Game-changing youth leadership program launched

The Adelaide 36ers and Be Well Co have partnered together to create a new leadership program for senior school students that aims to help them develop confidence in their own capability to manage change, grow as a student and develop a positive outlook for their life after school.

Responding to the continuously declining mental health of young people and Gen Z’s doubts and uncertainty about their future, this program aims to use a novel combination of using sports and physical play, together with mental health coping skills, to build optimism and resilience.

Through their Shooting Hoops Foundation, the 36ers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Be Well Co to develop an evidence-based program for students in years 11 and 12.

The program will be aligned to the school curriculum with the potential to give students SACE credits.

Be Well Co is a South Australian based social enterprise dedicated to advancing mental health research and translating its findings into action. Their programs are designed to build positive mental health – giving individuals the tools they need to feel good, function well, and navigate life’s challenges before they escalate.

Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Social Impact and Community, Ross Wait, is thrilled to be working with Be Well Co on a program designed to inspire the leaders of the future.

“Be Well Co are industry leaders when it comes to helping empower people with ways to navigate life’s challenges,” said Wait.

“We’re teaming up and using basketball as a vehicle to help students build mental strength that lasts—on the court, in class, and in life beyond school.

“This isn’t your typical wellbeing program - it’s using basketball to teach young people vital life skills.

“We want this to be fun - high energy, high impact – and students will leave with life skills they’ll actually use and reflect during challenging times.”

Developed by basketball professionals and mental health researchers, this program blends evidence with energy — ensuring every session is as impactful as it is enjoyable.

With the 36ers and Be Well Co working side by side, this is more than just another wellbeing and resilience initiative — it’s a game-changer for youth mental health and leadership.

“Young people today are facing immense pressure and combined with humans’ tendency to have a negativity bias this means that many kids have a worsened view of their own future,” said Dr Joep van Agteren, CEO at Be Well Co.

“This program is about changing that — giving students the tools to navigate change and challenge when it inevitably hits us, while embracing the good things we have going on for ourselves,”

Be Well Co’s Head of Data and Research Translation Dr Matthew Iasiello elaborated.

“We want to use the professional basketball player’s journey as an analogy to show that many of us can achieve positive outcomes – often more positive than we imagine – if we work through and with challenges,” said Dr Iasiello.

“The cool part is that, just like becoming a pro basketball player, resilience has less to do with what you were born with, but more with dedicated practice and skill development.”

As part of the development process, training workshops are being created to equip educators with the tools and confidence to deliver the program effectively. Be Well Co is also designing an evaluation framework to measure the program’s impact – ensuring the mental fitness elements are not only engaging but effective.

A pilot will be run in two South Australian schools in term 3, with a full rollout and educator professional development opportunities planned for 2026.