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Stories of inspiration and impact from The Huddle. Latest Stories Next Oscar Becomes First Aussie to Win NBA Math Hoops Global Championship 10-year-old Oscar and his teammate The Rip City Roos bring home the trophy from New York. Next Winter School Holiday Activities for Young People Over 200 young people joined us these school holidays for new sports, real-life skills, and unforgettable fun across Melbourne. Next Kevin’s Huddle Journey: New Skills, New Friends, New Perspectives From online beginnings to hands-on learning, Kevin’s made the most of every moment. Next Meet Nyra: Kicking Goals On and Off the Field From sport to study sessions, 8-year-old Nyra is making the most of every opportunity at The Huddle — and loving every minute of it. Next Latest Videos Next Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne A celebration of youth, energy, and community during Ramadan. Next Community Iftar at North Melbourne FC A Journey of Personal Growth and Community Connection Next Kicks, Marks and Cultural Connections The North Melbourne Kangaroos Welcome New Fans to Aussie Rules Footy. Next Community Impact Through Game Changers Game Changers helped Tigist develop skills, connections and community impact Next Latest Photos Next Kicks, Marks and Cultural Connections The North Melbourne Kangaroos Welcome New Fans to Aussie Rules Footy Next Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne A celebration of youth, energy, and community Next The Huddle's Annual Iftar Event A Journey of Personal Growth and Community Connection Next Shooters Shoot: Hoopin' for a cause Snapshots of Shooters Shoot 24' Next

< Back Oscar Becomes First Aussie to Win NBA Math Hoops Global Championship 10-year-old Oscar and his teammate The Rip City Roos bring home the trophy from New York. Previous Next

Latest Stories Oscar Becomes First Aussie to Win NBA Math Hoops Global Championship 10-year-old Oscar and his teammate The Rip City Roos bring home the trophy from New York. Next Youth-Led Transformation at NMCC Young voices, real impact — a youth-designed space built on trust, creativity, and community. Next Ramadan Soccer Tournament: Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne A celebration of youth, energy, and community. Next Bringing Footy to Wyndham & Shepparton Aussie Rules to new communities and schools, one kick at a time. Next The Grange have a crack at GOAL! Kangaroos They put their kicking skills and goal accuracy to the test Next Recapping Huddle Holidays Summer 2025 That’s a wrap! Reliving and remembering the Summer Huddle Holidays! Next Hitting the lanes and sinking putts at Strike A day of bowling and mini-golf Next Creative Fun at Huddle Holidays A day of creative fun! Kicking off Huddle Holidays with Arts & Crafts. Next Nabiha's experience through Game Changers! Building confidence and essentials skills through Game Changers. Next An Unforgettable Day at the NBA Math Hoops Victorian State Championship A full-on day of maths, sportspersonship and fun! Next NBA Math Hoops in Action at Ascot Vale West PS! Ascot Vale West Primary School Students Battle It Out In NBA Math Hoops! Next Celebrate National Science Week Download free sports themed STEM lessons to celebrate National Science Week Next Pitch night with Game Changers! Using all the learnings from Game Changers and using them for the Pitch event. Next Winter Adventures with Ice-Skating ⛸️ Winter adventure with the junior and senior Huddle Holidays participants at IceHQ for ice skating! Next Skating Into The Holidays! The Huddle Up! Junior participants are getting ready to skate into the holidays. Next Huddle Tote Bags For Sale Available for purchase from the Roo Shop Next Empowering Early Careers Howard's Story Next The Power of Sport Samatar Ali's Journey to Empower African Australian Youth Next Helping Others To Find Their True North Confidence and communication skills to amplify ideas and stories. Next Shoot and Score Empowering Primary Teachers with Engaging STEM Resources Next True North ‘Grit’ with Al-Taqwa College The Huddle's employees share their stories with Truganina students Next 2023 Huddle Holidays Summer Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club partnership with The Huddle Next Strength to strength How The Huddle’s free tutoring program in Werribee is flourishing in 2022 Next The Huddle launches Australian-first immersive AFL program, Game Day The North Melbourne Kangaroos have officially launched Game Day, The Huddle’s newest education program Next 'Laz' rises to claim Peter Scanlon Community Award The efforts of midfielder Charlie Lazzaro have been recognised with the Peter Scanlon Community Award for 2022 Next Winter School Holiday Activities for Young People Over 200 young people joined us these school holidays for new sports, real-life skills, and unforgettable fun across Melbourne. Next Game Changers in Action: Driving Ubuntu African Australian Career Expo Young leaders took the reins — and