Young First Nations athletes across Geelong will have more opportunities to participate in community sports and competitions thanks to a grant program.
Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative will receive $6000 through the state government’s Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program for uniforms and to support under-14 boys and under-16 girls basketball.
Badimaya Yamatji woman Jasmine Knox has grown up in the Wathaurong community and is the Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative’s Karroong Kanyool Youth Hub team leader.
Ms Knox said it was “pretty amazing and exciting” to receive the grant to continue supporting young First Nations athletes.
“It’s about seeing all our young kids excited and proud of where they’re playing from and who they represent,” she said.
“That will support our young kids in wearing uniforms that they all feel united in and represent a community in Wathaurong country.
“We have an upcoming basketball carnival that’s in March of 2026, so the funding will help go towards all the uniforms, any equipment and things that we may need for that.”
Ms Knox said it was important for children from Indigenous communities to have access to sporting groups to build lasting relationships.
“I know a lot of young kids that start off playing in the under eights in the basketball carnival, then go on to play social comps and stuff like that,” she said.
“Personally, that’s how I got into basketball, and I started playing in the carnival when I was about eight years old, and I have continued playing basketball, and I still play three times a week.
“For those kids that are less fortunate enough and don’t have access to be able to play in social competitions, they have the opportunities to be able to represent in carnivals.”
