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Some of the country's most promising Indigenous athletes have taken the next step towards their NRLW dream at the First Nations Gems Academy camp.
Thirty athletes from NSW, mainland Queensland and the Torres Strait assembled on Bundjalung Country in Casuarina, where they received expert coaching and had the chance to showcase their skills.
Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner, a proud Barkindji woman, runs the Gems program, with a host of NRLW players progressing through the pathway in recent years. The list includes Cowboys duo Bree Chester and Essay Banu, and Dragons recruit Ahlivia Ingram.
With a focus on players from rural and regional areas, Skinner said the Gems camps play a key role in exposing athletes to an elite sporting environment.
"One of the unique aspects of this space is we take girls from geographic areas with limited accessibility, who don't get to be part of a traditional pathway," Skinner told NRL.com.
"We have a couple of girls in this group from Moa Island in the Torres Strait, we're able to provide them with an opportunity to come to the mainland and participate in this program.
"All of these girls are extremely talented and we see that when we put a ball in their hands but understanding what goes into being a professional athlete is the next lesson for them."

Many of the players involved were first identified playing at the Koori Knockout and Murri Carnival, while others have experienced a taste of formal pathways but injuries or other challenges hampered their progress.
The camp was scheduled to coincide with National Reconciliation Week, with cultural connection a key aspect of the Gems program.
The athletes returned home at the conclusion of the camp with a training program and the skills and knowledge required to become leaders in their communities.
They will reconvene for another camp in July where their progress will be measured.
While performances on the field are a central aspect of the program, Skinner said the Gems Academy has been designed to help players develop as people away from football.
"It the same with the Indigenous All Stars, we have a cultural responsibility to serve our communities," Skinner said. "The girls in this pathway need to take their lessons back to the clubs and their communities and continue to be good members of their communities from a cultural perspective as well as a football perspective.
"It's a responsibility we put back on them, to serve the game and their people by becoming role models. This is new for some of these pathways girls, they just want to play footy, but we're trying to teach them about role modelling and leadership so when they get to the NRLW space they know how to do it and can be positive advocates in that space."
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Indigenous women perform the Unity Dance
Skinner's focus in the Gems program extends beyond the players involved, with the pathway also designed to help Indigenous staff develop their skills and progress to the elite level.
A number of coaches were invited to participate at last week's camp, with high-performance staff also provided a chance for professional development.
Skinner became the first Indigenous woman to coach the Jillaroos when she took charge of the side earlier this year and she's determined to ensure the next generation of First Nations coaches have the same opportunities.
"The Gems program is really important for coaching staff," Skinner said. "Their pathway is through the RISE Program and we can provide extra support so they go back to their communities and can go to another level."