PCYC NSW’s Nations of Origin celebrates First Nations Culture through sport and leadership

PCYC NSW’s Nations of Origin event is returning to Western Sydney with a full week of sport, culture and community connections, from 14th-17th July.

Now in its 11th year, the PCYC NSW event is expected to host more than 1,000 young people at the PCYC state-of-the-art facility in Hawkesbury for basketball, netball, gymnastics, and the football fields in Whalan for rugby league.

Teams consist of a 70-30 split of First Nations and non-First Nations youth, with 24 Aboriginal communities from across the state represented. All 188 teams are endorsed by local Elders, they’re also empowered to succeed in their studies – to participate they must maintain an 80%+ school attendance rate and have had no negative interactions with Police leading into the tournament.

16-year-old Harry Ryman (pictured above) has represented the Gamilaroi Nation in the rugby league for the last two years and shared “I really enjoyed getting out with friends and playing while learning about my culture and my land – I also made heaps of new friends – you get a lot from it.”

Ryman is now choosing to give back to the program and his community by coaching a Gunnedah team representing Gamilaroi and adds “My PCYC Manager gave me the opportunity to do it, and with how much fun I’ve had over the past two years I couldn’t say no.”  

The community impact spans beyond the four-day event, with six-months of preparation beforehand fostering education, leadership, discipline, and cultural pride through the guidance of Elders and PCYC employees.

PCYC NSW Chief Executive Ben Hobby advised “as the competition follows the celebration of NAIDOC Week, it is especially significant to honour the history, culture, and achievements of young people, continuing our reconciliation journey that will benefit the rising generation.”

PCYC Programs Manager, Cassandra Ewens added “Nations of Origin does not only positively impact participants, but it also strengthens community bonds through collaboration and shared cultural pride. The future goal would be to make it an Australia-wide program so that more young people can get involved.”