First Nations brand and organisation House of Darwin have launched a new initiative as part of their Hoop Dreams NT program.

Titled 'Alley Oop: Play It Forward', the new project has been created to keep basketball courts in remote communities active and resourced.

Basketball courts are often the only large public gathering spaces in remote Australia, supporting wellbeing, connection and youth engagement. Through Alley Oop, every basketball purchased helps place a ball directly into a community.

The program has worked with including Wangkatjungka, Daguragu, Minmarama, Barunga, Yirrkala and Gunbalanya - with more planned for 2026.

It's a simple idea built on a shared belief: when you play, someone else should get the chance to play too.

"We've seen firsthand how important these courts are, they're not just places to play, they're places where community comes together," said House of Darwin founder Shaun Edwards.

"Alley Oop is about keeping those spaces alive. You buy a ball, and we make sure a ball lands back in a community where it's needed. It's simple, practical, and it keeps the game moving forward."

Through House of Darwin's Hoop Dreams NT program the organisation has renovated six basketball courts with murals designed in collaboration with each community.

With every project being built alongside community - with local employment, co-design, and cultural storytelling at the heart - each court tells its own story.

Together, they form a movement: reclaiming spaces, celebrating culture, and giving young people courts that feel like home. Hoop Dreams is a powerful example of how sport and art can come together to create lasting impact, transforming not just physical spaces, but the sense of pride, ownership, and connection within communities.

Alley Oop is a new program that will further promote the use of these courts in the communities House of Darwin has worked with.

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