7th May 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
Basketball Victoria has continued its commitment to inclusive participation and community connection, delivering a powerful girls participation session inspired by the Toolangi Adventure Camp program, designed to engage and inspire young athletes from Melbourne’s inner north.
The session brought together approximately 20 participants, from across the Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond area, with a strong focus on engaging girls from the South Sudanese community, and other Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. More than just a basketball clinic, the Toolangi Adventure Camp initiative created a safe, welcoming environment where connection, confidence and culture were just as important as skill development.
Drawing directly from the Toolangi Adventure Camp (TASC) framework, the two-hour session was built around a set of core values, Confidence, Teamwork, Courage, Discipline, Work Ethic, Leadership, Respect, Tolerance, Passion and Communication, which shaped every activity, discussion and interaction throughout the day.
Participants were split into three colour-coded teams, each working together across a series of on-court challenges and off-court discussions. Points were awarded not just for performance, but for how each group embodied the camp’s values, reinforcing the importance of effort, respect and teamwork over results alone.
The structure encouraged healthy competition, with each team striving to finish the session strongly, while also learning what it means to support one another and contribute positively to a group environment.
A highlight of the session was the presence of WNBL Player and Basketball Victoria Multicultural Officer, Nya Lok, whose involvement added another layer of inspiration. Through her engagement with the group, she reinforced the message that basketball can open doors, but the values developed through sport are what carry into everyday life.
Her story and visibility provided meaningful representation for the girls in attendance, showing what’s possible both on and off the court, and highlighting pathways within the sport.
Importantly, the session placed equal emphasis on personal growth as it did on basketball development. While participants built fundamental skills and confidence with the ball, the deeper focus was on equipping them with tools they can take beyond the game — into school, family life and their broader communities.
The session also complemented Basketball Victoria’s broader Play Our Way initiative, funded through the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program, which is helping deliver free girls-only basketball clinics to schools and communities across Victoria. The program, led by Play Our Way Project Officer Anita Diano, aims to engage more than 20,000 girls over a two-year period, creating more opportunities for girls of all abilities to experience basketball in fun, welcoming and inclusive environments.
By linking sport with life skills, Basketball Victoria continues to create opportunities that go far beyond participation, helping young people feel seen, supported and empowered.
Programs like this reflect the organisation’s ongoing commitment to ensuring basketball remains accessible, inclusive and reflective of the communities it serves, building not just better players, but stronger, more confident young people.
To learn more about Basketball Victoria’s Play Our Way program visit Schools - Play Our Way
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