Dr Tester, a former deputy principal at Guildford Primary School, had become concerned about children who were left behind by the school system. He was also acutely aware that Australia has one of the highest suicide rates in the industrialised world for young adults - in 1993 it was 16.4 deaths per 100,000 Australian youths between the ages of 15 and 24. The figure had doubled since the 1970s. There is an academic emphasis at school and children sometimes think if they are not top performers, they are no good. I believed if the kids could get some exposure to top athletes it would make a big difference.
Athletes are generally fairly happy and focused.
They are people the kids look up to. The program was recently introduced to Singapore to a great response. The Singaporean Government has extended an invitation to return at any time. Many of the sporting people are pretty ordinary in basketball skills, but that doesn't matter. What is important is that they develop a mentor relationship with the kids over a number of weeks.