Jamaica and Scarlet Jauncey grew up playing netball in their hometown of Broome.
The pair both decided to pursue a career in the sport, despite knowing the pathways for Aboriginal athletes to succeed were few.
But now the Jauncey sisters have made history, after both were selected for Australia's inaugural First Nations national team.
"As a proud Yawuru woman from Broome, I feel it's a privilege to be able to represent my family and where I come from," Jamaica said.
"Growing up playing netball, there is so much junior Indigenous talent out there that doesn't seem to move to senior level, so having this opportunity is amazing and emotional.
"I'm hoping to build strong long-lasting relationships with my sisters from across the country while representing our people and being strong role models for the next generation of talent."
The team consists of current Netball Australia talent, previous underage national squad members and current state representatives.
All 12 players were selected from national high-performance pathway programs.
Alongside the Jauncey sisters are Courtney Jones (Biripi), Kiera Heffernan (Pintupi-Luritja and Arrente), Brook Lacey (Ewamian), Lily Cubby (Murrawari), Tully Bethune (Wiradjuri), Jamaica and Scarlet Jauncey (Yawuru), Jayden Molo (Wunyi), Brianna Martyn (Kulilli), Aaleya Turner (Kaurna), Olivia Clark and Tegan Holland (Kamilaroi).
Jones, a proud Biripi woman and current NSW Premier League representative with South Coast Blaze, said it was a "privilege" to be invited to be on the side.
"It is very exciting to have a bunch of girls from all over Australia representing their own countries, to be brought together and playing as one," she said.
"It's a different, empowering feeling when being around and playing alongside other First Nations women, so I am very keen to take the court with them and showcase what we can do."
Netball Australia's Chair of Selections Michelle Wilkins, Head Coach of Pathway Anita Keelan and First Nations Engagement Lead Ali Tucker-Munro selected the women.
The formation of the First Nations National Invitational team seeks to provide equitable and accelerated opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes.
Tucker-Munro said this was a "pivotal moment" for the sport.
"For the first time ever, we'll finally see 12 of our most talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netballers from across Australia, netballers who are currently within our high-performance pathway, come together to compete as one," she said.
Netball Australia's First Nations Engagement Lead Ali Tucker-Munro said the establishment of the team is a "pivotal moment" for the sport. Credit: Netball Australia
"As a proud Kamilaroi woman and former Australian Diamonds squad member, it gives me such joy thinking about what this opportunity would have meant to past Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players like me, who would have loved the opportunity to be a part of something special like this," she said.
"Our talented and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes will now have a wonderful platform in which they can represent their culture, their family, and their communities with pride."
She believes talented athletes will grab the opportunity with "two hands".
The team will be coached by a First Nations coaching group and prepare for June's 2024 Pacific Netball Series in Brisbane.
