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< Back Nurturing Growth and Connection Abdullah's Journey with Huddle Up! Junior Mariam Taleb Previous Next

< Back Volunteer Get to Know: Eli As The Huddle’s impact in the Wyndham area continues to grow, our volunteers and their connections to the community are vital in helping young people learn, grow and belong Riley Goodwin Previous Next

< Back Empowering Youth Through Sport Stephenie Webb 8 June 2023 The Huddle Up! Senior Program in Wyndham In the vibrant community of Wyndham, the Huddle Up! Senior program has been making a positive impact on young people's lives for the past 6 years. Developed in collaboration between The Huddle and Point Cook Senior Secondary College (PCSSC), this program aims to engage and empower youth through sport and recreation activities. With a focus on fostering inclusivity, belonging, and personal development, the Huddle Up! Senior program has become a catalyst for positive change in the community. Established in 2017 with support from the Wyndham City Council, the Huddle Up! Senior program now runs in three locations across Wyndham and offers a safe and welcoming environment for students in years 7 to 12 to participate in sport and recreation activities. By leveraging the power of physical activity, the program promotes a sense of belonging within the community, enabling individuals, families, and the local community to thrive. Over the past three years, the Huddle Up! Senior program at PCSSC has been instrumental in creating acceptance of diversity and building an inclusive community. The program has helped young people develop social networks, make connections, and engage in physical activities in a psychologically safe space. Through discussions with program participants, it is evident that the program has become a vital outlet for after-school socializing and unwinding. A survey conducted this year showed that 72% of Huddle participants have built connections in their local community, and 85% have increased their physical activity levels since joining The Huddle. "It's an opportunity to unwind after school... the Town Centre is too overwhelming to hang out in after school." - Program Participant Beyond its recreational benefits, the program has empowered young individuals by fostering leadership and initiative skills. Participants are encouraged to organize themselves into teams, coordinate social round-robin tournaments, and even assist with umpiring and scoring. The program's positive influence has extended beyond the sports field, inspiring collaborative projects with partners like Wyndham Youth Services, which aim to further empower young leaders. In 2022, the Huddle Up! Senior program at PCSSC attracted over 189 unique participants from 41 different cultural backgrounds. With a total of 1,196 attendances throughout the year, the program has effectively reached young people from 12 different schools across Wyndham. This year, registration numbers have been equally as promising, with 134 new registrations and 476 attendances from Nov 2022 until June 2023. With an average of 44 attendances per session, these statistics demonstrate the program's popularity and the strong desire for its continuation. The Huddle Up! Senior program stands as a testament to the transformative power of sport and recreation in the lives of young people. Through its commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and social engagement, the program has created a positive ripple in the Wyndham community. Huddle Up Senior at Point Cook Senior, continues to run every Thursday night from 3:00pm – 5:30pm in the school Gymnasium. Register via the link here . Previous Next

< Back Making Waves in Anglesea Ruth Game 19 Feb 2024 An 8-year Surfing Adventure with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club and Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea The collaborative effort between Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (ASLSC), Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea (GRAW) and The Huddle created another joyous beach experience for young participants and their parents this January. The generous provision of wetsuits and surf lessons from GRAW, coupled with the dedication of ASLSC volunteers, has each year become one of the major highlights of The Huddle calendar. This initiative, beginning in 2016 and now funded by The Department of Education and Bendigo Bank Seddon introduces first-timers to the beach, teaches skills for water competency and provides a quintessential Australian experience all by the generosity of the Anglesea community. Since the beginning of this partnership, over 150 wetsuits and 8 surf lessons provided by GRAW, there has been enthusiastic participation of ASLSC volunteers and the wider club over 9 visits to their venue, and overwhelming positive feedback from 300+ participants. "I was so impressed with the patience and enthusiasm that the young water safety volunteers displayed. They genuinely made the days of so many young people." – Huddle Staff Member In 2016, families living in Flemington, Kensington, North Melbourne and Ascot Vale were invited to brainstorm ideas for a Huddle school holiday program to keep youth engaged over the break. The concept of a Surf Trip began to form, and The Huddle reached out to Go Ride A Wave and Anglesea was quickly suggested as a suitable location for beginners. From there, a relationship with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club was established and has strengthened year on year. ASLSC’s Nippers, volunteers, and young people have been keeping other young people and their families safe in the water and have shared in the joy of many participants’ first time at the beach. Three themes have emerged from this partnership over the years; the importance of water competency, social inclusion, and providing what is a quintessential Australian experience; a day at the beach with a snag. "I was so excited, and a bit nervous. I got dumped by a wave but I will definitely come back next year!” - Participant The generous contribution of wetsuits and surf lessons by GRAW has been a game-changer. Paired with the dedication of ASLSC volunteers and their newly renovated venue, the event has been meticulously organised every year. Partnering with GRAW and ASLSC has ensured the sustainability of such a well-loved program. “I was so impressed with the patience and enthusiasm that the young water safety volunteers displayed. They genuinely made the days of so many young people." – Huddle Staff Member “I can’t emphasise enough how loved this day is by the families we work with and that’s in huge part to the warmth and generosity of the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club.” – Huddle staff member The success of this place-based partnerships initiative funded by the Department of Education and Bendigo Bank Seddon paves the way for future collaborations with ASLSC and Go Ride a Wave Anglesea. The Huddle is committed to expanding this program, ensuring more young people can experience the joy of the ocean in a safe and supportive environment. “The waves are kinda hard and I was like oh my god, I was really scared... I had a try and then it was really fun!” – Huddle participant To support initiatives like these and make a lasting impact on young lives, consider contributing to The Huddle's mission. Your support can help create more memorable experiences and positive transformations for the community. Previous Next

