Good News Story: Rishad Cook-Sabatino

Rishad Sabatino-Cook, affectionately known as Shardy, has been an avid participant in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs. From the programs he joined our basketball Academy and has recently earned his Diploma of Sport.

His experience, expertise and qualification from his Diploma of Sport has allowed him to coach and mentor at our regional outreach programs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs.

It was a full circle moment when Shardy coached at a clinic he once attended after graduating from our Academy. Since then, we have helped Rishad get an apprenticeship with a building company.

He still plays basketball and puts his knowledge from his Diploma to work in the gym. Rishad’s willingness to give back to the community and uplift the younger generation is inspirational and is exactly what we are trying to achieve with our programs.

We have seen a few of our young people from the programs progress their careers through jobs and education and give back to the younger generation who aspire to be just like them.

Shardy’s journey has inspired other young people from Thursday Island to move to Brisbane to follow their dreams in basketball and study a diploma of sport at the Brian Kerle Basketball Academy.