked about the importance of family and community support and how being surrounded by strong women like her mum, Helena and the rest of the Saunders family helped her stay grounded and proud of who she is.  

“Hearing that from her gave me a deep understanding of the path they paved for us. 

“It made me realise I'm not just playing for myself, I'm playing for my culture, my family and everyone who came before me.” 

Grant is proud to be forging her own path in the sport as part of the next generation of First Nations talent coming through the system. 

“It's not something I take lightly,” Grant said. 

“I'm standing on the shoulders of so many strong Aboriginal women who have paved the way for me, like my aunties and others who broke barriers so we could have more opportunities today.  

“It's about more than playing netball, it's about representing my culture with pride, showing younger athletes what's possible and helping create a space where our voices, our stories and our talents are seen and valued. 

“It's a privilege and I hope I can inspire the next ones coming through too.”  

Reflecting on last year’s First Nations Tournament, Grant was grateful for the experience. 

"The tournament opened so many doors for me,” she said. 

“It gave me the opportunity to be in the Black Swans, it's given me a chance to show my skills, to be able to connect with other Aboriginal people and to truly feel seen and supported in a cultural space.  

“From that experience, I've been able to build stronger networks, grow my confidence and be considered for more opportunities. 

“It really reminded me that there is a place for us at higher levels of this sport.” 

 Looking forward to taking the court again this year, Grant was stoked to hear the tournament would be back. 

"I was so excited when I heard the tournament was coming back,” she said. 

“When I heard the tournament will be part of Netball Australia's calendar going forwards it made me feel even more proud. 

“It shows real commitment to recognising and celebrating us as First Nation athletes and the culture that it brings.  

“It's more than a tournament, it's a space where we feel seen, valued and connected, and last year that was definitely my best netball that I've played because I felt so safe in that environment.”  

 
Over the past year, Grant has absorbed a key lesson from those around her. 

“I've learned a lot, especially from being around my coaches and my team mates,” she said. 

“One of the biggest lessons has been how to shift my mindset. 

“I've had a struggle with getting in my head last year and this year and I've learned that mistakes and setbacks are part of the journey.  
 
“Instead of letting them get to me, I've started using them as a chance to grow, changing the way I think and trying to stay positive and believing in myself has made a huge difference in my both netball and everyday life.” 
 
The 18-year-old has a couple of goals for her future. 

“My goal is to keep enjoying the game while pushing myself to grow as a player,” she said. 

“I want to continue learning and taking every opportunity that comes my way. 

“I want to represent my culture with pride and be a role model for younger players.” 
 
Off the court, she hopes to lead the next generation in another way. 

“I'm studying a Bachelor of Primary Education at uni,” she said. 

“One of my goals is to finish my degree and become a confident and capable teacher. 
 
“I'm also really focused on becoming the best version of myself, staying grounded, continue to grow and making the most of the opportunities life throws at me.” 
 
But she has a clearer vision in mind for the future of First Nations athletes.  

“I hope the future for our First Nation athletes is one where we're no longer the only one in the room or the only one in the team,” she said. 

“I want to see full teams, coaching staff and other leadership roles filled with proud First Nations people from all over the country.  

“I hope there are more opportunities, more visibility and more spaces where our culture is embraced and not just accepted.  

“I want young First Nations kids to grow up seeing people who look like them achieving great things, knowing they have the opportunity to do that too.”