The National Indigenous Performance Camp (NIPC) returns to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, building on the success of the program\u2019s inaugural camp in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Young Indigenous athletes from every state and territory will come together for the three-day camp from the 4th\u00a0to the 6th\u00a0of September, working with experienced coaches and mentors while developing their basketball, confidence and connection to culture and community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Among those attending is Queenslander\u00a0Jay Sebasio, fresh from a bronze medal campaign with the Australian Sapphires at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Czechia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Sebasio, the camp presents a chance to challenge herself while continuing to grow both on and off the court.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m most excited to challenge myself, meet new people and be part of an environment where I can grow both as an athlete and as a person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The camp will also provide\u00a0Sebasio\u00a0with an\u00a0opportunity to connect with fellow Indigenous athletes from around Australia and learn from coaches who understand the importance of culture and identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means a lot to be around people who share a similar background and understand the importance of culture and community,\u201d Sebasio said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0really special\u00a0opportunity to meet athletes from\u00a0different parts\u00a0of Australia, hear their stories and build connections that go beyond basketball.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sebasio will be led throughout the camp by women\u2019s head coach\u00a0Mahaela Jackson, who strives to build a culturally safe environment for her athletes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a culturally safe and understanding environment is pivotal for young Indigenous athletes as it provides the opportunity to develop their basketball and pursue pathways without potentially feeling the need to hide or minimise their connection to culture,\u201d Jackson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Jackson, the camp is about more than developing the athletes on court, with building confidence and\u00a0a strong sense\u00a0of identity critical to their development.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst and\u00a0foremost\u00a0the opportunity to pursue their basketball with confidence and strong sense of self as athletes and proud Indigenous youth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I hope it may open new windows of opportunity in further\u00a0high performance\u00a0pathways.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jackson and men\u2019s head coach\u00a0Chris Cedar\u00a0will both\u00a0embrace\u00a0their roles, aiming to push their athletes to deal with the challenges that will come along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to see them come in with energy,\u00a0confidence\u00a0and a willingness to connect. I want them to compete, challenge themselves and step outside their comfort zones,\u201d Cedar said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, they leave the camp better basketballers, stronger people and proud of who they are and where they come from.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like Jackson, Cedar believes cultural connection is central to creating an environment where young Indigenous athletes can thrive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0extremely important. When young First Nation athletes\u00a0feel culturally\u00a0safe and connected, they can be themselves and play with confidence,\u201d Cedar said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBasketball and culture\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0have to be separated. This camp gives athletes the opportunity to learn from First Nation coaches and role models, build relationships with other young people and strengthen their sense of identity and belonging. That connection can be just as powerful as anything we teach them on the court.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With both head coaches bringing their own experiences to their groups, the importance of this camp\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0been lost on either coach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a real privilege, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0also a responsibility that I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0take lightly.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been fortunate to play basketball professionally and experience the game at\u00a0a high level\u00a0so being able to pass those lessons\u00a0on to the next generation means a lot to me,\u201d says Cedar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jackson shares a similar sentiment, \u201cTo be given a Head Coach role for this camp with the opportunity to mentor and guide our upcoming Indigenous talent, is an absolute honour.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sense of identity and belonging will also be reflected in the camp\u2019s uniforms and artwork, designed by\u00a0Kenita Bush, a proud\u00a0Dalabon\u00a0woman from the Northern Territory.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The artwork tells the story of a young person\u2019s\u00a0journey,\u00a0with the many choices we face as an opportunity to learn and grow. A fitting theme for a camp designed to help young Indigenous talent take the next step in their journeys.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ATHLETES:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200b\u200bNAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSTATE\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bEvelyn Pitt\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bQLD\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bJay Sebasio\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bQLD\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bMya Moke\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bQLD\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bLucy Pederson\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSA\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bEloise Pederson\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSA\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bAneesha Kent\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bVIC\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bJasmine Chilco-Burns\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bVIC\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bKaia Rukuata\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bWA\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSasha Nona\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bWA\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bJazzy Gordon\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bNSW\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bTully Pickering\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bNSW\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bMaya Davies\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bTAS\u200b\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200b\u200bNAME\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSTATE\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bKyland Ford-Miller\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bQLD\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSamuel McDowell-White\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bQLD\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bThurston Bousen\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bQLD\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSeth Bunting\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bNT\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bKobe Pearce\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bACT\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bMalakai Walker\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bVIC\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bBeau Jones\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bWA\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bJ\u2019Quarn Shoveller\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bWA\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bArchie Coady\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bVIC\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bCohen Weir\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bNSW\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bRiley McNulty\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bNSW\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bHarlem O\u2019Loughlin\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bSA\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bNash Armstrong\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u200bTAS\u200b\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
National Indigenous Performance Camp 2024<\/p>\n
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