The scholarship program aims to empower young female basketballers and help them excel on and off the court.

In addition to sessions helping them develop resilience and build confidence, recipients are also mentored by some of the best players in Australia including Tess Madgen, Steph Reid and Abby Cubillo.

The program also includes accreditations in coaching and officiating.

Australian Opal and Head of Women in Basketball at Basketball Australia Lauren Jackson AO said the camp is the final piece of the puzzle after spending five months working and learning together.

“The goal of this program is to make sure that we keep them involved in the sport, so upskilling them in coaching and officiating and giving them other skills so that they can go back to their community organisations and start coaching kids, start coaching Aussie Hoops and then start working through the pathways that way,” she said.

“We want to keep that passion for the game alive and if they want to continue as athletes, fantastic, if not, they’ve got other avenues to continue what they’re doing,” Jackson added.

Perth’s Katie Biddulph was one of 26 young athletes spending the weekend in the nation’s capital.

She says she’s slowly worked her way into all areas of basketball having started playing when she was in Year 2. The 17-year-old has also coached for four years and refereed for two.

“It’s been so incredible being here at the AIS, the whole program has been so beneficial for me.”

“One of the things I’ve loved most about this program is getting positive role models and seeing people who have expanded beyond playing into administration and coaching and refereeing as well.”

Lily Hughes, from Melbourne is also grateful for the opportunity.

“I’ve been to a couple of leadership camps and a couple of basketball camps, and this is by far is definitely at the top. It’s been unreal,” she said.

“I’ve met a lot of referees and that is given me great perspective and they have taught me things that now as a coach I can take back and say to my players,” Hughes added, who coaches an under 12 girls team.

The Minister for Sport the Hon Anika Wells, who launched the program last year on behalf of the Australian Government, also stopped by the AIS Campus to meet with participants and test her skills with a basketball.

She Hoops came about as part of the Australian Government’s legacy investment when the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup was held in Sydney.

The She Hoops program has also received a Women Leaders in Sport organisation grant to provide coaching and officiating courses for women and girls from culturally and linguistically diverse and disadvantaged communities.

Applications for the next She Hoops Leadership and Confidence Scholarship are now open and close on 3 July.

For more information or to apply visit She Hoops