Basketball Australia and every State and Territory Member Association have today released the Australian Basketball 2040 Vision – Everybody’s Game, setting a bold national ambition for basketball to become Australia’s largest team sport by 2040.
Launched at the 2025 Australian Basketball Congress, the Vision marks the first time the sport has united behind a single, long-term plan to guide its future growth - from the grassroots to the world stage.
Developed through nationwide consultation with more than 1200 players, coaches, referees, administrators and fans, the 2040 Vision sets out a collective roadmap to strengthen participation, improve facilities, celebrate community and culture and empower the people who bring the game to life.
It also outlines how the sport will evolve its pathways, sustain high performance on the global stage and build a powerful and consistent national identity.
Basketball Australia Chair, John Carey, said the Vision reflected a shared commitment from the Australian basketball community, united behind one future.
“This Vision is built around collaboration - between clubs, associations, participants and governing bodies - and guided by a shared belief that basketball can be a game for everybody, everywhere.
“Basketball is already one of the most played sports in the country, and with this Vision we are setting a bold ambition – to become the largest team sport in Australia by 2040.
“It recognises the sport’s unique ability to connect cultures, inspire young people, and deliver success on the international stage through its world-class athletes, coaches and teams.”
A cornerstone of the delivering the 2040 Vision is the Game Development Levy (GDL) – a whole-of-sport investment mechanism introduced on 1 January 2024 to directly fund initiatives that strengthen basketball’s foundations and ensure its continued growth.
Under the levy, every registered player contributes $5 (+GST) per year, with all proceeds reinvested into national projects that enhance the basketball experience for all Australians. Funds from the GDL are currently driving work across three key priority streams:
- Officiating and Pathways: building clear education and development pathways for referees, scoretable officials and statisticians, with new national curriculums and online learning tools.
- Coaching and Pathways: developing a new national framework to align coach education and accreditation, building capability and consistency across all levels of the sport.
- Digital Transformation: delivering shared digital platforms, including the new Basketball Cloud – a central system that connects basketball’s data nationwide – and introduces new digital tools to make it easier for players, coaches and administrators to access and manage the game.
From 2026, GDL priority focus areas will expand to include the development of a nationally endorsed Facilities strategy to guide investment and advocacy for basketball infrastructure, and the national implementation of a Safe Sport framework to equip basketball communities with the tools and support to deliver safe, inclusive and accountable environments at every level of the game.
Basketball Australia CEO Matt Scriven said the Vision is about turning shared ambition into collective action, ensuring every part of the basketball community benefits from a stronger, more connected game.
“Our local clubs and volunteers are the heart of basketball, and this Vision gives them a place in shaping the future of the game,” Scriven said.
“It’s about strengthening those community roots while working together across every level of the sport to build something bigger than any one organisation.”
The Australian Basketball Vision will be delivered across two strategic horizons – pre and post the Brisbane 2032 Olympics – and across four distinct phases.
The Vision sets out 39 objectives across eight categories and with an overarching goal for basketball to be embraced by all Australians and at all levels of the game.
View the Australian Basketball 2040 Vision here
