13th May 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
Basketball Victoria has been confirmed to receive targeted community sport funding to invest directly into high performance pathways, a major endorsement of a system and program already delivering results at scale, as part of the Victorian Budget 2026/27.
The two-year funding commitment, delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government through Sport and Recreation Victoria and co-funded by Basketball Victoria, will support the continued delivery and expansion of the High-Performance Hub program, a model that has been developing the state’s next generation of athletes and coaches since 2019.
The program now supports more than 1,800 athletes across 11 hubs statewide, with 47% female participation, and has played a key role in delivering seven national championship titles in 2025 alone.
Victorian Minister for Community Sport, The Hon. Ros Spence MP, said the investment reflects the strength of basketball’s pathway system and the benefits of sustained collaboration.
“Basketball is a leader in how community sport investment translates into real outcomes, from getting young Victorians playing their first game through to elite performance.
“We are backing a program that is delivering results and creating inclusive opportunities right across Victoria,” said Minister Spence.
The investment sits alongside key government initiatives announced in the Victorian Budget including the Get Active Kids Voucher Program and the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, reinforcing a coordinated approach to participation, facilities and performance. Across 11 hubs statewide, the program engages more than 1,800 athletes and 275 coaches in weekly high-performance environments. The hubs deliver a structured pathway from grassroots through to national representation, incorporating the Future Development Program (FDP), State Development Program (SDP), State Performance Program (SPP), National Performance Program (NPP), and the Wheelchair State Development Program.
For Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey, the investment is recognition of a pathway system that has been delivering consistent results for a number of years.
“This investment is a significant endorsement of the strength of our pathway system and long-term vision for basketball in Victoria. “We’ve built a program over a number of years that is delivering real outcomes, not just in elite performance, but in creating opportunities for athletes and coaches from all backgrounds to thrive,” said Mr Honey.
Beyond on-court development, the program takes a holistic approach, supporting athletes with access to nutrition education, strength and conditioning programming, media training, and high-performance mindset and sports psychology support.
The sustained investment is already delivering strong returns. In addition to seven national championship titles in 2025, the pathway has significantly contributed to the selection of 26 athletes and four coaches in Basketball Australia junior national teams, while continuing to produce elite talent, including 14 athletes currently competing in the WNBA and NBA, more than 50 players across the WNBL and NBL, and five Centre of Excellence (CoE) scholarship holders in Canberra.
Having overseen the program’s continued growth, Basketball Victoria GM Pathways Dom Linossier said the success of the hubs has been built through sustained investment, collaboration and a whole of athlete approach.
“The High-Performance Hubs are more than just training environments, they’re places where athletes learn what it takes to succeed, both in sport and in life.
“This funding ensures we can continue to build on that momentum, and provide access to more athletes, and coaches, along with continuing to iterate and evolve high-quality development opportunities across the state,” said Mr Linossier.
As one of the most diverse and fastest-growing sports in Victoria, basketball continues to play a critical role in connecting communities and creating inclusive pathways for participation and performance.
Through continued investment in pathways and performance, Basketball Victoria will continue to lead the way, ensuring the next generation of Victorian athletes has access to world-class development opportunities and a clear pathway from grassroots to the global stage.
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For Media Enquiries
Maree DeGeorge
Media & Communications Specialist
E: maree.degeorge@basketballvictoria.com.au
P: 0499 851 266
