The Australian Netball Players Association (ANPA) entered into an updated Collective Player Agreement (CPA) with the Suncorp Super Netball League, which will see the club salary caps increase by 8.65 per cent this year, now in line with the end of the current broadcast agreement.

From 2021, the minimum salary will rise by 10 per cent up to AUD$33,000 (£17,000/$22,000/€20,000) with boosts to health insurance and technology allowances too. 

The deal also recognises athlete mental health, set to be introduced this year where teams will be committed to providing wellbeing services.

The deal will also allow additional payments to players from existing team sponsors as well as funds for training partners and further netball development. 

"Suncorp Super Netball set the gold standard for women’s sport in announcing the inaugural Collective Player Agreement in 2017 and we’re thrilled to be able to work with the ANPA and our eight teams to ensure the league is constantly evolving and improving conditions for our athletes," Suncorp Super Netball chief executive Chris Symington said.

"Suncorp Super Netball is already the world’s premier netball competition and the league’s vision is to become the number one women’s sport league globally, so we’ll continue to work proactively with all our stakeholders, particularly the playing group, to achieve that."

The 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season is due to begin on May 2 with all teams gathering for the league’s official pre-season tournament, the Suncorp Team Girls Cup, in Sydney on March 27.

"The playing group prioritised wellbeing and private health Insurance, in addition to an increase in minimum salary and payment made to training partners," said ANPA chief executive Kathryn Harby-Williams. 

"All of these areas have seen an uplift, which is of great benefit to the players.

"The focus on wellbeing and looking after the lower paid players speaks volumes of the playing group’s maturity. 

"All athletes involved in Suncorp Super Netball should feel proud of the outcome, particularly in the wellbeing space. 

"In the ever-increasing pressure cooker of elite sport, netballers want to make sure the environment in which they work continues to be conducive to maximising elite performance as well as nurturing and developing their identity along the way."

Contracts for players are a minimum of 12-month part-time contracts averaging around 20 hours a week.

The deal also includes a parental policy which provides support for any parent with a child under 12 months old or who is still breastfeeding.

This extends to pregnancy or injury, that protections 100 per cent of income for up to two years.