Koorie Basketball Academy collaborated with Melbourne United on the club's recent Indigenous Round launch, bringing young people, culture and sport together in a powerful celebration of identity and connection.

The event at Hoop City opened with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Boonwurrung Traditional Owner Steve Parker.

It was followed by presentations from artists Ky-ya Nicholson Ward and Alfred Carter, who created this season's Indigenous jersey and warm-up top designs.

Koorie Academy coaches and young people then led a cultural workshop for Melbourne United players, coaches, staff and students from Elisabeth Murdoch College.

The session was facilitated by the Academy's founder, Gunai Kurnai man Uncle Ricky Baldwin, who was recently inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll and named Aboriginal Victoria NAIDOC Elder of the Year.

Uncle Ricky said the launch was an important opportunity for the next generation to share stories and history with the broader community.

"We had heaps of KA kids there. I did a really good cultural session," he said.

"Some of the coaches said to me 'I didn't even know this happened in Australia'," - referring to massacre events and other experiences of Indigenous people through colonisation.

Mr Baldwin said having the Academy involved in a major sporting event highlighted how basketball can build bridges between cultures.

"To have all the Koorie Academy kids there today being involved is what it's all about - inclusion."

The partnership between Koorie Basketball Academy and Melbourne United is the first of its kind, with the Academy becoming the first Aboriginal organisation to formally partner with a Victorian professional sporting team.

"We're the first Aboriginal organisation to be a partner with a Victorian team," Mr Baldwin said.

"It was powerful to have Alfred Carter who designed the warm-up top. Our logo is even on there."

The 2025-26 Indigenous Round uniforms, designed by 22-year-old Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung and Ngurai Illum Wurrung artist Ky-ya Nicholson Ward, reflect stories of culture, Country and community.

The front features Bunjil, the Wurundjeri creator spirit in the form of a wedge-tailed eagle, soaring above a meeting place that symbolises coming together with purpose.

Surrounding star patterns represent the connection between people and the cosmos.

White linework panels pay tribute to traditional possum skin cloaks passed down through generations of Southeastern Indigenous people, while blue diamond motifs represent the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples globally.

Mr Carter's warm-up design tells the story of Elders passing knowledge to younger generations and celebrates the continuity of cultural identity.

The design is also included on the coaches' polo shirts for the first time.

Mr Baldwin said it was rewarding to see young people engage directly with professional athletes and learn that their culture has a place on major sporting platforms.

"Seeing all the smiles on the young mob's faces being around professional Melbourne United athletes and coaches was special," he said.

Koorie Basketball Academy is Melbourne United's official charity partner and funds raised from the auction of warm-up tops after the Indigenous Round match will go directly to supporting the organisation's programs.

The collaboration is part of the club's broader effort to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, promote education and create pathways for young people through sport.

For Uncle Ricky, the event demonstrated the value of using basketball as a space for cultural education and truth-telling.

"It was nice to run a cultural session for MU players, coaches and staff and have the Koorie Academy kids being part of it all," he said.

"I would like to personally thank the team at Melbourne United as today was a big success."