15th October 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
This Seniors Month, discover how Walking Basketball is helping people stay active, build friendships and feel part of their local basketball community, with Bulleen showing just how much a weekly session can offer.
Melbourne, VICTORIA – At Bulleen Basketball Association, Walking Basketball brings people through the door. The friendships give them a reason to come back.
A slower, low-impact version of the game, Walking Basketball is a social way to get moving, whether you’re picking up a basketball for the first time or returning after years away.
At Bulleen, there’s time to learn new skills, share a game and stay for a chat afterwards.
Getting started can feel daunting, especially if you’ve never played or worry about keeping up. Activities are adapted to suit different abilities, and if you need to sit down or take a break, you can. It’s about having a go, meeting people and enjoying yourself, with no judgement and no pressure to get everything right.
Over time, those weekly sessions have led to friendships that carry on outside basketball.
There are coffee catch-ups, busy WhatsApp chats and recipes being passed around, and when someone is unwell, their basketball friends might turn up with a fruit basket.
For Bulleen Basketball Association Community Coordinator Jen Hanrahan, those small acts of care say a lot about the group.
“The friendships and the support are such a big part of it,” Hanrahan said. “People come along to play basketball, but they also become part of a group that looks out for each other.”
Seniors Month is an opportunity to celebrate those connections and encourage others to get involved.
Basketball Victoria’s Diversity and Inclusion Officer (Access All Abilities & Walking Basketball), Kathy Perry, said Bulleen’s program showed how a welcoming basketball session could make a difference in people’s lives.
“Seniors Month is a great opportunity to try something new and discover a way to stay active that you enjoy,” Perry said.
“Walking Basketball welcomes people of all ages and basketball abilities. It brings exercise and social connection together in a safe, supportive environment, without the pressure to keep up or have played before.
“Bulleen has created something special. The friendships and the care people show each other are a lovely example of the sense of belonging basketball can offer.”
That sense of belonging sits at the heart of Basketball Victoria’s Together, We Raise the Game, campaign, which highlights how basketball supports the health, wellbeing and development of Victorians. Working alongside associations and the wider basketball community, Basketball Victoria helps create welcoming, supportive environments where people can participate, belong and thrive.
The program began at Bulleen before COVID interrupted the early sessions. When it restarted, just five or six people came along, including Hanrahan’s mum and a few friends.
Manningham Council helped spread the word, but much of the growth came from participants telling their friends and neighbours and inviting them along.
Today, participants range from their 60s through to 90, with several women in their 80s. Sessions usually attract around 25 participants, with attendance reaching 35.
Many have never played basketball before. Others have watched their grandchildren play and thought they wouldn’t be able to do it themselves.
Coaches help them get started with dribbling, passing and shooting before moving into games. They explain how and why the skills are used, giving participants a chance to practise and then try them in a game.
Lowered rings are available on the social court, while full-height rings cater for those who enjoy a more competitive game. Around six to eight men regularly take part at Bulleen, usually playing on the court with full-height rings.
For those who enjoy that competitive side of Walking Basketball, there are opportunities beyond the weekly sessions too, with associations offering regular tournaments throughout the year. “A lot of people are nervous when they first come in,” Hanrahan said. “Then they have a go and realise, ‘I can do that.’ It doesn’t matter if they can’t do something straight away. Everyone is there to have a go.”
Learning the game has also given some participants another way to connect with their grandchildren. They understand more of what’s happening when they watch them play, and some can now enjoy a game together. Grandchildren occasionally join in at Bulleen, too.
For Hanrahan’s mum, Walking Basketball has brought more regular exercise into her life and a new circle of friends. They now catch up outside the weekly session.
Morning tea is another favourite part of the Thursday routine. Someone often brings something to share, and everyone has a chance to sit down and catch up after the game. When sessions pause for school holidays, participants miss that time together.
“It offers so much more than exercise,” Hanrahan said. “Having something to look forward to and people to spend time with means a lot.”
The program also welcomes residents from a local aged care facility once a term. Activities are modified so those using wheelchairs or walkers can take part, whether that’s bouncing a ball or shooting at a small ring. It might look a little different for each person, but everyone gets a chance to join in.
Bulleen’s free Walking Basketball program runs on Thursdays during school terms, from 10am to 11.30am at Bulleen Basketball Stadium. For more information, contact Jen Hanrahan at communitycoordinator@bulleenboomers.com.au.
Not local to Bulleen but keen to give Walking Basketball a try?
Visit Basketball Victoria’s Walking Basketball page and use the program finder to locate a participating association near you. Get in touch with their team, and they’ll help you get started.
Check out the Maningham Council Promo Video here
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