Whereas previous years saw separate entities, this season marks the debut of a united national panel and the selection for 2016/17 represents the elite level referees in Australia to work within the nation’s top men’s and women’s competitions.

The NPRC receives input from the NBL, Basketball Australia and FIBA Oceania as well as state and national Junior Championship representation.

“We now have a collective voice rather than just one,” said Basketball Australia Officials Manager, Peter Carey.

“A committee that discusses the nominations from each state to formulate a national panel means the net is cast a lot wider and a greater range of referees can be considered for appointment.”

Included in this year’s selection are three Olympic referees in Vaughan Mayberry, Michael Aylen and Scott Beker with Mayberry and Beker having recently featured at the Rio Olympics.

In addition, FIBA calibre referees Matt Beattie, Sarah Carey, Jon Chapman, Vanessa Devlin, Brad Giersch, Brett Hogan, Tim Mills, Tim Boswell, Chris Reid, Matt Townsend, James Boyer, Toni Caldwell and Damian Lyons have all been named.

There is also a host of new talent in Guy Richards, Kahli Symons, Justin Hamilton, Chris Vogelsinger, Adrian Diconza, Nicolas Fernandes and Nikki Ireland who will benefit from this new panel.

The NBL season will tip-off on October 6 when the Brisbane Bullets will debut against the Perth Wildcats with the WNBL season beginning the following day when the Sydney Uni Flames host the Perth Lynx.

The 2016/17 National Panel of Referees: