Dozens of teams from across WA gathered at Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre last week for Binar Futures basketball competition, combining sport with health and community connection.

Held on April 14 and 15, the tournament attracted 68 teams from as far as Broome, Leonora, Perth and others who competed alongside local sides from Albany, Mt Barker and Denmark creating a strong and inclusive atmosphere.

This year the organisation will be visiting eight different towns and and is aimed at children from 10-19.

The competition provides opportunities for Indigenous players who may not otherwise have access to organised basketball, giving them a chance to take to the court in a supportive and welcoming environment.

More than just a basketball competition, the event is part of Binar’s broader mission to support Aboriginal youth in building positive futures for themselves, their families and their communities.

Off the court, the focus on well being continued with health stalls and pop-up services offering checks and information for players and their families between games, reinforcing the events strong community health focus.

Through sport, the organisation aims to promote healthier lifestyles while fostering resilience, confidence and cultural connection.

Binar chair Andrew Vlahov said it was an important program that helps connect health to sport and serves as an educational purpose for the kids.

“This grassroots basketball is connecting health to sport with preventative and educational practices which I believe is super important,” he said.

“Today we had 293 kids through (the health services) which is our second biggest day ever on a single day.

“We have got kids, we’ve got adults doing it — we want the grannies, the brothers, the sisters, the baby’s, getting on top of health as its super important for regional communities.

“It’s (the program) just a good, fun, healthy activity that brings the community together.”

Competition manager Efrem Garlett-Watson has been part of the program since it began in 2011 when he was a player and said it had been amazing watching the program grow.

“It’s amazing seeing all these kids having this opportunity playing basketball in these regions and bringing a bunch of kids to these regions to see and meet the other players is pretty good,” he said.

Having this basketball and the health embassy on the side is pretty good like kids go through there pretty much every time when they get a break, learning about their health and hopefully make good lifestyle decisions going forward

Founder of Binar Adam Desmond said its great to see the kids getting involved in their health and watching the community come out to support the program.

“What we’re doing is bringing health checks to where the kids are going to be,” he said.

“It takes that stigma and fear out around getting your health checks done because they can do it with their mates in a space where they can learn and have a say in their own health journey.

“The community really come out and really buy into what we’re doing.”