Ricky Baldwin
Fellow 2023 - 2026
Ricky Baldwin is a proud Gunai Kunai man from Lake Tyers Mission (Bung Yarnda). He is passionate about working with his “mob” to assist them to grow resilience and sense of pride and be available to help them find the pathways needed to achieve their individual goals. He has been advocating for his people to have access to the same opportunities as everyone else for more than 20 years.
He has been a professional athlete in the Knox Raiders NBL1, a member of the 1991 National Championship Team and was selected into the Hall of Fame Team in 2011.
From 2017 – 2020 Ricky was Vice-President of Australian Indigenous Basketball, and in 2019 he was the Head Coach of the Australian Indigenous Women’s Basketball who won the first Gold Medal for Indigenous Basketball at an International Competition.
Ricky is the founder of the Koorie Academy (KA) Basketball, a non-profit organisation that delivers programs that engage with and empower the younger generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through basketball and cultural activities that allows kids the opportunity to play sport and also learn about their own culture and identity.
As a Coach he has developed very strong relationships with many young people and he continues to mentor them into their adulthood. What drives his passion to mentor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids is to provide them with a sense of hope and self-determination that he never had for himself growing up.
Ricky’s vision for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is to know that the young mob have access to leaders that will support and nurture their cultural identity and encourage sustained connection to land and cultural practices.
Keeping Culture Alive is a fundamental part of his vision. Utilising his connections and networks in the world of AFL, National Basketball League, State and Local Associations means that he is able to demonstrate models for a healthy lifestyle and contribute to Closing the Gap whilst breaking down barriers for mob to feel included into the mainstream community.
His current roles include:
- CEO & Head Coach of Koorie Academy Basketball
- National Basketball League RAP Working Group Member
- VicHealth – RAP Working Group Member
- Consulting with the NBL, WNBL, NBL1 in partnership with the Koorie Academy to assist in the running of Indigenous rounds
-
Head Coach of the Victorian Indigenous Basketball Australia 17U Boys Team
- Melbourne United Cultural Consultant
- Bunnings National Indigenous Leadership Team
- Australian Sports Commission Consultant
- Southside Flyers WNBL Consultant
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Sports Awards 2023 Committee
- 2023 – Citizen of the Year – Knox Council
- 2023 – Shortlisted Victorian Sports Coach of the Year
- 2020 – Shortlisted for National Australian of the Year
- 2019 – Australian Indigenous Basketball Outstanding Commitment to Community Award
- 2023 – Koorie Academy nominated and a finalist in the City of Melbourne Awards 2023
Ricky has made artefacts for:
- AFL Indigenous Rounds
- NBL Indigenous Rounds
- WNBL Indigenous Rounds
- Cultural Workshops Essendon AFL
- Number of Cultural Workshops in Schools