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< 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

< Back Unleashing the Power of Sport to Improve Numeracy Emily O'Halloran 9 May 2024 NBA Math Hoops, the quality, easy-to-implement, easy-to-access resource for your classroom. In the words of Nelson Mandela, " Sport has the power to change the world…to inspire...to unite people... It speaks to youth in a language they understand." This wisdom transcends beyond the playing field and resonates within our classrooms. Research published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health underscores the connection between sports-based learning activities and heightened student motivation, improved attendance, and enhanced academic performance. But what about the specific links between sport and mathematics? The evidence is compelling. In a 2017 study, Sanchal and Sharma found that introducing a sports context in learning improved attitudes towards maths. Furthermore, findings from the American Institutes for Research demonstrated that students engaged in sports-related maths programs showed enhanced problem-solving, critical thinking, and overall maths proficiency. As a former Numeracy Leader, I've seen firsthand the transformative effect of infusing sports into maths lessons. Games like dodgeball for statistics, BinBall for percentages, and table soccer for angles make abstract concepts tangible, fun and playful experiences. Lessons like "Impossible Soccer Angles" and "Kicking Goals," part of the Middle Years Mathematics Challenges series by the Mathematical Association of Victoria, demonstrate how maths and sports can not only break down barriers but also make learning fun and engaging. While integrating sport and play into lessons is undoubtedly beneficial, the reality is that it demands precious energy and time, both of which are scarce commodities for teachers. Fortunately, there are quality, easy-to-implement, easy-to-access resources available. One standout example is NBA Math Hoops, a program designed by Learn Fresh for primary and junior secondary students. In NBA Math Hoops, students simulate basketball games using a board game format that incorporates real-life statistical data from NBA players. Through this engaging approach, students not only reinforce their mathematical skills but also develop a deeper appreciation for the practical applications of numeracy in everyday life. Students draft NBA players for their team, assess player statistics, strategise game moves, and make decisions based on mathematical principles. The success of NBA Math Hoops and similar programs lies in their ability to bridge the gap between abstract mathematical concepts and real-world applications. By incorporating sports into the learning process, students are more likely to stay engaged and enthusiastic about maths. The dynamic nature of sport fosters teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills – all essential components of mathematical proficiency. Harriet Dunn, a primary school teacher from Merri-Bek Primary School, put it very simply after bringing NBA Math Hoops into her classroom: “For once the students looked forward to maths lessons”. The power of sports to engage students in maths is not just theoretical; it's real and transformative. As school leaders, consider championing programs like NBA Math Hoops to create an environment where learning becomes synonymous with excitement. Get free access to NBA Math Hoops in your school and explore how The Huddle is improving education and employment outcomes through the power of sport by following this link: https://www.thehuddle.org.au/nbamathhoops Previous Next

< Back Huddle Up! Junior Skateboarding Kensington Skate Park Previous Next

< Back Welcome our newest Shinboner to Game Day! Previous Next

< Back Victorian Math Hoops Championship The first ever Victorian Math Hoops Championship was held at The Huddle this month. Previous Next

< Back Spring Huddle Holidays 2024 Recap! Spring has sprung with an action-packed holiday program! Huddle Holidays did not disappoint! Patrick McPhee Previous Next

< Back Game Changers to Community Leader How Anita Transformed Her Passion for Sport and Community into Empowering Local Youth Emily Maiorana Previous Next

< Back Templestowe Park Primary School take on Game Day! Three years of Game Day experiences with Templestowe Park Primary School! Cobie Spencer Previous Next

< Back Skating Into The Holidays! The Huddle Up! Junior participants are getting ready to skate into the holidays. ​ Previous Next

< Back 'Laz' rises to claim Peter Scanlon Community Award Samantha Weston 2 Sept 2022 The efforts of midfielder Charlie Lazzaro have been recognised with the Peter Scanlon Community Award for 2022 Charlie Lazzaro experienced first-hand the impact that AFL players have on fostering a love of the sport in-person throughout his childhood in Geelong. He knew that if his dreams of playing professional football came to be, and if the opportunity ever presented itself, that he had a strong desire to return the favour to his new community in North Melbourne. Charlie was presented his jumper for Round 1 of 2021, and since then, has played 24 games for North Melbourne at a senior level. The now 20-year-old has been commended for his professionalism, resilience and maturity, the likes of which resemble someone who has been playing at a professional level for far longer than himself. He gives some of this credit to his senior teammates, who along with the younger cohort, have “…looked after us and really helped us transition into the AFL environment and really encouraged us not to go into our shells.” Charlie puts a lot of emphasis on team spirit at North Melbourne, and how the jump from playing Under 18s to AFL is underpinned by looking after your teammates, rather than individual performance. Since the middle of 2022, Charlie has been involved on a weekly basis with a program run by The Huddle that is very close to his heart. Huddle Up! Is a multisport program that provides young people with the opportunity to get involved and get active through social games of a variety of sports, as well as health and fitness classes delivered in a safe and inclusive environment. Growing up in Geelong, Charlie looks back fondly on the experience of AFL players coming to visit his school or trainings to share advice and get fellow aspiring players excited about what a future in footy might look like. These experiences helped shape as a player, and he is proud to be able to provide this experience to his new community at North Melbourne. Later into Charlie’s school years, he took part in the Duke of Edinburgh - an international youth development program that allows young people explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion, and place in the world. One focus of the Award is Voluntary Service, and Charlie spent his volunteer time throughout the program finding his passion for helping others and learning about the profound effect that volunteering his time can have on the wider community. [The Duke of Ed] was a pathway, and once I was lucky enough to get drafted to North, I was able to start working with The Huddle Program, and I’ve really enjoyed helping out since I started. - Charlie Lazzaro It is clear to Huddle Up! attendees and volunteers that Charlie has a special eye for inclusion. He can be seen always going out of his way to make sure every young person is getting the most out of the experience. If he spots someone falling a bit behind or catches them in their shell, he will always go out of his way to get them involved and getting the most out of the experience. He also makes the effort to hang around and shoot hoops or chat with the participants after the session is complete and shows a real joy for fostering these important relationships. On Thursday night, Charlie was named the winner of The Peter Scanlon Community Award, which exemplifies the spirit of giving, going the ‘extra mile’ on numerous occasions, often without recognition, and never expecting fanfare. During his acceptance speech, he talked about what an honour receiving the award was and how much it means to him. He has come full circle in giving back to his community what was so important to him in his youth, and has made a lasting impression on so many of young people at The Huddle in the process. Previous Next