The countdown is on for Bond University's Indigenous UniSport Nationals team, with 16 students set to represent the Bull Sharks in Newcastle next week.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the event and will bring together more than 500 Indigenous student athletes from 31 universities to compete in basketball, netball, volleyball and touch.
But for team captain and PhD student Isaac Maynard, the week is about much more than just sport.
"The sports themselves are kind of secondary to going out and connecting the broader Indigenous community, we celebrate our culture, and that’s what I really look forward to,” he said.
For Maynard, whose PhD focuses on Indigenous engagement within sport, attending the UniSport Nationals complements rather than competes with his studies.
"I almost see it as part of my PhD," he said.
Returning for his second year of Nationals, Maynard said the event creates lasting connections both within Bond and across the country.
"When you come back to Bond, everyone's more connected. It gives you a bigger support network at uni."
Bond University Sapphire Netball Coach, Rebecca Stower, said the positive experience students had at last year's event encouraged them to take the lead this year.
"This year, the selection and training process was a lot more student-led because we felt like it needed to be owned and advocated by the students, since they had such a good experience last year."
The squad has spent weeks preparing for the event, including a mini intervarsity competition held at the University of Queensland.
"We went to an intervarsity event at UQ a couple of weeks ago. It was just Bond, UQ and Queensland University of Technology. We did a mini round robin competition of the four sports," she said.
Touch football is expected to be one of their strongest sports, with many of them regularly playing together at the university's social competitions.
Maynard said the team has improved this year and is eager to get out there.
"I think this year we've definitely raised the standard in terms of the training schedule and expectations," he said
"The people who went last year recognised that it's more fun when we train and compete seriously."
One of the most unique features of Indigenous UniSport Nationals is the opportunity for students to represent their Mob as well as their university.
"Each player gets their Mob's name on the back of their polo, which is pretty cool because when we go and compete, you never know if you'll meet another student from your Mob," he said.
According to Maynard, seeing the different cultures represented within the Bond team is one of the highlights of the event.
"When you see us, all standing together with our Mob names on the back of our polos, it's such a wide variety of different people," he said.
"Every Mob's unique in its own way. It's really cool to see all the different perspectives and cultural knowledge that all our students bring."
The cost is largely funded through support from the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF Funding), which helps take off some financial pressure for students wanting to attend.
As they prepare to leave on Sunday, Maynard said their success will be measured by more than just winning or losing.
"Obviously, wins would be good, but it's about competing hard and representing Bond well."
"Again, the sports themselves are secondary to celebrating our culture and building those connections."