Yugambeh woman Jacqui Dover will be flying to New York in January as one of six people selected to participate in the NBA’s Referee Development Program.
Ms Dover, who debuted as the NBL’s first female Indigenous referee in May, hopes the program will take her a step closer to her dreams.
“The thing I'm most excited for is just that exposure to the best refs,” Ms Dover said.
“The idea is to prepare us for the pro-leagues and the opportunity to then go to camps, then get signed to the G-League to get into the NBA at some point in time.”
Ms Dover said she’s looking forward to learning the ins and outs of North America’s basketball league and getting access to referee legends like Monty McCutchen.
Having only become the NBL’s first female Indigenous referee in May, Ms Dover hopes her journey can inspire young First Nations people aspiring for basketball careers.
“It’s great to be in an environment that embraces culture because it means we can go out there and show that anyone can be doing it,” she said.
When Ms Dover first debuted as a referee, she was encouraged by NBL Head of Referees Scott Butler.
“Refereeing probably isn't the choice for a lot of players growing up but when I did get into the referee space, having Scott Butler, the first Indigenous official to be out on the court for us… they're the types of people I have always looked up to.”
Ms Dover said completing the NBL apprenticeship in Australia set her up for the future.
“I felt a lot more comfortable within my ability to be out there,” she said.
When she refereed her first match last season in the Indigenous Round, Ms Dover said she wasn’t expecting the media attention she received.
“But if that means that there's going to be some young officials, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, females or males, that now want to make this a pathway, I think it’s worthwhile.”
Ms Dover will continue officiating NBL games until she relocates to the NBA’s Referee Operations Department in New York next year.