redefined what’s possible. Next The Huddle's Annual Iftar: A Time of Reflection and Unity A Journey of Personal Growth and Community Connection Next Using Basketball to Empower Melbourne’s Youth Basketball is breaking barriers and empowering youth in Melbourne’s West. Next Study Squad is back for 2025! Need a space to get locked in this school term? Next From Game Changer to Community Leader How mentorship and experience helped Moukhtar grow into a community leader. Next A Day of Sports and History at the MCG Exploring the rich history of Australian sports! Next Multicultural Honour Roll of The Huddle's Advisory Committee Member Gary Lee inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll! Next Spring Huddle Holidays 2024 Recap! Spring has sprung with an action-packed holiday program! Huddle Holidays did not disappoint! Next Templestowe Park Primary School take on Game Day! Three years of Game Day experiences with Templestowe Park Primary School! Next Game Changers to Community Leader How Anita Transformed Her Passion for Sport and Community into Empowering Local Youth Next Study Squad is back for Term 3 Need educational support and a safe space to study? Come down to Study Squad! Next Bouldering Back To School Huddle Holidays concludes with an exhilarating day of bouldering at Climb West Melbourne Next Warming up this winter with AFL and Soccer clinics The Huddle Holiday Juniors hone their skills in Aussie Rules and Soccer! Next Giving Back to My Community Jabrill is a young person from North Melbourne, who first engaged with The Huddle at age 13. Next Making Waves in Anglesea An 8-year Surfing Adventure with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club and Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea Next Welcome 2 AFL, Tasmania W2AFL Lands in Launceston and Hobart across 2 exciting weekends. Next The Huddle Claims Prestigious AV Industry Award In partnership with Mott MacDonald, The Huddle has won the 2023 Asia Pacific Audio Visual Industry Award for the best application of AV in Education Next Leaping Into Employment Riley's Game Changers Story Next Inspiring the Next Generation The Next Generation in Schools Program Next The Huddle's 2023 Iftar Join the local community in breaking fast during Ramadan Next Community supporting community Duad’s experiences with careers support from The Huddle Next Ekram's story From Huddle Holidays participant to Huddle Employee Next North captain rewarded for outstanding community work North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney has been awarded the 2022 Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award Next Supporting young people on their unique career journeys Game Changers program provided by The Huddle Next Kevin’s Huddle Journey: New Skills, New Friends, New Perspectives From online beginnings to hands-on learning, Kevin’s made the most of every moment. Next Autumn Adventures that Build Belonging Footy to first aid—200+ young people grew, connected, and thrived this Autumn. Next Official Launch for GOAL! Motorsport Australia A STEM education initiative designed to bring the excitement of Motorsport into classrooms across the country. Next Young Voices Shaping North Melbourne Community Centre Youth Advisory Group builds stronger connections between young people and key decision makers Next GOAL! Kangaroos Takes Over Arden St! Ascot Vale West PS students got the first crack at GOAL! Kangaroos Next Ending the Summer with a Sports Clinic Getting out and active before summers gone! Next Riding the Waves with Huddle Holidays Summer holidays just got cooler! Next Welcome to AFL hops into Arden Street A cracking day for footy and an immersive introduction to Aussie Rules. Next Congratulations Sagelee Omer and Shooters Shoot! Celebrating Sagalee Omer's awards and recognition at the Multicultural Youth Awards 2024. Next The Huddle launches new 2024-2026 strategy The Huddle is excited to announce its new strategy for 2024-2026, designed to empower all young people to feel like they belong in the places they learn, work, and play. Next The Grange P-12 students visit The Huddle: A day of sports and learning An exciting day of sports and learning! Next The Huddle at the NBA Math Hoops Global Championships in New York City! Taking NBA Math Hoops to the Big Apple! Next Changing the game with Game Changers! Helping young people in their career development and teaching them transferable skills. Next Heating up the holidays with a Volleyball Tournament! The holidays got heated at the Huddle Holidays Volleyball Tournament! Next Motorsport joins The Huddle The Huddle and Motorsport Australia are proud to announce a new partnership to integrate motorsport into Australian schools Next Nurturing Growth and Connection Abdullah's Journey with Huddle Up! Junior Next Sanhae's Spring 2023 Spring Huddle Holiday's Program Next Amomai's Story The welcoming environment that is fostered at Huddle Up! Next Energising Young Minds Huddle Up! Junior - The Hub @ Docklands Next Empowering