Search Results

< Back Ekram's story Josh Raymer and Maddy Ware 26 Oct 2022 From Huddle Holidays participant to Huddle Employee Ekram is a 17-year-old Wyndham local, and since 2021, has participated in The Huddle’s HERStory camp, multiple Huddle Holidays Basketball Tournament’s, and The Huddle’s Game Changers program. After taking part in many areas of the Huddle and growing in doing so, Ekram is now employed as a Program Support Officer at The Huddle. One Huddle programs that has seen massive growth throughout 2022 is Wyndham’s Study Squad. Due to an increased demand for study support from young people within the Wyndham community, there was a need for a Program Support Officer to join the team to assist young people to complete their study and access free tutoring. Ekram was touted by Huddle staff as a young person that would be a great fit to assist with the program. She had previously demonstrated a desire to work at The Huddle, due to her enjoyment of Huddle programs she had participated in, and experiences she’d heard from other young people that have worked at The Huddle. Ekram first participated in The Huddle through the HERStory camp, an initiative for young women. Ekram attended HERStory with a group of friends, and the camp introduced her to some of the Huddle staff and programs available to her. “The camp was fun being around people I know – I also had to get out of my comfort zone when meeting new people. It was my first-time meeting everyone at The Huddle, and I felt like I had a connection with the staff, which made me want to keep coming back to other Huddle programs.” From there, Ekram participated in multiple Huddle basketball tournaments. Basketball is a huge passion of Ekram’s, and her involvement in multiple women’s only Huddle Slam’s strengthened her connection with The Huddle. Ekram also attended a Youth Employment forum organised by The Huddle’s Social Cohesion Team, and this led to her involvement with Game Changers – The Huddle’s employment program. Through the Game Changers program, Ekram was able to develop her employability skills, and she registered despite having a casual job already. After meeting with the Careers Coordinator, Ekram advised she would like to be considered for future opportunities at The Huddle as she had been involved in many of the programs and wanted to highlight her skills in a paid capacity. Prior to Ekram’s interview at The Huddle, she worked with the Huddle’s Careers Coordinator, Maddy Ware, on interview preparation and displaying her skills in a professional setting. During Ekram’s interview, she was able to highlight her previous experience and skills and demonstrated how she would adopt and amplify The Huddle’s values if she were to be successful. With the support of the Careers Coordinator’s scaffolded interview questions, Ekram was able to clearly demonstrate times she had utilized skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership which led her to be successful in gaining the position of Program Support Officer, supporting Wyndham’s Study Squad program as an employee as opposed to participant. “I felt nervous coming in, but when I saw Josh and Maddy (Huddle co-ordinators), I felt more comfortable and more excited to complete the interview. It went smoothly, and I felt I answered questions to the best of my ability because I felt at ease." Ekram started as Program Support Officer at The Huddle in September this year. Ekram’s role assists young people with achieving their education goals, feeling welcome in space, and most importantly involves being able to relate to the young people that come into the Huddle. Ekram’s addition to Study Squad has further strengthened the connection between program attendees and The Huddle, and there is now a greater amount of support provided for attendees. Ekram is developing her skills in working with young people, managing databases and systems, creating a network of industry professionals, supporting others to achieve their goals and much more. The photo above shows Ekram on her very first day working on the Huddle team. She is also a role model for Study Squad attendees and has demonstrated a strong connection with participants. Ekram has also started to assist with other programs such as Huddle Holidays, with more opportunities to come. The Huddle is greater for having Ekram involved. “I feel like I have connected with young people in a way that I didn’t think I could, and I’ve learned how to talk to new people, I feel more confident in running the program and I’m gaining an awareness in what needs to happen to manage the program successfully” Ekram shared some of her hopes for the future, and that she wants “...to be a lawyer; I want to go to university and study law. I’m currently in Year 11, about to go into Year 12, so I want to complete my secondary schooling and go on to get industry experience. I really want to get into Migration law, to help people that need assistance settling in Australia.” Ekram’s story demonstrates how important it is to have young people involved in the delivery of The Huddle’s programs to maximize the opportunity for growth, learning and belonging for all participants. Previous Next

