# Netball Australia

Netball Australia is the main governing body for netball in Australia. It is affiliated to World Netball. It is responsible for organising and administering the Australia national netball team, Suncorp Super Netball, Australian National Netball Championships, and the Australian Netball Championships. It previously organised and administered the ANZ Championship, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league and the Esso/Mobil Superleague.
Netball Australia was originally founded in 1927 as the All Australia Women's Basket Ball Association. In 1970, after "women's basket ball" became known as netball, the organisation changed its name to the All Australia Netball Association. It adopted its current name in 1993.

## History

Netball Australia was founded on 26/27 August 1927 as the All Australia Women's Basket Ball Association during an interstate women's basketball carnival. Its founding members included the Sydney City Girls' Amateur Sports Association (New South Wales), the Australian Ladies Basket Ball Association (Queensland), the South Australian Women's Basket Ball Association (South Australia), the Melbourne Girls Basket Ball Association (Victoria) and the Basket Ball Association of Perth (Western Australia). Tasmania began competing in national tournaments in 1933. The Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory joined in 1975 and 1977 respectively. In 1970, after "women's basket ball" became known as netball, the organisation changed its name to the All Australia Netball Association. It adopted its current name in 1993.
Amid a funding crisis where Netball Australia lost A$7 million over two COVID-impacted years, in 2022 the organisation announced that it had secured Hancock Prospecting as high performance program partner from 2022 to 2025, with an investment of A$15 million over four years. Netball Australia announced that Hancock would invest directly in the Diamonds’ athletes and coaches, and provide funding support for training camps and competitions. The Diamonds team was photographed in uniform bearing the Hancock Prospecting logo. It was later revealed that some players did not support Hancock Prospecting as a sponsor due to historical comments made by the company's founder, Lang Hancock on indigenous issues and the company's record on environmental issues. The controversy led to the resignation of Netball Australia Chair, Marina Go, citing personal reasons; and the Diamonds refused to wear the sports uniform with Hancock Prospecting logo. Within a month of announcing the sponsorship deal, Hancock Prospecting withdrew their offer, saying it did not wish to add to netball's “disunity problems”. Hancock offered Netball Australia short-term funding until such time as a more permanent arrangement could be secured.

## Competitions
### Current

| Years | Competition |
| 2017– | Suncorp Super Netball |
| 1928– | Australian National Netball Championships |
| 2008- | Australian Netball Championships |

### Former

| Years | Competition |
| 2008–2016 | ANZ Championship |
| 1997–2007 | Commonwealth Bank Trophy |
| 1985–1996 | Esso/Mobil Superleague |

## Australian Netball Awards

Netball Australia hosts the annual the Australian Netball Awards. Current and recent awards include:
* Liz Ellis Diamond
* Australian International Player of the Year
* Australian Netball Hall of Fame
* Joyce Brown Coach of the Year
* Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year
* Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year Award
* Suncorp Super Netball Young Star Award
Former awards include:
* Australian ANZ Championship Coach of the Year
* Australian ANZ Championship Player of the Year
Sources:

## Member organisations

* Netball Australian Capital Territory
* Netball New South Wales
* Netball Northern Territory
* Netball Queensland
* Netball South Australia
* Netball Tasmania
* Netball Victoria
* Netball Western Australia
Source:

## Board
### Presidents

| Years | President |
| c. 1950s | Eunice Gill |
| 1955 | Anne Clark |
| 1960 | Anne Clark |
| 1966 | Anne Clark |
| 1972 | Anne Clark |
| 1978 | Anne Clark |
| 1978–1988 | Deirdre Hyland AM |
| 1988–1995 | Margaret Pewtress OAM |
| 1995–2004 | Sue Taylor |
| 2004–2006 | Marilyn Melhuish OAM |
| 2006–2016 | Noeleen Dix |
| 2016–2019 | Robert Shaw |

## Notable people
### Chief Executive Officers

| Years | CEO |
| 2004–2006 | Lindsay Cane |
| 2006–2016 | Kate Palmer |
| 2016–2020 | Marne Fechner |
| 2021–2023 | Kelly Ryan |
| 2023– | Stacey West |

### Notable directors

| Season | Directors |
| 1980–1983 | Joyce Brown |
| 2011–2013 | Wilma Shakespear |
| 2013–2017 | Kathryn Harby-Williams |