- $1.5 million committed over three years to help secure the future of Townsville Fire.
- The funding will help deliver the Townsville Fire Community Youth Program and four community-based initiatives to help turn around the lives of at-risk youths and inspire young Queenslanders
The future of Townsville Fire Women’s Basketball Team is burning bright, after the Government contributed $1.5 million to the team’s Community Youth Program.
The funding enables the team’s players to be employed all year round, meaning when they’re not on the basketball court winning championships, these strong role models will be educating and empowering students and at risk children in Townsville and across the state.
The investment will see Fire athletes engage with 15,000 young Queenslanders each year through four specific programs:
- School Program – encourage students to make healthy choices through after-school sports programs, cooking classes, mindfulness workshops and career planning sessions.
- Ignite2Rise – help young Queenslanders deemed at-risk and currently at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, through vocational training and work experience opportunities.
- IgniteHer Program – support at risk youth in the community through workshops promoting resilience, self-value, and positive relationships, with both family and the community.
- Ignite the Dream Camp – help youth experiencing social isolation, or at risk of dropping out of school, by taking them on a three-day camp involving mentorship sessions, basketball development clinic, leadership workshops and community service activities.
The funding is part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to lead, partner and coordinate community engagement programs across the state.
Quotes attributable to the Premier:
“I know how proud North Queenslanders are of their championship winning Townsville Fire Women’s Basketball team.
“Not only are they getting results on the floor, they’re getting results in the Townsville community through their extensive community outreach work.
“We’re backing the Townsville Fire because they back Townsville.
“This $1.5 million commitment will help to inspire and engage more than 45,000 youths over three years, creating positive, healthy habits.
“Programs such as IgniteHer and Ignite2Rise are key in helping at-risk young people to find a real purpose, while opening the door to a world of new opportunities.
“We know that programs like the Townsville Fire Community Youth Program have lasting, impacts on those who participate, and I look forward to seeing this initiative continue to grow and thrive.”
Quotes attributable to Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe:
“The Townsville Fire Community Youth Program’s strong focus on resilience and the health and well-being of young North Queenslanders is critically important.
“Our investment in the Townsville Fire is part of a wider commitment to delivering more opportunities to stay active, healthy and engaged in the community.
“It’s a key legacy we want to achieve from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games for young Queenslanders, no matter where they live in our big State.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Townsville Scott Stewart:
“I have worked extremely closely with Sam Pascoe and the Townsville Fire to secure this funding because I know how important these programs are.
“The Townsville Fire are the national WNBL champions and the only professional women’s basketball team in Queensland and help inspire young women to aim high for their future.
“These programs and this investment is about more than just basketball though, it’s about ensuring our young girls can learn from our exceptional Townsville Fire players.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper:
“The Townsville Fire are incredibly well-loved in the city and are great role models for young people.
“We know both sport and having good role models is important for young people and that’s why we’re backing the Townsville Fire’s Community Youth Program.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Mundingburra Les Walker:
“I’ve seen first hand how programs like Midnight Basketball help engage young people and these programs run by the Townsville Fire will do the same thing.
“As a government we continue to back programs that engage young people in our community because we know it makes a difference to their lives.”
