Adelaide 36ers and BHP Strengthen Community Impact Through Shooting Stars Partnership

The Adelaide 36ers have reinforced their social responsibility and community engagement framework through an ongoing partnership with BHP, recently hosting young Indigenous leaders from regional South Australia.

As part of a leadership camp organised by the Shooting Stars Program, an initiative supporting educational engagement, leadership, and social wellbeing for Aboriginal girls and young women across South Australia and Western Australia, eight students from Whyalla visited Adelaide for an immersive cultural and sporting experience.

The players participated in a specialised basketball and leadership clinic facilitated by Adelaide 36ers assistant coach Kerry Williams, players Ben Griscti and Deonte Williams, alongside WNBL player Ashlee Strawbridge.

The collaboration highlights the commercial and community value of aligning professional sporting organisations with major corporate partners like BHP to drive regional impact.

Since establishing its footprint in South Australia in 2021, Shooting Stars has expanded across four government schools in Whyalla, successfully empowering more than 150 students from years three to twelve to achieve greater engagement with their schools and communities.

This ongoing partnership enables the NBL club to extend its regional outreach significantly, with upcoming initiatives scheduled to include school visits in Whyalla next month that will engage a broader 130-person student cohort.

Emphasising the strategic value of the community partnership, Adelaide 36ers chief of external relations & community strategy, Ross Wait, highlighted the impact of the program on both the athletes and the visiting students.

“It was a really special opportunity for Kerry and our players to spend time with the Shooting Stars participants.”

“The young women were in Adelaide for a leadership camp, and while I’m sure they took something away from the experience, Ben and Deonte also learnt a lot from them.

“Shooting Stars is doing incredible work engaging and inspiring Aboriginal students in regional areas and we are proud to have played a part, thanks to BHP who connected us with the program,” Wait said.

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