Social Media Program Boosts Engagement for Oceania National Federations

GOLD COAST (Australia) – National Federations across Oceania have gained valuable insight into leveraging the power of social media to grow the game of basketball through the recent social media program coordinated by FIBA and ABC International Development Program - Women in News and Sport (WINS).

The program provided participating federations with the tools and resources to create engaging content, analyse their social media presence, and connect with their audiences more effectively.  Aligning with two vital pillars in the FIBA Strategic Plan, Empowering National Federations and Women in Basketball,

Learning from the Experts

Participants in the program have found the educational component to be particularly beneficial with Nilani Grouse from Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) grateful for the opportunity to delve into the world of social media.  “Learning how to create engaging content was a huge benefit from me,” Grouse said. 

“The opportunity to learn from social media professionals associated with WINS, and FIBA was a huge draw card and learning for me.  The access to professional guidance through this program has provided me and the SIBF with invaluable learnings to elevate our social media game.”

Spreading the Love of Basketball

The benefits of the program extend far beyond social media metrics by empowering National Federations to better connect with fans, players, and stakeholders.  The inaugural collaboration between FIBA and WINS on this program will ultimately help grow the game of basketball throughout the region.

“This program collaboration has been a great example of how we can further educate and empower our National Federations to achieve their goals,” FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins said.  “By equipping our Federations with the tools they need to thrive in the digital space, this type of program is paving the way for a brighter and more celebrated future for basketball in Oceania.”

Measurable Results

The positive impact of the program is already being felt by participating federations.  SIBF reported a significant increase in social media engagement after participating in the program.  “We gained almost 1,000 followers in the last month,” Grouse said.  “It shows that more people are showing interest in SIBF and the basketball community.  There’s been a lot of engagement through shares and likes with recent posts and I know that the surge in engagement demonstrates the effectiveness of this program.”

WINS Project Manager, Sally Eeles said that the project had been a great example of how collaboration brings about positive results and stronger networks.  “Not only did FIBA see growth across National Federation networks, but WINS alumna was able to build upon her experience as a trainer, with Cleverlyn Mayuga sharing her skills in digital content creation,” Eeles said.  “WINS is always keen to work with FIBA because of the organisation’s forward-thinking approach.  We are so happy with the results of this program, and we plan to expand upon it next year.”

## About WINS

The Women in Sports (WINS) program includes mentoring participants through sports coverage and seeks to promote women in sport from elite to community levels and amplify women’s voices in sports coverage, inspiring women across the Pacific, and Asia to get involved in sports media.

WINS is coordinated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's International Development Unit (ABCID) and is supported by the Australian Government through the Team Up program and builds on two previous phases since WINS began in 2016.