UQ partners with Indigenous NBA star Patty Mills on game-changing program
By Kirsten O'Leary
UQ lecturer Dr Kai Wheeler fondly recalls the first time he saw future NBA star Patty Mills in action – he was just 6 years old and already establishing himself as a talented member of Canberra’s Indigenous basketball club, The Shadows.
“I watched him run up and down the court with the basketball tucked under his arm like a rugby ball,” Dr Wheeler said.
“He didn’t bounce the ball and he shot it in the basket at the end.”
“My younger brother played on the same Shadows team as Patty, and I played a few age groups up for the club.”
Six-year-old Patty Mills (left) during his formative years with Indigenous basketball Club, The Shadows.
Six-year-old Patty Mills (left) during his formative years with Indigenous basketball Club, The Shadows.
Today, Patty is one of Australia's most revered basketballers. Known for his 3-point shooting, the current Atlanta Hawks point guard helped the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA Championship in 2014 and has represented Australia at 4 Olympics, becoming Australia’s first Indigenous flag bearer at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Dr Wheeler’s connection with Patty has now led to a nationally significant partnership between UQ and Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA), a not-for-profit organisation founded by Patty and his parents, Benny and Yvonne.
Dr Wheeler, a proud Ngarabal man, leads a research team from UQ’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences developing sporting, educational and cultural pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young peoples.
Watch the video
“Our aim is to position young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at the centre of their wellbeing,” Dr Wheeler said.
“We’ll be developing a program for IBA players, coaches and officials to achieve at the highest level, with a strong focus on recruitment, retention and progression.
“By co-designing physical movement programs in a culturally responsive way, we have an opportunity to use participation in sport to improve health outcomes.”
The collaboration was unveiled at the 17U National Indigenous Basketball Tournament held in Brisbane in September 2023, which was attended by the NBA star, his wife Alyssa and his dad Benny.
“The collaboration with UQ will strengthen IBA’s mission to provide pathways for participation and success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth,” Patty said.
“Dr Wheeler’s expertise and passion in using sport and exercise to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples perfectly aligns with what we aim to achieve through the IBA.
“This partnership will allow us to go beyond the court by encouraging our young people to embrace their culture, unlock their full potential and provide them with the best possible chance to succeed.”
Dr Kai Wheeler (far right) with members of Indigenous Basketball Australia.
Dr Kai Wheeler (far right) with members of Indigenous Basketball Australia.
The IBA model is based on the tremendous success of The Shadows.
The Shadows was founded by Benny and Yvonne Mills in the mid-1980s, when they moved to Canberra from Thursday Island.
“Our intention was to bring together young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in Canberra, so they had a network to connect with when they were away from their families and communities,” Benny said.
“Patrick was 4 years old when he started playing. He wanted to play for some time but because he was young, we'd get him on the court for about a minute in the first half, another minute in the second half and at the end of the game.
“His skills improved over time and he was soon one of the top players in the Under-10s division in Canberra.”
The IBA is just one of the many ways the Mills family gives back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It was established to inspire future Indigenous basketball players to not only thrive but also excel in basketball and living in their communities.
“Many Shadows members from back in the 1990s are now part of the IBA programs and many are involved in IBA’s pinnacle annual event, the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament,” Benny said.
“Those events are when we get together and talk about the Shadows days. We talk about how wonderful the IBA’s programs are as a national expansion of The Shadows.”
Benny Mills with Dr Kai Wheeler.
Benny Mills with Dr Kai Wheeler.
Benny reconnected with Dr Wheeler when he moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2020.
“It was great to reconnect with Kai again after many years,” Benny said.
“He showed us his Shadows uniform he’d kept from back then.
“We’ve caught up many times and I’ve learnt about the work he’s been doing with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Yarrabah and throughout Queensland.
“These areas include the same communities our kids come from – Torres Strait, Cairns and Brisbane.”
The collaboration was unveiled at the 17U National Indigenous Basketball Tournament held in Brisbane in September 2023, which was attended by the NBA star, his wife Alyssa and his dad Benny.
“The collaboration with UQ will strengthen IBA’s mission to provide pathways for participation and success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth,” Patty said.
“Dr Wheeler’s expertise and passion in using sport and exercise to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples perfectly aligns with what we aim to achieve through the IBA.
“This partnership will allow us to go beyond the court by encouraging our young people to embrace their culture, unlock their full potential and provide them with the best possible chance to succeed.”
Dr Kai Wheeler (far right) with members of Indigenous Basketball Australia.
Dr Kai Wheeler (far right) with members of Indigenous Basketball Australia.
The IBA model is based on the tremendous success of The Shadows.
The Shadows was founded by Benny and Yvonne Mills in the mid-1980s, when they moved to Canberra from Thursday Island.
“Our intention was to bring together young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in Canberra, so they had a network to connect with when they were away from their families and communities,” Benny said.
“Patrick was 4 years old when he started playing. He wanted to play for some time but because he was young, we'd get him on the court for about a minute in the first half, another minute in the second half and at the end of the game.
“His skills improved over time and he was soon one of the top players in the Under-10s division in Canberra.”
The IBA is just one of the many ways the Mills family gives back to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It was established to inspire future Indigenous basketball players to not only thrive but also excel in basketball and living in their communities.
“Many Shadows members from back in the 1990s are now part of the IBA programs and many are involved in IBA’s pinnacle annual event, the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament,” Benny said.
“Those events are when we get together and talk about the Shadows days. We talk about how wonderful the IBA’s programs are as a national expansion of The Shadows.”
Benny Mills with Dr Kai Wheeler.
Benny Mills with Dr Kai Wheeler.
Benny reconnected with Dr Wheeler when he moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2020.
“It was great to reconnect with Kai again after many years,” Benny said.
“He showed us his Shadows uniform he’d kept from back then.
“We’ve caught up many times and I’ve learnt about the work he’s been doing with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Yarrabah and throughout Queensland.
“These areas include the same communities our kids come from – Torres Strait, Cairns and Brisbane.”
One of Dr Wheeler's research programs is called MobMoves, and has been led by UQ PhD student Emily Hall. The program was co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to embrace lifelong exercise and healthy living.
“We successfully piloted the 12-week program in the Aboriginal community of Yarrabah, and children involved in the program experienced a variety of positive outcomes,” Dr Wheeler said.
“These included improved sleep patterns and the development of essential life skills such as self-discipline, motivation, and emotional self-regulation.”
Dr Wheeler said the UQ-IBA partnership will also play a vital role in addressing social challenges associated with sports participation and community living.
NBA star Patty Mills with members of Indigenous Basketball Australia.
NBA star Patty Mills with members of Indigenous Basketball Australia.
“I’ve been inspired by the work Patty and his parents do through community basketball to empower Indigenous communities, revitalise cultural practices, strengthen identity and lead healthy lifestyles,” Mr Wheeler said.
“By harnessing our knowledge and using a culturally responsive approach towards community engagement, we have an opportunity to make a difference in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ lives.”
Patty said the UQ-IBA collaboration is testament to the transformative influence of sport.
“Basketball has brought me great joy, but working with like-minded partners like UQ and Dr Wheeler bring me a true sense of fulfilment,” Patty said.
“I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.”
From the NBA to FNQ: bringing sports science on Country
PhD candidate in UQ’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences Emily Hall is one of just 2 Australians awarded an inaugural High Performance x Equity Fellowship by NBA champion Patty Mills’ Team Mills Foundation, the San Antonio Spurs and Liminal Collective.
Built with Shorthand