How the Murri Carnival is making healthy happen for First Nations Queenslanders

Queenslanders love their rugby league. Many of us grew up watching it or playing it at school. Rugby league provides an important opportunity for Queenslanders to be active, build social connections, and strengthen communities. Events like the Queensland Murri Carnival focus on doing this for First Nations people, encouraging physical activity and movement across all ages, nurturing young talent, and celebrating First Nations culture.

The Murri Rugby League Carnival is a 10-day event for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queensland rugby league teams. In 2024, it celebrated its 12th year, expanding its format to include an additional day of competition and more divisions for girls to compete in.

What makes the Murri Carnival unique is its focus on health and education. All players who compete must complete a “health check” and adults must be enrolled to vote, while junior players must have attended school 90% of the time. In addition, the Murri Carnival is a smoke, drug, alcohol, and sugar-free event for all players and spectators.
“These aren’t typical things that we associate with sporting events, but the Murri Carnival proves that you don’t need them to have a great time,” said Robyn Littlewood, Chief Executive Officer at Health and Wellbeing Queensland. “The atmosphere at the Murri Carnival is electric!”
Proudly sponsored by the Department of Tourism and Sport and Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the Murri Carnival provides a positive impact on rugby league development for First Nations Queenslanders, providing a pathway for those who might not often have access to attend an event of this calibre.
The Carnival aims to raise the representation of Indigenous players in the National Rugby League from 11% to 15% over the next 3-5 years.

Beyond nurturing young talent, Health and Wellbeing Queensland recognises the importance of events like this in the lives of young First Nations people.
Projected obesity rates indicate that children born in this decade could lose up to 5 years from their life expectancy, and that overweight and obesity rates of First Nations children aged 10-14 are almost double that of non-First Nations children1,2.
The Murri Carnival fosters a lifelong participation and enjoyment of sport, getting children moving and actively engaged in their community.
“We know that being healthy and active from a young age helps tackle the risk factors that contribute to chronic disease later on in life,” said Dr. Littlewood. “This is why we’re proud to support events like this that promote healthy lifestyle choices – not just for the players, but for the spectators too.”

Sources
1. Impact of Obesity on Life Expectancy in Queensland, October 2022, Report 1.
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020) Overweight and obesity: an interactive insight.