PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea) - Supported by the Team Up Program, the Hoops for Equality Pilot Coaching Workshop has taken another important step in strengthening inclusive basketball development in Papua New Guinea.
Delivered by FIBA in Oceania under FIBA’s Basketball For Good strategy, the pilot program is designed to Empower National Federations by developing local expertise in coaching and officiating while ensuring women and girls have meaningful pathways into leadership roles. The workshops also reinforces FIBA’s global Women in Basketball priority, with participants from the Women in Basketball LEAD network contributing to the program’s growing impact.
Two workshops were conducted addressing coaching and officiating, bringing together emerging coaches and referees to build technical skills, leadership capacity, and gender‑equitable practices across the sport, the initiative supporting long‑term National Federation development through community‑focused training.
Among the participants was Papua New Guinea’s emerging coach and 2025 Women in Basketball LEAD Alumni, Kathy Araea, who joined the workshop to deepen her understanding of the game and strengthen her ability to support junior development in her community.
“FIBA in Oceania is rolling out amazing programs, the experience for me personally is nothing short of amazing, learning new techniques to implement along the way to adjust to the evolving game of basketball in terms of coaching, management and player and technical areas.”
Araea, originally from Milne Bay, has been contributing to basketball since high school, beginning in administration before transitioning to coaching in 2023. Her involvement in the Women in Basketball LEAD program, helped shape her leadership journey and connected her with other women across the Oceania region who share her passion for growing the game.
“My inspiration comes from Women in Basketball,” she said. “Being part of the Women in Basketball LEAD program in 2025 and interacting with other like-minded women around the pacific has been a blessing.”
The Hoops for Equality workshop builds on this foundation by equipping participants with practical tools to deliver safe, inclusive, and community‑focused basketball activities. For Araea, the program’s emphasis on integrating health, wellbeing, and gender equality into coaching aligns strongly with her work in junior development.
“As a junior’s basketball coach, we can deliver and teach players by implementing health and gender equality awareness as they are effective with programs such as ‘Hoops for Health’ and ‘Hoops for Equality’.”
She believes the workshop will help her create stronger pathways for young players in Alotau, where opportunities for women and girls remain limited.
“It means a lot representing my community as there is less participation of women and girls in basketball back in my hometown Alotau,” Araea said. “I’d love for a change to take place so that we can have more women involved in coaching as well as referring duties to equalize the playing field.”
A key component of the pilot program is strengthening understanding of the roles of coaches and referees, an area where Araea says her perspective has shifted.
“My opinion on the roles of referees and coaches has definitely changed in my basketball journey. I always thought these roles were only for the male, however after this workshop it has become clearer that women and girls must be encouraged to take on new challenges especially in these roles.”
She credits her mother as a major influence in her leadership journey. “My mum is the most influential woman in my life. Although she has strong management traits in her career that aren’t sports related, I still seek her advice throughout my basketball journey. One piece of advice I'd give to my younger self is never let anyone tell you, you can't do it.”
Looking ahead, Araea hopes to continue building her coaching career while contributing to the long‑term development of her association and the national federation.
About FIBA Foundation
The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.
About Team Up
The Team Up Program, an Australian Government initiative, has been a crucial catalyst for this success. By providing support and resources, Team Up empowers FIBA in Oceania to deliver high-quality basketball development programs that are making a real difference in people's lives. These programs not only teach fundamental basketball skills but also promote important life skills, healthy lifestyles, gender equality messaging while contributing to inclusive communities.
Basketball Papua New Guinea is proudly supported by the Australian Government through Team Up, and PacificAus Sports, through the PacificAus Sports Women in Basketball Program. Their support is vital in fostering the growth of basketball in the region and empowering grassroots initiatives.