South Australian high school students will learn essential skills from an elite sporting organisation – and score credits towards their SACE – through a unique new program using online, in-classroom and outdoor activities.

The Adelaide 36ers will help deliver the Australian-first initiative – a SACE-accredited course based around basketball to build resilience, wellbeing and leadership in young people.

The Department for Education will provide up to $115,000 to support schools to join the Adelaide 36ers and XVenture Academy Schools program in 2023.

The Adelaide 36ers not-for-profit, Shooting Hoops Foundation, have partnered and with emotional agility, resilience and leadership experts, XVenture for the program in South Australia.

Up to 20 government schools in South Australia will be supported to take part in the program this year.

It offers students a mix of immersive classroom and online-based learning via the Adelaide 36ers and XVenture ‘Virtual Campus’ platform, which teachers can access for an all-in-one resource hub with lesson plans, videos and development tools.

Hands-on outdoor sessions are also part of the fully integrated course, as well as rare insights into sports marketing and media, athletes’ health and nutrition.

The lessons are aimed at year 10 students, with participants earning 10 SACE credits and a Certificate in Emotional Agility, Resilience and Leadership.

The 60-hour course – based on a successful high school program in NSW – is designed to be held across two terms, but its flexibility allows schools to begin the program at any point in the school year.

The funding agreement also includes support for a research project into the program’s impact and benefits on student learning.

XVenture – whose founder, Professor Mike Conway, is the mindset performance coach for the Adelaide 36ers and national men’s soccer team The Socceroos – will train teachers to implement the program.

Schools can register their interest and learn more at adelaide36ers.com/pages/schools-program