Basketball Australia & Foot Locker have today announced a partnership with the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund (SESF) for three years from 2023.
Together they will work to provide 10 scholarships per year to emerging basketball players from low socioeconomic backgrounds throughout the country.
Basketball Australia joins a roster of national sporting organisations to partner with the SESF as they close out their inaugural year as a national charity. The foundation aims to alleviate the financial burden placed on emerging athletes and their families, allowing athletes to continue on their professional pathways.
As the national governing body of basketball in the country, Basketball Australia oversees the Australian national teams, the Centre of Excellence, WNBL and, and the Australian Junior Championships.
“This is a very important component of our multi-year partnership with Basketball Australia and the Australian Junior Championship tournaments,” said Foot Locker APAC’s Senior Director of Marketing, and former AJC participant, Brendan Graham.
“Basketball is a universal game and SESF provides the assessment and governance processes necessary to ensure funding from Basketball Australia and Foot Locker best support members of our basketball community.”
This partnership solidifies the SESF’s commitment to supporting emerging basketball players from all over Australia, a sport known for regular travel to events. The SESF has seen a surge in demand for support since launching as a national charity in 2022, and in 2023 that demand is set to increase.
Basketball Australia’s Executive General Manager of Competitions, Participation & Education Paul Maley said, “Basketball Australia is proud to become a partner of the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund for the next three years”.
“The cost of participating in multiple events per year across the country can add up, and this important partnership can contribute to equitable access for disadvantaged basketball players. We look forward to working with SESF and Footlocker to provide more opportunities and pathways for emerging talent.”
Nick Mooney, SESF Executive Director said, “We are pleased to partner with Basketball Australia and Foot Locker for the next three years. Basketball is an incredibly popular sport nationwide with the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and the Boomers building the sport’s profile”.
“This partnership will support the next generation of emerging athletes in pursuing their basketball pathway.”
Applications can be made at sesf.org.au/application from January 16.
Foot Locker Australian Junior Championship tournaments in 2023 include the Under 20 & Ivor Burge Championship in February, the U18 & Kevin Coombs Cup in April, U16s in July, U14s in September and Schools in November/December.
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.