AS Netball PNG prepares for upcoming tournaments in Australia, including the Spirit Series in July and the PacificAus Sports Netball Challenge in November, their preparations have been bolstered by the return of legendary Australian netball coach Simone McKinnis to Papua New Guinea.
McKinnis’ return was made possible by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports partnership with Netball Australia and Netball PNG.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ewen McDonald, expressed his excitement at the continued growth of netball in PNG.
“The Australian Government is proud to support the development of Netball PNG’s high-performance strategy to further elevate their build toward sustained success. Netball is more than a sport, it is a cultural past time that binds PNG and Australia, and exchanges such as this visit from Simone McKinnis allow us to learn from each other and further strengthen that bond,” McDonald said.
McKinnis has been working closely with the PNG Pepes and U21 squad, and helping Pepes Head Coach Lua Rikis strengthen high-performance systems and processes, including athlete load management. She spoke about the benefits of making successive trips to PNG in the same year.
“It’s been great to build on my visit in January and have the opportunity to spend more time with the national squad and coaches. I have been working closely with Head Coach Lua and the squad on court as they begin preparations for their tournaments in Australia later this year,” she said.
Netball PNG has also marked McKinnis’ return by launching its new strategic plan for 2026-2029, supported through PacificAus Sports.
According to Netball PNG President Ulato Avei, this will be achieved by empowering and expanding the delivery of netball in PNG, through a culture of purpose and pride.
“This plan highlights Netball PNG’s contribution to communities across Papua New Guinea and has been shaped by input from across our netball family. This collective approach reflects a spirit of oneness, bringing everyone together to work in unity towards a shared vision,” she said.
Netball plays a crucial role in the country, providing not only opportunities for sport and competition but also a safe, inclusive space where women and girls can build confidence, develop leadership skills, and strengthen social connections within their communities.
The Australian Government has been a consistent supporter of netball in PNG and across the Pacific, backing the sport from grassroots programs like Team Up through to elite pathways under PacificAus Sports, and helping grow its influence both on and off the court.