< Back Heating up the holidays with a Volleyball Tournament! The holidays got heated at the Huddle Holidays Volleyball Tournament! ​ Previous Next

< Back Participant profile: Ayden Bartlett Riley Goodwin 15 June 2022 Ayden takes part in the Guard of Honour during AFL Indigenous Round If you keep in the loop with The Huddle, you may have seen one of our participants take part in the Guard of Honour during AFL Indigenous Round this year. That participant is Ayden Bartlett Keppler, and that is only part of his journey at The Huddle. Ayden, age 13, first became involved with The Huddle in March this year, signing up to our Huddle Up! Seniors sessions at Manor Lakes P-12 College. His older sister had been attending the program, so he wanted to join in and check it out himself. Since then, Ayden has been coming to Huddle Up! consistently each week for the whole year. His favourite sport is AFL, and he also enjoys cooking and all things technology. An enthusiastic participant, Ayden is always creating new activities and games for The Huddle participants and even gets the staff to join in, since taking part in the program he has developed a love for indoor soccer, bocce (similar to lawn bowls) and badminton. "Ayden is constantly teaching me something each week at programs, whether it's how to complete a Rubix cube in 48 seconds, or anything sporty! He is always a joy in our programs delivering the vibes and the DJ tunes each week!" Community Sprot and Recreation Coordinator Candela Ferreyra Bas stated. Due to being a stand-out in the Huddle Up! Seniors cohort and a proud First Nations boy, Ayden was invited to the Guard of Honour for this North Melbourne Kangaroos Indigenous Round. Ayden attended the amazing experience with his younger brother Riley, who from that day, became a member of Roo Squad. Since his awesome experiences with The Huddle and at North Melbourne Kangaroos games, Ayden is a convert to the football club. Recently Ayden, his brother Riley, and his father Scott attended the Round 13 game versing the Giants to show their support for the club. Staff and volunteers at The Huddle admire Ayden’s commitment to the Huddle Up! Program. The energy he brings to each session with a big smile on his face makes The Huddle staff excited to see him each week! Previous Next

< Back Community Camp - Wyndham 2024 North Melbourne Football Club Community Camp Previous Next

< Back Aida's Voice Claudie Groves 19 Oct 2023 River Nile student's reflection on her 2 years participating in Voice Your Voice Aida is the first to complete two rounds of Voice Your Voice, a collaborative and hands-on advocacy program delivered by The Huddle to local secondary and VCAL students. Like her introductory experience in 2022, this year’s initiative encouraged Aida and her peers at River Nile School to think bigger than just awareness-raising, and to think about what it truly means to feel safe, valued, and included in society. Together, this group of young women not only spoke about the issues that are commonly faced by people of refugee and migrant backgrounds, but also – and more powerfully – explored ways to mobilise communities and build capacity for meaningful social action in this regard. They participated in several workshops with Voice Your Voice throughout their third semester, creating short video campaigns on topics of their own choosing. “My group focused on racism, which is a problem many of us face every day due to our hijabs and skin colour.” “Being able to talk about something so persistent, hurtful and wrong is really important, and advocating for change means a lot to those of us who have personally experienced racism.” Last year, Aida and her team worked on a media project about cyberbullying, which they argue is just as pervasive and challenging. The issue’s popularity and resonance also meant that this team grew to be the largest in Voice Your Voice’s history. “Everyone played a role, whether that was doing voiceovers, writing the script, editing or starring in the actual video.” “I really want to thank The Huddle for providing us with this opportunity as people who are new to Australia.” Voice Your Voice aims to inspire students like Aida, giving them the tools necessary to self-advocate and contribute to cohesive communities where all feel they belong. Previous Next

