Gunai, Gunditjmara, Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta and Bunurong woman Koorrin Alinta Edwards-Wanganeen is the artist behind "Joining in the Journey," the official artwork for the 2024–25 Suncorp Super Netball First Nations Round.

Commissioned by Netball Australia, her artwork has featured across the competition since its inclusion as part of the annual First Nations Round last year.

It's appeared on match balls, signage, uniforms and digital promotions as part of the national celebration of Indigenous culture and identity.

Ms Edwards-Wanganeen told Netball Australia the opportunity was unexpected but powerful, and deeply connected to her lived experience.

"It's nothing you really think of when you're younger or when you're playing netball, having your design and your art and your culture displayed on such a massive platform," she said.

"It's something that not only I can wear a lot of pride with, but all Indigenous people and everybody else that you know find some type of connectedness to the design and artwork."

The piece uses circles, symbols and flowing linework to represent connection, community and shared journeys through sport and culture.

"Joining in the Journey was something that sat very close to myself, especially within my journey in netball," she said.

"Our community, when it comes to sport, keeps us connected, and it keeps the positivity within our communities.

"Netball, for me, has been something that builds its own families, its own communities and safe environments for young people to thrive."

She said being approached directly by Netball Australia made the process more meaningful.

"It was a privilege for Netball Australia to reach out to me directly, without having to go through an EOI process," she said.

"It made me want to do the design more because it was more personalised.

"That Netball Australia took the time and the effort to reach out to a specific artist, because that's just something they wanted to do, that speaks volumes."

She said seeing the design shared widely across the competition made the impact feel real.

"It wasn't just the ball, the design was plastered all over Australian netball and the SSN," she said.

"The best part about the design was that I actually got to share it with other people... it gets to be a part of everybody."

While Ms Edwards-Wanganeen has stepped back from her art business in the past year to focus on raising her children, she said her motivation as an artist remains rooted in advocacy and identity.

"A lot of our history as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been taken from us and there are small ways we are able to express ourselves safely within wider society," she said.

"My passion comes down to, if you're not going to hear us, you're going to see us. And then the storyline will continue from there."