Our Story

The National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association (NATSIBA) was Founded by Stephen Ridgeway Jr & Co-Founded by Nikita Ridgeway in 2006.

Upcoming and Past Events

Nov. 18-22, 2024

9th National Men's and Women's Basketball Championship

Blacktown Leisure Centre
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Nov. 18-22, 2013

8th Annual Australian National Indigenous Basketball Championship

Australian Institute of Sport
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Nov. 12-16, 2012

7th Annual Australian National Indigenous Basketball Championship

Kingsborough Sports Centre
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Our Story: The Beginning

It was a wet rainy night in a small townhouse in Woodcroft Estates in Blacktown shire; Stephen Ridgeway Jr decided to write a business plan to create Australia’s first National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association entirely operated & owned by blackfullas.

After writing everything up on his old put together computer from parts thrown out by his neighbours, he went to his parents house that afternoon to talk to his mother, Dianne Ridgeway, first about the new venture; & later that afternoon, his father, Stephen Ridgeway Snr, walked in the house, sat down & they talked about it in length; Dianne & Stephen Snr said it was a great idea.

A few hours went by & Nikita Ridgeway, Stephen Jr’s sister, walked in the front door from university studying Graphic Design & said what you fullas up to; there was a pause & Dianne, Stephen Snr & Stephen Jr looked up & said, sit down your brother has a great idea.

The First Annual National Championships

A few months later, in 2006, NATSIBA presented the 1st Annual National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Championships for A Grade Men, A Grade Women, U18’s Boys, U18 Girls, U16 Boys, U16 Girls, U12 Boys and U12 Girls at NSW States Sports Centre in Homebush, Sydney to be held Annually in a different state, allowing every community the chance to Host the event and bringing communities (MOB) together from Sydney (2006), Melbourne (2010), Adelaide (2011), Perth (2007), Darwin (2008), Cairns (2009), Hobart (2012) and Canberra (2013).

The players say the highlights are connecting with Mob from all over & the A Grade Men, A Grade Women 3 Pointer Shootout & Men’s Dunk Competition are deadly.

Our Vision.

1. To foster better cultural understanding between the basketball industry & Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities.

2. To create long-term scholarship positions for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities in the basketball industry.

3. To help current Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander basketball players stay sustainable in their current positions & help foster better avenues to mainstream basketball industry.
4. Through the establishment of the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association, we want a positive impact to divert young people away from contact with the justice system & drugs, preventing youth suicide & family violence.

WHAT WE DO

Having the National Basketball Championship consistently every year portrays to the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community that there are avenues available to compete at National levels and that the opportunity is there to help basketball players within the community to excel in the field of basketball.

Pathways

NATSIBA 5 On 5 Basketball Championships

NATSIBA Deadly 3 On 3 Basketball Tournaments

NATSIBA Community Visits

Performance of Function

Our Association will act in accordance with proven, reliable & sound business principals.
Making specialist basketball industry experts available to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities.
Our Association will act in accordance with proven, reliable & sound business principals.

Our 20-Year Mission (2006-2026)

The National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association Pathways Program has been increasing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples basketball participation since 2006 by engaging, promoting & delivering a range of Culturally appropriate inclusive sports & physical activities throughout Australia, Sydney, Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra, for better outcomes in physical & mental health, Culture for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

The National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association is committed to promoting Cultural immersion & creating safe pathways that is culturally safe environment for all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia.