Former Lake Tyers Gunaikurnai man Uncle Ricky Baldwin, who has called Melbourne home for many years, was recently inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll.
Born in 1970, Uncle Ricky is known for his work in sport and youth development. He was a professional athlete himself before turning his focus to empowering others, and has dedicated his life to community through his involvement in grassroots and national organisations.
Uncle Ricky is an advocate for healing the trauma of the Stolen Generations. He honours his family, especially his beautiful late Mum, Mary Helen Darby Baldwin (Gunai Kurnai, Gunditjmara). Uncle Ricky’s family were significantly impacted by Victoria’s Aboriginal child removal policies. He says that those who were stolen at birth never had the opportunity to live a life without trauma and pain.
Uncle Ricky founded Koorie Academy Basketball and is its chief executive officer.
The academy is a not-for-profit organisation in Naarm/Melbourne, providing opportunities for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to engage in sport. Uncle Ricky set up the academy to give young people a place to have fun, learn and connect with their culture, going beyond basketball to build young people’s sense of pride, connection to culture and community.
Making sure that young people’s voices are heard and their needs are met is one of Uncle Ricky’s goals. The academy is about breaking down barriers to sport participation. Uncle Ricky knows that money issues can keep many young people from playing sports. In the past two years alone, the academy has paid fees for 80 young people to make sure they can keep playing sport.
Uncle Ricky always includes culture in academy programs so young people feel connected and proud. Elders often join Academy events, and Uncle Ricky always includes positive role models to teach life skills both on and off the court.
Uncle Ricky’s coaching philosophy emphasises respect, patience and personal growth. He helps athletes to focus not only on achievement, but also on the bigger lessons that sport can teach. He stresses the importance of confidence and belief in yourself to his athletes, which he knows are important to overcoming life’s challenges.
Uncle Ricky was vice president of Australian Indigenous Basketball from 2017 to 2020, and head coach of the Australian Indigenous Women’s Basketball team in 2019. He led the women’s team to a gold medal at the first global Indigenous basketball competition. This achievement showcased his leadership, coaching skills and understanding of sport’s role in strengthening cultural identity.
Uncle Ricky has received many awards for his community work. He was named Male Elder of the Year at the 2024 Victorian NAIDOC Awards and in 2023 he received the prestigious Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership as a result of his work to build community partnerships.
In 2019, he was awarded Citizen of the Year by Knox City Council and was shortlisted for Australian of the Year in 2022. These recognitions reflect Uncle Ricky’s impact in the community both locally and nationally.
Uncle Ricky’s expertise is valued by businesses, sporting organisations and government agencies. He has worked with national and local groups on reconciliation projects, including the National Basketball League and the Victorian Department of Health. He has also worked with clubs like Melbourne United and the Southside Flyers WNBL.
He is often asked to advise on programs to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion in sport. Uncle Ricky has also worked with the Australian Sports Commission and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards. His focus is always on creating meaningful pathways for Indigenous people.
Beyond sport, Uncle Ricky is a talented artist. He is dedicated to keeping his culture alive through his creative work. This includes crafting traditional artefacts like coolamons and clap sticks. His artwork allows him to pass down knowledge and traditions to the next generation. He believes that art helps keep the culture alive and connects young people to their heritage.
Uncle Ricky’s story is one of resilience. Growing up, he faced many challenges. He and his family felt the effects of the Stolen Generations policies. Uncle Ricky understands many of the struggles that young people and families face, and has drawn on these experiences to build deep empathy, which shapes his work today.
Uncle Ricky’s focus on healing drives his community work. He builds strong relationships with individuals and families because he understands the need for safe spaces where young people can thrive. Through his mentorship, Uncle Ricky has made a lasting impact on the lives of many young people.
In addition to the Koorie Academy, Uncle Ricky is a mentor for Bunnings National Indigenous Leaders program and Canteen Australia’s Young Adult Reconciliation Network (YARN). Uncle Ricky also mentors young men through the Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation, where he focuses on teaching about culture and connection to build a sense of pride and belonging. He regularly runs cultural education workshops on the impacts of the Stolen Generations policies and on understanding what reconciliation means in practice.
Uncle Ricky and his partner Natasha have welcomed many young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into their home. He knows that a safe and supportive environment at home leads to success on court. He often continues to mentor people long after they find their feet. Many young people have relied on his guidance and support long after they leave the academy.
Uncle Ricky’s dedication to intergenerational healing makes him a staunch advocate for young Indigenous people. His legacy will be felt for generations. His work in sport and the community makes a difference, and his mentorship, love, and commitment to culture has helped many young people in Victoria and around Australia.