< Back The Power of Sport Samantha Weston 12 Sept 2023 Samatar Ali's Journey to Empower African Australian Youth Sport can bring together communities and offer purpose and belonging to all. It has the ability to create positive change and inspire. Samatar Ali is a young person who has harnessed the power of sport and has used his passion for providing a voice to those who are unrepresented, to empower African Australian youth on a global stage. Born in New Zealand, Sam moved to Australia with his grandmother at the age of 14. It did not take long before Sam found himself at home on the basketball court. “That is where I felt the safest…on the basketball court. Everything else going on in the world does not exist there.” As he adjusted to a new culture and school system, he realized that the court was more than just a place to have fun; it was providing him the necessary tools to express himself and feel confident. Through connections made at school, Sam began attending Huddle programs as a teen. Via The Huddle, he was introduced to Larita Academy and the National Basketball League (NBL). It was here that he undertook a three-day workshop with NBL executives that not only expanded his knowledge of the game, but ignited a passion for coaching that would shape his future. “That’s my craft, and I decided that this will be my profession too – coaching is what I want to do.” Recently, Sam had the opportunity to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, in partnership with the Scanlon Foundation and The Huddle. Here, he participated in a panel on Economic Empowerment of people of African descent at the United Nations (UN). At the UN, Samatar spoke passionately about the power of sport in providing a sense of belonging for African Australian youth. Samatar and his delegation raised several crucial issues. They emphasized the need for more policy, advocacy, and literacy surrounding the challenges faced by People of African Descent. Unity, both within the community and in governing bodies, was another key point. Samatar emphasized, “I need more people of African descent in these boardrooms to help inform understanding as well as guide progressive decision-making. ” He stressed the importance of representation in decision-making processes. Sport holds a significant place in Australian culture, but unfortunately, it is still not for everyone. Many people who have migrated to Australia from African countries have played sport prior to arriving, but once they have settled in Australia, they can face significant barriers and challenges to participate in organised sport. To truly empower young African Australians, affordable options and pathways to sports need to be accessible and to explore ways to play differently. “Every kid deserves the opportunity to become a better version of themselves, and sport really facilitates that growth.” Reflecting on the trip to Genova, Sam shares that the experience made him more determined than ever to make a difference. It fuelled his passion and his demand for more opportunities for girls and young women. He stresses the need for a careful and focused approach to applying funding where it is needed most. This means acknowledging the grassroots and community aspects of sport, where the key message remains coming together to connect and play for fun. In the wake of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Federal Government has pledged $200M for women’s sports, with Prime Minister Albanese stating that it will “…promote equal access and build more suitable facilities” . More needs to be done to design and play sport differently. The government needs to begin using a system that is not reliant on income streams to stay afloat, such as memberships and uniforms. Support needs to come in the form of listening to what communities need and want to foster sporting availability, quality, and growth. Now that he is back home, Sam's focus is completing his business degree at Victoria University. He is determined to excel in basketball coaching and administration while also collaborating with corporate Australia and government bodies to create real opportunities, access, and equity for people of African Descent. Sam believes this path is his true calling, and by becoming an exceptional teacher, executive, and leader, he hopes to make a lasting impact once he achieves his basketball goals. “The focus every day is to outwork yesterday”. As he continues to learn and grow, Samatar's story serves as an inspiration to all who believe in the boundless potential of sport to create positive change. Previous Next

