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More than 350 Indigenous tertiary students from 21 universities around Australia will be welcomed to The University of Western Australia this Sunday September 21 when UWA hosts the 19 ^th annual National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games.

The Games are a unique opportunity to enable students to participate and compete at a national level in mixed sports - netball, basketball, volleyball and touch football as well as a traditional Noongar game, fly.  The students will also celebrate Indigenous cultures, with dance groups performing at the opening ceremony.

It will be the third time UWA has hosted the Games, an honour earned when the University's team, the Western Waagyls, were crowned overall winners at last year's Games in Penrith.

The Western Waagyls will again be a force having won the championship six times and been runner-up five times in their 12-year involvement in the Games.

The National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games began in 1996 as the class project of 13  students enrolled in a Diploma of Aboriginal Studies (Community Recreation) at the then Wollotuka School for Aboriginal Studies at the University of Newcastle.  The first Games were attended by around 30 students and have since grown, in a sign that more Indigenous Australians are participating in tertiary education.

2014 General Project Manager, UWA's Brendon DeGois, said he looked forward to the Games every year.  "It's a great opportunity for Indigenous students to create and strengthen their friendships and networks throughout Australia," he said.

Rhianna Couzens, a student at UWA, will be competing in her second Games this year, having been part of the victorious 2013 team.  "I made so many great friends at last year's Games, so I can't wait to see some of them again on our home turf, showing off our solid skills, and having the most amazing time.  I love the energy and excitement of competing as a team, especially when we are representing our University.  I've been looking forward to the Games all year!"

The Games will run from September 21 to 25 and have been organised jointly by the UWA School of Indigenous Studies, UWA Sports and Australian University Sport.  There has been wide support from the local community and the private sector, including generous sponsorship from Perpetual, Newmont Asia Pacific and PWC.

Media references

Brendon DeGois (UWA School of Indigenous Studies)  (+61 8) 6488 3847
Sean McMahon-MacRae (UWA Sports Marketing)  (+61 8) 6488 1640 / (+61 4) 24 448 062
UWA Media Office (+61 8) 6488 7977