Wildcats Multicultural Stories: Perth Rhinos

The story of the Perth Rhinos began as a simple gathering place, long before it became a recognised community program or a pathway for young people across Perth.

For Perth Wildcats duo Sunday Dech and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., it was first and foremost a place of belonging.

“Basketball was the connector,” Dech explains. “But the bigger picture was community.”

In the early 2010s, informal basketball sessions slowly evolved into something more meaningful. What began as a place to meet, play and spend time together became a consistent environment where young South Sudanese-Australian players felt supported and welcomed.

“It was our safe space,” Dech says. “Somewhere we could come, hang out, talk, and just be ourselves.”

Lual-Acuil Jr remembers that same sense of freedom and acceptance.

“It was always an opportunity for us to express ourselves on the court,” he says. “Somewhere you could feel comfortable and accepted.”

As interest grew, so did opportunity. Annual competitions organised interstate created a chance for Perth-based players to come together and represent their city. From that moment, the Perth Rhinos took shape.

“The South Sudanese National Basketball Association started hosting basketball competitions at the end of every year, generally in Melbourne or Sydney,” Dech says.

“That’s when the Perth Rhinos were founded. A group of guys took the initiative to get together, represent Perth, founded the name Perth Rhinos and headed over there to compete.”

The club’s foundations were shaped by mentors and volunteers who understood that guidance mattered as much as participation. Their presence helped turn an informal gathering into a stable and supportive environment.

While several players have gone on to professional careers, both Dech and Lual-Acuil Jr highlight that elite pathways were never the primary aim.

“Some guys obviously are going professional,” Lual-Acuil Jr says. “But it wasn’t meant to be a channel for guys to be pros.”

Instead, the focus remained on connection and relationships.

Basketball opportunities eventually took Dech and Lual-Acuil around the globe. Upon returning to Perth, both have stepped back into the Rhinos environment, coming full circle in mentoring roles.

“Obviously through basketball you get opportunities. When I came back, I stepped right back into it,” Dech says. “Now I help coach most Wednesdays and Saturdays if we don’t have a game or training.”

The moments that matter most are not defined by results, but by personal growth over time.

“You come here at the start of the year and you see kids develop,” Dech says. “Some kids come in not having a voice, and by December they find their voice.”

While some players will go on to pursue professional careers, Dech believes the broader impact is what matters most.

“There are kids who are going to be professional athletes,” he says. “But how can we impact their life in a positive way and give them confidence that they can be whoever they want to be?”

The Perth Rhinos remain an example of what can happen when community comes first and people are the priority.