< Back Strength to strength Josh Raymer 11 Nov 2022 How The Huddle’s free tutoring program in Werribee is flourishing in 2022 Study Squad Wyndham has seen strong growth as we return to an uninterrupted year of tutoring and study support. Attendance has grown steadily each term due to strong relationships with community groups such as the Oromo Women’s Networking Group, and an initiative with St Andrews Primary School in which The Huddle allowed Year 6’s to attend from Term 3. This led to a strong uptake in the program, which has generally only been available to Year 7’s and up. Post COVID, a challenge for Study Squad was building attendance after interruptions for most of 2020 & 2021. The transition from the online component of Study Squad and schooling to face-to-face delivery in 2022 proved to be a challenge for program organisers and volunteers alike. In 2022, we set out to reinvigorate relationships with schools in Wyndham, meet with community groups to provide more information on the program, and leverage The Huddle’s expertise in assisting families and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The Huddle met with Rahima Ahmed from Oromo Women’s Networking Group to establish ways we could work together to support young people from the group with their study. Through this relationship, young people from Oromo backgrounds began to attend the program in a face-to-face capacity. The Huddle also worked with families from Somali backgrounds, including mothers involved in Iskufilan and Women’s Workout. Families and young people from these communities were encouraged to attend the program and Huddle staff assisted with the registration process. Further steps were also taken to make the space more inclusive for young people of Muslim faith, such as the addition of a prayer space for students and parents. The Huddle’s long standing and strong relationship with St. Andrews PS saw Year 6’s able to attend the program throughout Term 3 & Term 4. The Huddle has long delivered True North & Voice Your Voice programs at St. Andrews PS, and at the conclusion of these activities, The Huddle opened the program to students so that they can prepare for secondary schooling and to assist with the transition from Year 6 to Year 7, establishing excellent study habits in advance. With a large amount of support from St. Andrews PS teaching staff, the initiative has proven to be extremely successful. St. Andrews students have also started attending other Huddle programs such as Huddle Holidays, further highlighting the strong relationship between The Huddle and St. Andrews PS community. The Huddle’s relationships with schools in Wyndham allowed promotion of the Study Squad program through other programs, such as Huddle Holidays, Huddle Up!, True North, Voice Your Voice, Game Changers and more. With an increase in visibility of the program in the Wyndham community, there was also an increased demand for Study Support as young people returned to face-to-face learning. The past few years have been extremely difficult for many students, as they tried to navigate COVID interruptions and a lack of connection with others during this time. Parents and young people attend Study Squad to connect with Huddle staff, volunteer tutors and fellow students, all while receiving study support. Throughout 2022, we have seen several success stories and study achievements, including the story of Dasy Osman, who is a Study Squad participant currently undertaking Year 11 VCE study. Dasy first started attending Study Squad online during the peak of the COVID lockdowns in 2021, and consistently attended the program while we were unable to run face to face. Young people were often fatigued with online learning, but Dasy made the effort to attend the program on a regular basis regardless. Dasy displayed great resilience during this time, engaged with our tutors and continued to study well. Dasy was finally able to attend Study Squad face-to-face at the start of Term 1, 2022. Throughout 2022, Dasy hardly missed a session and even attended Study Squad when she had ‘pupil-free’ days. Importantly, Dasy lives in Tarneit and travels around 20-30 minutes to attend the program. Dasy has two younger sisters that also attend Study Squad, and she sets a great example for them in the way that she engages with her education. Dasy has been a role model for not only her sisters, but also other students at Study Squad, particularly the young women in attendance. Dasy demonstrates great discipline and leadership amongst the cohort, and this resulted in her being nominated for the ‘Most Outstanding Secondary Student’ award at the MY Education Awards Ceremony. Dasy was crowned ‘Most Outstanding Secondary Student – Runner Up’ due to her fantastic work at Study Squad. We’ve also seen former participants become casual program support officers, now delivering the program that they once attended as a participant. Betty Tegegne & Ekram Hassan-Ali have been supporting the delivery of the program throughout Term 4. It’s been incredible to watch the program grow throughout the year, with young people attending from so many different schools and backgrounds. I’ve been so impressed by students’ commitment to learning and study. - Josh Raymer, Education Coordinator at The Huddle As Study Squad – Wyndham continues to go from strength to strength, there is an increased demand for tutors. Without volunteer tutors, the program simply could not run. As we look ahead to 2023, we plan to have more volunteer tutors to support students as the program grows. Previous Next

