Slam dunk for late night hoops in Townsville

In a slam dunk for at risk youth in Townsville, the Queensland Government is providing $137,000 to the Townsville Basketball Association to run a Late Night Hoops program.

Townsville Basketball Association General Manager Mark Wrobel said the Late Night Hoops program will be delivered for six weeks per school term and will run for four terms from June this year to May 2023.

“Each weekly Late Night Hoops session will run for about three hours from 10pm to 1am on Friday or Saturday nights,” Mr Wrobel said.

The $137,000 in Queensland Government support for the program will cover court hire, program staff, referees, and staff and player uniforms and equipment.

“Late Night Hoops uses sport as a vehicle to positively engage youth at high risk, helping them to develop critical life skills, while addressing crime and anti-social behaviour, and in so doing benefitting the wider Townsville community,” Mr Wrobel said.

“Basketball is a magnet for many of our young people. This is a great way to reach out to kids who may be at risk of falling into crime. It gives young people something to do on Friday or Saturday nights, in a positive environment, and at the same time opens the door to a world of opportunities that they may not realise.

“And of course, there are the additional health and well-being benefits as well as creating a sense of community and hope for the future.”

Townsville Basketball Association Community Programs Office Taine Wattie said the program was part of the association’s Cedar Gara Foundation, which it set up in 2021 to assist in engaging Indigenous people.

The program has also received $10,000 in support from Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions as part of its sponsorship program to support meaningful community changing programs.

“The program will include free and safe transportation to and from venues for participants, meals, basketball games, mentoring programs, education and training workshops, as well as music and other entertainment to keep them engaged,” Mr Wattie said.

“Sessions will be delivered a targeted community centres in the Townsville region,” he said.

“At each session, local police and community youth services will deliver workshops and promote programs that help these kids stay out of trouble, including assisting them prepare for the workforce, helping them get back on track with their schooling, and improving foundation skills such as the ability to work in a team, communication, motivation and reliability.”

He said specially trained Late Night Hoops Youth Mentors will fill the roles as coaches, referees and general supervisory staff that young people can engage with in a safe, informal environment.

Mr Wrobel said promotion of the program among high-risk youth will involve actively reaching out to young people in the public spaces they congregate in.

“We’ll also work closely with local police, youth justice, schools, community organisations, places of religious worship, Indigenous Elders, families and local council – so we get everyone on side, so we make this program a success.”

Mr Wrobel thanked the Queensland Government and Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions for its support.

“You might well see some new Townsville basketball stars emerge from this program – perhaps another Michael or Chris Cedar. Watch this space,” Mr Wrobel said.

To be involved in the program or to find out more potential program partners can contact Taine Wattie, Community Programs Officer at Townsville Basketball, at community@townsvillebasketball.com