Meet Joel Khalu

Founder & Creator of Opportunities

A proud ‘North Queenslander’, Joel Khalu was born in Cairns and grew up on Gimuy Walubara Yidinji country on the south-side of the city.

Hailing from a diverse, multi-cultural background, Khalu has connections to 15 different, unique, ethnic origins, spanning across the world.

After spending time working in remote Indigenous communities throughout Cape York and Torres Strait, Khalu founded the 'Hoop Dreaming Project' in 2006, with the vision of using basketball as a tool to give young people a support mechanism that assisted them in becoming more knowledgeable and successful in different aspects of life including education, employment and health.

The Hoop Dreaming Project (HDP) commenced as a National Community Crime Prevention Programme and received recognition Australia-wide by continually developing innovative strategies to combat major youth, social issues in Far North Queensland.

Along with the delivery of engaging activations and events, the HDP utilised Indigenous and non-Indigenous mentors to deliver and reinforce positive messages of leading active, healthy and crime-free lifestyles. The focus of the HDP was to help young people make smart, goal-oriented choices, build a sense of community pride and develop life-long character building traits such as honesty, integrity, resilience and self-respect.

While the HDP concluded in 2009, Joel has continued to help people across a number of different employment and volunteer platforms for the last 15-years.

Gaining valuable experience through these leadership positions has helped Joel to grow a multi-faceted, skill-set of his own. Hoop Dreaming utilises his expertise to provide diversified services to businesses, community groups and individuals.

“A true leader … educates the mind; empowers the spirit; and encourages others to stand beside them, rather than follow behind.”

- JOEL KHALU

 Leadership & Awards.

• FIBA International Coach & Presenter and member of the World Association of Basketball Coaches

• Australian Emus Junior National Team Assistant Coach, winning the Gold Medal at the 2023 Under 17 FIBA Oceania Championships

• Jr. NBA Asia-Pacific Team Head Coach & Lead Coach at the 2022 & 2023 Jr. NBA Camps held in Australia

• Coach at the 2022 NBA & FIBA Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp held in Australia

• Papua New Guinea Men’s National Team Head Coach from 2013 to 2019, winning the Gold Medal at the 2017 FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup and leading the side to 4th place finishes at the 2015 & 2019 FIBA Pacific Games

• Australian Indigenous Basketball Men’s National Team Head Coach from 2014 to 2019, winning the 2019 International Indigenous Basketball & Cultural Showcase against the Kingdom of Hawai’i and 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 Trans-Tasman Basketball Series against the New Zealand Maori Aotearoa National Team

• Mackay Meteors Head Coach, winning the 2021 NBL1 North championship, 2020 CQ Cup, 2015 QBL title and finishing QBL runner-up in 2014

• Queensland Under 20 Men’s State Team Head Coach, winning an AJC Gold Medal in 2022 and a Silver Medal in 2014

• NQ Sportstar Awards, Service to Sport Award Finalist (2023)

• Mackay Basketball NBL1 Club Person of the Year (2022)

• NBL1 North Men’s Coach of the Year (2022)

• Queensland Basketball League Coach of the Year (2015)

• Queensland Sport & Active Recreation Ambassador (2019-2021)

• White Ribbon Australia Ambassador (2016-2018)

• Mackay Regional Council Sports Administrator Award (2016)

• Basketball Queensland Administrator of the Year (2015)

• Spinal Injuries Australia, Inclusive Community Champion Award (2014)

• Mackay Sport Star Awards, Sports Administrator of the Year (2012)

• Queensland Cancer Council Hope Ambassador (2011-2015)

• Queensland Premier’s Award, Indigenous Youth Leadership (2005)

• Queensland Academy of Sport, NITP Coach Commitment & Excellence Award (2005)

• Waukesha Technical College, Outstanding Student Award and Graduation Speaker (2004)

• Waukesha Technical College, Foundations of Teacher Education Program Award (2004)

• Inducted into Phi-Theta-Kappa International Honour Society & National Technical Honour Society (2004)

• Member of the National Dean’s List, The National Chancellor’s List & Distinctive Honour Roll (2004)

• NCSL Student Leader & attended the National Conference of Leadership in Washington D.C (2003)

• Waukesha Technical College, Student Government Association Vice-President of Social Activities (2003-2004)

• QRU Group Training Company, Sport & Recreation Outstanding Achievement Award (1998)