< Back 2023 Summer Huddle Holidays Volleyball Previous Next

< Back HIStory Camp debuts Riley Goodwin 29 Nov 2021 Ten male participants took a leap and climbed high in the first ever HIStory Camp In the serene location of Anglesea, ten male participants took a leap and climbed high in the first ever HIStory Camp. Facilitated by Cali Bukurow the Coordinator, Social Cohesion – Children and Young People, the camp saw the ten participants aged 12-25 head down by the coast to YMCA Anglesea for a two-day action-packed experience. Based on the female equivalent HERstory Camp, the program aims to increase group participation and build connections among all participants. The camp activities kicked off with challenges of new heights, with the high rope course. The activity gave the young men a chance to bond and showcase their teamwork and motivational skills as they navigated through the obstacles. Shortly after, participants decked themselves in lifejackets and helmets, with paddles in hand for an afternoon of canoeing. With three participants per canoe, the young men collaborated together and practiced good communication to ensure they were a smooth sailing team. “I was really looking forward to the canoeing activity.” Said one participant, Yunus. Early on Sunday morning, the young men tackled the wall climb. Another opportunity to build confidence amongst the participants, as well as getting active. The final day of HIStory was topped off with games of indoor soccer and basketball where everyone got a chance to shoot some hoops and kick it like Salah. This was followed by a round at the archery area, finessing their sharp shooting skills. “So much fun! Wish the camp days were longer” participant James said. In partnership with YMCA Victoria and the Victorian State Government, HIStory provides men with culturally appropriate activities to engage young men, connect and build networks as well as pushing participants out of their comfort zones. Previous Next

< Back Participant Q&A: Nyaguich Riley Goodwin 10 Jan 2022 We had a chat to former participant Nyaguich about her experience at The Huddle with all our awesome volunteers We had a chat to former participant Nyaguich about her experience at The Huddle with all our awesome volunteers. She has been involved with The Huddle for many years and is currently on the team as an amazing Administration Intern. How long have you been coming to the Huddle? Since 2013, when I was doing my hospitality course I came here to get help. I heard about it from a friend who knew The Huddle. She told me North Melbourne had a football club and in there was a place that helped you with studying [Study Squad]. So you’ve been to Study Squad and you’ve also been involved with our volunteer, Heidi, through Game Changers? I worked with Heidi to help me get a job and then I worked with other volunteers who helped me with my studies. Are there any volunteers that stand out in your mind that you’ve worked with? I worked with Tim, Heidi and then David. And plenty more volunteers but I don’t remember their names. A few of them are quite like family, because when I got my citizenship here in 2014 they came along. You originally came here when you were studying hospitality, and then did you go on to study something else? Yes, I did hospitality from 2013 and then I finished in 2015. In 2017 I started an accounting course from Certificate IV, then a Diploma, and then an Advanced Diploma. The team helped me through this course. Are you studying anything now? At the moment I’m doing a Certificate IV in Disability because I didn’t get a job in accounting and because I don’t have experience, so now I do the course one day a week. You’re going to be very educated getting a lot of qualifications! This is a Plan B for me, because if I get a job I can work. I’ve been working as a waitress for almost nine years, I want to change it. I think I deserve to change to another new job in accounting but I had no experience before I got this internship [with The Huddle]. What kept bringing you back to The Huddle for all those years? What was it that you were getting out of coming? I live close to here, not very far away and the help from The Huddle is amazing. And now I have an internship here at The Huddle, which is amazing. When you come in to Study Squad, do you normally work with volunteers, or do you work on your own? Yes, before my internship I came here for my disability course to get help because English is my second language. I come here to get help. Did you speak any English before moving to Australia? What year did you move here? No. I moved to Australia in 2009 from Ethiopia. I learnt from The Huddle. What have you gotten out of coming to The Huddle? What I get from here, I don’t know how I can express my feelings of The Huddle. From 2013, I learnt how to go through school, now I got this internship opportunity. It has given me more confidence, especially in my accounting course. When I finished it, I was thinking “oh what am I going to do?”. I kept applying and got no jobs, because when you don’t have experience no one knows who you are and then this internship will give me the opportunity. I can put it on my resumé and it can help me to build my career. I feel like I’m ready, ready for an accounting job! I know what I’m doing, I’m confident about the data entry, data analysis, it’s amazing. Did the volunteers make you feel welcome? Yes, people here are very welcoming. I feel confident, I feel Study Squad is home for me. When I come here I feel safe and relaxed. I know everyone here, I know everyone’s name, it’s amazing. Do you have a thought in particular that stands out to you in your time coming to The Huddle? I think friendly. I feel like they are friendly and give me opportunity here. The help I receive is amazing. For me I recommend this place to anyone I know, whether they’re struggling to find a job or for help with study. I can recommend The Huddle is a good place to go if you need any kind of help. Previous Next

