The IAMS backs the Hawks in new player sponsorship program 

Pictured: Kobe McDowell-White (Hawks player), Trish Levett (IAMS team member and Hawks Indigenous Jersey Artist), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Hawks player)

The Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (IAMS) has joined forces with the Illawarra Hawks to back the Club’s new First Nations player pathway strategy, as the Hawks’ First Nations Engagement Strategy continues to take shape. 

Kobe McDowell-White, announced last month as a Hawks’ development player for the NBL25 Season, was the first player signed into the Club’s First Nations player pathway. His signing was supported by the IAMS, who secured Kobe as a player partner for the NBL25 Season, alongside Hawks Forward Wani Swaka Lo Buluk. 

IAMS CEO and member of the Illawarra Hawks’ newly established First Nations Advisory Committee, Kane Ellis said, “We are delighted to be partnering with the Hawks, and to be able to help bring Kobe to Dharawal country. We hope the opportunity will take Kobe’s game to the next level, and we’re sure that he will make a great contribution as the IAMS works with the Hawks to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community.” 

Mat Campbell, Hawks General Manager, Basketball, stated “The support of the IAMS is huge for our club. We are proud of the steps towards Reconciliation that the Hawks have taken over recent years. Together with the IAMS we instigated the first ever Indigenous Round to the NBL back in the 2018/19 NBL season, and we have benefitted enormously from having terrific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players in our group. Now, building on their shoulders, we have big plans to establish an Indigenous player pathway as a part of our broader First Nations community engagement strategy, and this partnership is a significant next step towards that goal.” 

Hawks CEO Stu Taggart added, “Partnering with IAMS and backing players like William ‘Davo’ Hickey and Kobe McDowell-White is critical to the future of the Hawks. We’re excited to be working with members of our First Nations community to support and celebrate the Indigenous heritage and stories of both this Country and the Club.  It’s an important priority within our broader Hawks Helps community program,” he said.