Karen Menzies (born c.1962) is known for being the first Indigenous Australian association footballer in the Australia women's national soccer team.
[1] At the age of 13,[1] in 1976,[2] she was removed from her adoptive parents and put into residential care, first for three months in Sydney and then five years in Newcastle, after she had been skipping school and experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
[4] Menzies' natural athletic ability was recognised, and she also played cricket, water polo and touch football.
[3] Menzies represented Northern NSW from the age of 14 (1977[1]), starting in the open-age team, and continued playing for them for 15 years.
[1] In November 2021 Menzies was selected to be a member of Football Australia's inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group.