< Back Ubuntu Project CEO, Nor Sharino Previous Next

< Back Cultural Exercise Empowerment Women’s Workout is a group fitness program designed exclusively for women Asli Abdullahi Previous Next

< Back Heating up the holidays with a Volleyball Tournament! ​ 3 July 2024 The holidays got heated at the Huddle Holidays Volleyball Tournament! The Huddle Holiday Senior group gathered at Eagle Stadium, a venue filled with excitement and anticipation as the players prepared to showcase their skills on the court. The atmosphere was electric as teams geared up for intense matches, each player fueled by a combination of determination and camaraderie. With every smash, spike, and dive, the stadium echoed with cheers and high fives, a true testament to the passion and sportsmanship displayed by all participants. As the school holidays kicked off, these athletes left it all on the court, embodying the spirit of competition and teamwork. It was a memorable event where bonds were forged, memories were made, and a love for the game was reignited in each and every player. Previous Next

< Back Study Squad is back for Term 3 Need educational support and a safe space to study? Come down to Study Squad! ​ Previous Next

< Back Changing the game for young people Maddy Ware and John King 24 Nov 2022 How The Huddle and its participants foster collaborative partnerships Due to the pandemic, young people from diverse backgrounds continued to be affected by the structures of the labour market. The “Meet Me in The Middle” report (2020) identified that due to COVID-19, the gap between young people and employers worsened and barriers to employment were exacerbated. The report identified issues such as lack of interpersonal skills, limited access to transport, limited understanding of complex recruitment methods and lack of experience, exacerbated due to the hard lockdowns. Young people aged 15 –24 entering the job market, with little or no work experience, are most vulnerable. Without timely and targeted intervention, young adults looking to access the workforce are at a high risk of missing out on a secure entry into the labour market and, therefore, more likely to experience long-term unemployment, underemployment, and financial hardship. The ongoing economic implications of the pandemic for Australia's youth population are significant. However, these implications will be more acute for many young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. This is due to the intersection of age, the life stage of adolescence, young people's family support role and pre-existing structural barriers to accessing employment (CMY and MYAN, 2020, COVID-19 submission ). The objective of Game Changers, a City of Melbourne Social Partnerships Grant funded initiative, is to provide resume-worthy experiences that will encourage young people to think about their careers and futures. Game Changers develops the employability skills of young people while also encouraging participants to become more aware of self and others. The program bridges the gap between what skills applicants think are necessary for employment and what employers actually want. Through a unique structure of personal and professional development workshops, project development, pitching for funding and project execution, Game Changers provides real-world opportunities to develop the project management and transferable skills of young people from diverse backgrounds, through a collaborative approach and utilising the unique skills of several value-aligned community organisations. The Social Partnerships Grant funding allowed The Huddle to partner with, Young Australian People, Ubuntu Project and YLab to deliver Game Changers twice over a two-year span to two sperate groups of City of Melbourne residents. Based on the success of the program, The Huddle hopes to utilise this model for future employment programs. Game Changers supported young people from diverse backgrounds by providing a well-rounded and collaborative approach to developing transferable skills. Utilising the mentoring abilities and support from Young Australian People and Ubuntu Project, Game Changers kept participants accountable for their attendance in the program, organised transport to and from workshops and encouraged active engagement and opportunities for participants to provide insights into their own lived experiences. Game Changers also utilised the creative