< Back YMCA’s 38th Youth Parliament initiative The Huddle saw a group of four young individuals participate in the Youth Parliament initiative. ​ Previous Next

< Back The Huddle launches Australian-first immersive AFL program, Game Day North Media 29 Sept 2022 The North Melbourne Kangaroos have officially launched Game Day, The Huddle’s newest education program The North Melbourne Kangaroos have officially launched Game Day, The Huddle’s newest education program. Game Day will run out of The Huddle’s new-look facility, developed as part of the club’s current upgrades to its Arden Street headquarters. An Australian-first immersive AFL themed program, Game Day will be presented in a world-class education centre featuring cutting-edge technology. The Huddle has launched its new facility and program Game Day, which will see thousands of local students experience a cutting-edge and interactive way of learning Game Day will take grade 5 and 6 students on an empowering journey to build on their strengths and plan for their future. Throughout the Game Day experience, students will work in teams to complete STEM challenges which will require teamwork and resilience to solve problems and learn how to win. Innovative technology will be used to create an atmosphere where students feel like they are part of an AFL game. Since its inception in 2010, The Huddle’s award-winning programs have engaged more than 100,000 young people from over 160 different cultures, with a particular focus on those that are vulnerable and at risk of disengagement. Game Day encompasses our mission at The Huddle, and we are thrilled to see the concept come to life through this incredible facility, made possible through a $7.3 million investment by the Victorian State Government. - The Huddle CEO Cam McLeod In 2023, Game Day is expected to engage up to 4,500 students from 100 schools located in low socio-economic areas across Victoria. “At The Huddle, our mission is to improve education and employment outcomes for young people by leveraging the power of sport,” The Huddle CEO Cam McLeod said. “Pre-COVID 40% of Australian students were disengaged in the classroom, leading to students falling two years behind their peers and becoming at-risk of leaving school. Through innovative technology, the Game Day program will work to strengthen the engagement of at-risk and vulnerable young people, helping them to learn, grow and belong. “Game Day encompasses our mission at The Huddle, and we are thrilled to see the concept come to life through this incredible facility, made possible through a $7.3 million investment by the Victorian State Government.” A world-class team from Spatial, MKTG and Beautiful Minds have worked to design and produce Game Day including screenplay, audio, visual, special effects and a pedagogical framework aligned to the Victorian Curriculum. Previous Next

< Back The Huddle at the NBA Math Hoops Global Championships in New York City! Annabel Dorey 29 July 2024 Taking NBA Math Hoops to the Big Apple! The NBA Math Hoops Global Championships recently brought together young maths enthusiasts from around the world to compete in an exciting four-day tournament combining basketball, maths and social-emotional learning. Selected participants were flown to New York City, where they engaged in intense rounds of Math Hoops, alongside touring places like Syracuse University, Liberty Science Centre, and even attending the 2024 NBA Draft. The event highlighted the importance of combining education with fun, leaving a lasting impact on all involved and inspiring future champions. We were lucky at The Huddle to send three young people from participating schools to attend the Global Championships, supported by our partners Learn Fresh. Orion, Caitlin and Alice made The Huddle and their schools proud throughout the week with their maths skills, but even more so their outstanding sportsmanship and generosity – we were so proud of them all! Want your kids to have a chance to attend the Global Championships in 2025 for FREE? Get involved with The Huddle Math Hoops to receive your FREE class set of board games and curriculum. Nominations open early 2025, and any participating schools are encouraged to nominate! Previous Next

Empower students to discover who they are, by developing an understanding of how their values and attributes shape their identity. DSC01332.jpg Screenshot 2024-01-25 at 10.56.53 am.png DSC01341.jpg DSC01332.jpg 1/8 True North workshops empower young people to discover who they are. Participants reflect upon and share their story, developing an understanding of how their values and attributes shape their identity and future pathways. Teachers at schools in the North Melbourne and Wyndham areas in Levels 5-12 can engage The Huddle to facilitate workshops for their students. True North comprises of two packages: 'Our' True North & 'My' True North. ‘My’ True North is a transformative program that empowers students to cultivate their intrapersonal skills, equipping them with skills to navigate challenges, embrace change, and foster a growth mindset. Students partake in these workshops: - Grit - Values - Mindset - Identity - The Happiness Lab ‘Our’ True North is designed to empower students by nurturing their collaborative abilities and fostering empathy with their classmates. Students partake in these workshops: - Connections - Emotional Intelligence - Understanding Others - Teamwork - Leadership FIND OUT MORE The True North program was able to give me the confidence to better understand those around me, but more importantly myself. I loved being involved and it was so much fun Ivan, True North participant Previous Next