Basketball Australia is proud to announce the successful launch of the inaugural Multicultural Coaching Scholarship program, unveiled at the 2025 National Coaches Conference held in Canberra earlier this week.
This landmark initiative delivered by the Game Development and Member Relations team alongside Welcoming Clubs and Welcoming Australia marks a significant step in recognising, empowering, and elevating diverse coaching voices within our basketball community.
Atem Atem, Amine Boulouika, Lual Costa, Ceara Leavai & Mayor Chagai were nominated by their respective State and Territory associations to participate in the program, based on their leadership, contribution, and commitment to grassroots basketball. Their attendance at the conference offered them a rare opportunity to learn from some of the most respected minds in the game - on and off the court.
“This is about opening doors, not just for these five coaches, but for the communities they represent,” said Neil Gray, Basketball Australia’s Community Capability and Education Manager.
“It’s about visibility, empowerment, and helping coaches see that there is a place for them - not just in the community game, but on the biggest stages of coaching in Australia.”
The National Coaches Conference is Basketball Australia's flagship learning event, a two-day immersion in elite coaching strategies and current research. This year’s program featured international coaching leader Alan Keane, who shared thought-provoking insights on player-led development, Bridie Duggan on Managing the Young Athlete - with a vital focus on female physiology and Rhian Bird, who challenged the audience to reimagine traditional approaches to load management.
The scholarship recipients - whose basketball journeys span school, community, and association contexts - each found ways to connect the presentations back to their own environments.
“Hearing from these presenters made me feel like I was part of something bigger. It validated what I’m already doing in my community and gave me new ideas to push further,” said one recipient, captured beautifully in the video reflections released after the event.
Stephen O’Grady, Queensland Coordinator, Welcoming Clubs, highlighted how the in-sport recognition and credentials the recipients will gain from the scholarship was a key factor in Welcoming Australia’s support for the project. “They become role models within their communities, people who inspire others to follow in their footsteps, who show others how progress and status in sport can create opportunities in other walks of life.”
The videos, now available across Basketball Australia’s social channels, shine a spotlight on the personal stories behind the scholarship—stories of resilience, hope, and purpose.
But the journey doesn’t end with the conference.
Over the coming months, the scholarship recipients will be mentored by Neil Gray, supported through online workshops, and given opportunities to complete club coaching accreditation. Each coach will also be invited to lead a community impact project of their choosing, showcasing how their learnings translate into action in their local basketball environments.
“This isn’t just a scholarship; it’s a commitment to developing leaders who reflect the full diversity of our game,” said Gray. “We’re not just developing coaches - we’re supporting role models.”
Basketball Australia looks forward to tracking the progress of these talented coaches and sharing their stories as they continue to make a difference within their communities - and for the future of the sport.