abilities of YLab which assisted participants to think about complex ideas and issues such as racism, access to education, cultural expectations and how they can support other young people in their community to move through these experiences while still gaining necessary skills and knowledge. Within the creation and ideation phase delivered by YLab, participants reflected on their own experiences and connected that to what other young people in community need. Participants were then split into groups and encouraged to create a Community Action Project, framed within an issue close to their heart, which met a community need. Game Changers was delivered to two separate groups from the City of Melbourne over a two-year funding cycle. Across both iterations of the program, there were seven Community Action Projects created. The groups had to pitch their ideas in front of a panel of experts to win funding for their projects. In the lead up to the Pitch Event, participants practiced putting together a presentation and presenting in front of a group. This stage of the project saw participants develop their confidence and public speaking abilities as they presented formal pitches in hopes of gaining funding. The development from the workshop stage to the pitch stage included creating and presenting a pitch, organising each group member, and assigning roles and tasks, collecting data and information relevant to their community action project and using their research to help justify the need for their project within the community. Groups also had to provide accurate budget estimates for the cost of their proposed projects and activities. Ubuntu Project is proud of the successes of Game Changers and our delivery of the cultural and vision mapping components. The Pitch Event was a fitting showcase of participants growth in confidence, ambition and knowledge in concept development and presentation. - Nor Shanino, CEO of Ubuntu Project Over the two years of program delivery, The Huddle supported groups to implement their community project, either into existing programs, such as Huddle Holidays, with events being conducted by partner organisations, or as stand-alone community projects. Casual employment with The Huddle was also provided for group members, whose projects were delivered within Huddle Holidays. These approaches allowed participants to experience genuine real-world opportunities to deliver their projects and develop their project management skills and experience. Many of the participants from Game Changers were able to either gain additional casual work from The Huddle, or use the experience to gain employment with other organisations. Game Changers also saw several Year 12 students utilise the experience for university applications, highlighting that the program helped them develop skillsets which could be applied to their chosen field of study. I wanted to say thanks for letting me join the Game Changers program. I found it really beneficial since not only did it allow me to meet new people, but also helped me form networks where I could ask for volunteering opportunities and potentially work. Through the workshops I was able to learn more about the transferable skills that I could use when applying for jobs - whether it’d be answering questions at a job interview or pitching a new business/community project idea. I’d highly recommend this program to anyone who’s looking to develop career goals or need guidance at securing a job. - Rea Tinoy, program participant The Huddle hopes to implement the Game Changers model into regular career programming due to the significant positive impacts it has had on young people and their employment prospects. The skills developed throughout Game Changers are setting young people up for their future careers, as evidenced by the employment and education outcomes of the program over the last two years. Previous Next

< Back Skating Into The Holidays! ​ 27 June 2024 The Huddle Up! Junior participants are getting ready to skate into the holidays. Our Huddle Up! Junior participants are ending the term with a thrilling two weeks of skateboarding! After the success of last year's introduction, we brought back the excitement with our mid-year skateboarding sessions at Kensington Skatepark. We had an action-packed celebration where our young skaters honed their skills, pushed their limits, and had a blast on their boards! Previous Next