NBL announce Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group

The Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) is pleased to announce Leanne Brooke will Co-Chair its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group. 

Brooke is a proud Gunditjmara woman and is currently the General Manager of The Long Walk and Indigenous Affairs Advisor at the Essendon Football Club.

The Working Group will focus on providing a framework for the NBL to support the national reconciliation movement. It has developed a draft Reflect RAP which has been lodged with Reconciliation Australia for provisional endorsement.

Members of the Working Group include:

Leanne Brooke – General Manager of The Long Walk and Indigenous Affairs Advisor at the Essendon Football Club (Co-Chair)

Jeremy Loeliger – NBL Commissioner (Co-Chair)

Ricky Baldwin - Vice President of Australian Indigenous Basketball (AIB) and Head Coach of the Australian Indigenous Women’s Basketball Team

Cal Bruton - Director of Capital Basketball and NBL Hall of Fame Member

Tyson Demos - President of Australian Indigenous Basketball (AIB) and former NBL player

Nate Jawai - Lead ambassador for the Taipans Indigenous Program (TIP) and current NBL player for the Cairns Taipans

Danny Morseu – Director National Indigenous Basketball Academy and NBL Hall of Fame Member

Anita Pahor – Philanthropy and CSR Director, LK Group

Kerry Williams - Community Development Manager at the Cairns Taipans and Manager of the Taipans Indigenous Program (TIP)

Ben Jopling – NBL (Secretary)

There will also be a number of NBL staff involved. Co-Chair Leanne Brooke said: "Reconciliation is about strengthening meaningful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples and where we as First Nations people are respected, celebrated and championed.

“I’m looking forward to joining the NBL on its Reconciliation journey where, as a national institution, its influence and exposure can be used to contribute to positive social change and a sense of national unity.”

The Working Group will also help guide the league in making a meaningful contribution to this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations from November 8-15.

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger, who will Co-Chair the working group, said: “Leanne has an extensive history working in Aboriginal Affairs and has been an advocate for her people for over 30 years. She currently sits on the boards of a number of community organisations including The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Wandarra Aboriginal Corporation.

“She is a strong advocate of self-determination and passionate about empowering First Nations peoples, increasing awareness about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures and bringing together the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people together.

“We believe Leanne’s appointment will give the NBL valuable insight and knowledge into how we can continue to make a positive difference in the Indigenous community and ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are always heard.

“We are also privileged to be joined by a number of important figures in Australian basketball, Nate Jawai, Cal Bruton, Tyson Demos, Ricky Baldwin, Danny Morseu and Kerry Williams. Their knowledge and expertise will be critical to us in developing a greater understanding of Indigenous Australia.

“As a sport we have been blessed by the presence of a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, coaches, referees and administrators and we want to support and develop pathways in the game for young Indigenous people.

“As a league we are committed to doing more to recognise the contributions made by Indigenous communities, not just in the game of basketball, but to our broader culture and society.

“We staged our inaugural NBL Indigenous Round last season and we are committed to developing this in the coming seasons and ensure it delivers meaningful benefits to Indigenous communities. A number of our teams have also been proactive in this space and are committed to acknowledging the contribution of the Indigenous communities.”