More women and girls in regional and rural Australia will have the opportunity to grow their basketball skills on and off the court, connect with elite players and be mentored as part of a new Federal Government grant.
Basketball Australia’s She Hoops program will benefit from the Play Our Way Project, a $200 million investment by the Albanese Government which will help secure a sporting legacy for women and girls.
Over the next three years, She Hoops will roll out 32 participation and 25 leadership camps, award 120 scholarships and 120 mentorship opportunities for women and girls Australia wide.
These initiatives will have an emphasis on reaching females in regional and rural areas, First Nations People and those experiencing intersectional disadvantage.
Hitting the road and covering more territory than ever, Seven Consulting Australian Opals and WNBL players will lead sessions from Devonport to Bundaberg, Alice Springs to Ararat and Atherton and Whyalla to Warrnambool and Lismore in 2025 and beyond.
Ambassadors including Paris Olympians Jade Melbourne, Ally Wilson, Isobel Borlase and Amy Atwell plus WNBA draftee Nyadiew Puoch and experienced pro Mikaela Ruef as well as She Hoops Play Our Way Head Coach Nat Hurst and Assistant Coach Megan Mullings will lead camps and programs in regional and remote areas across the country from March.
A 10-week Future Leaders Program aims to empower women and girls in regional communities to become leaders in the sport while a She Hoops app will also go live.
Lauren Jackson AO OLY, Basketball Australia’s Head of Women and Girls, says the Play our Way Project investment will allow She Hoops to build and expand on the crucial work it does.
“The Federal Government’s commitment to women and girls in sport has been very evident and the investment they’re putting into safer spaces and more opportunities is super important,” Jackson said.
“We’re really excited to get out to more communities around the country, into rural areas and deliver our She Hoops offerings and work with these kids.
“We’re so thankful to the Federal Government for this funding and the support they continue to provide for She Hoops and the work we are doing in basketball for women and girls and we’ll continue to do as much as we can to try and bridge the gap.”
The Future Leaders Program, a graduation pathway for Leadership and Confidence Scholarship recipients, will encompass all facets of the international basketball ecosystem, feature mentors from State and Territory bodies as well as opportunities to gain accreditation in coaching, officiating and administration to help increase female representation in leadership roles across the sport.
The introduction of two She Hoops apps will connect women and girls of all ages and, from wherever they are, with more resources and opportunities than ever before.
The She Hoops Junior App will cater for girls under the age of 16 in addition to a She Hoops app for adults.
Both platforms will house exclusive content, online masterclasses, event updates and competitions. A safe reporting tool will foster a safe space and more inclusive environment.