Youth Through Sport The Huddle Up! Senior Program in Wyndham Next Coach Howard starts new club How Howard became the driving force behind volleyball in the West Next Huddle trio honoured for services to the community Fred Alale AM, Yasseen Musa OAM, and Gary Lee OAM have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List, for significant service to the multicultural communities of Victoria Next Providing opportunities to learn, grow and belong Akram’s journey to become a community leader Next Social cohesion through education School communities across North Melbourne and Wyndham are diverse in all dimensions, and this presents both challenges and opportunities Next Cultural Exercise Empowerment Women’s Workout is a group fitness program designed exclusively for women Next Meet Nyra: Kicking Goals On and Off the Field From sport to study sessions, 8-year-old Nyra is making the most of every opportunity at The Huddle — and loving every minute of it. Next Kicks, Marks, and Cultural Connections The North Melbourne Kangaroos Welcome New Fans to Aussie Rules Footy Next Learning and growing through Game Changers Game Changers helped Tigist develop skills, connections, and community impact Next A Game Changer in Wyndham Bella is Shaping Her Future Through Skills, Community, and Opportunity Next GOAL! Kangaroos Kicks Off at Werribee Primary School Bringing footy and STEM together for an action-packed learning experience Next Purification of the Heart: A Soulful Retreat of Reflection, Connection, and Nature A Journey of Healing and Empowerment. Next A day at the Australian Open Watching tennis superstars up close! Next Meet Selina from Study Squad! A safe space for young people engaged in education to learn, grow and belong. Next Empowering Young Women to Learn, Grow and Belong with the River Nile School The River Nile School has partnered with The Huddle to empower students' leadership and sense of belonging. Next AFLW Community Camp Inspires the Next Generation Connecting the future footballers with elite athletes in Tasmania. Next YMCA’s 38th Youth Parliament initiative The Huddle saw a group of four young individuals participate in the Youth Parliament initiative. Next Celebrating rich diversity and a resilient spirit! Celebrating rich diversity and resilient spirit at the Community Fair Next North Melbourne Public Housing Residents Association Community Fair Celebrating community in North Melbourne Next Making the holidays shine with Jewellery making! Kicking into the holidays with jewellery making thats fun and creative! Next Unleashing the Power of Sport to Improve Numeracy NBA Math Hoops, the quality, easy-to-implement, easy-to-access resource for your classroom. Next African Music & Cultural Festival 2023 Celebrating 10 years of the African Music and Cultural Festival Next Aida's Voice River Nile student's reflection on her 2 years participating in Voice Your Voice Next Mastering Confidence: Unleashing Your Inner Game Changer Cultivating Skills and Building Lasting Confidence Next Stories from HERStory Camp Mount Evelyn Discovery Camp Next Students find their True North Joining the Flemington Education Plan Strategic Advisory Group Next Diving into the deep end of the networking pool Game Changers: Linking Participants with Professionals Next Changing the game for young people How The Huddle and its participants foster collaborative partnerships Next Overcoming the barriers to employment Mafan’s experience participating, volunteering, and working at The Huddle Next A reflection on NBA Math Hoops A fun and memorable way to engage the whole class in mathematical learning Next The Huddle partners with YMCA Victoria The Huddle will begin delivering its award-winning programs in new locations from July Next

10-year-old Oscar and his teammate The Rip City Roos bring home the trophy from New York. < Back Oscar Becomes First Aussie to Win NBA Math Hoops Global Championship 15 Aug 2025 10-year-old Oscar and his teammate The Rip City Roos bring home the trophy from New York. Credit: Tatenda Chibika, Reporter, ABC Earlier this year, 10-year-old Oscar swapped his classroom for the bright lights of New York City — and returned home as the first Australian to win the NBA Math Hoops Global Championship . Representing The Huddle and teaming up with fellow competitor Kingston, the duo — competing under the name The Rip City Roos — went head-to-head with 24 other of the world’s best teams. Over three days of competition, they showcased sharp maths skills, basketball strategy, and plenty of teamwork to claim the championship trophy. “I was actually speechless,” Oscar said. “For a kid who always talks about basketball and maths, I didn’t have anything to say!” NBA Math Hoops is a hands-on, curriculum-aligned program that combines the excitement of basketball with the problem-solving of mathematics. Players draft NBA and WNBA stars to build their teams, then solve timed maths problems to “take shots” and score points. It’s an engaging way to strengthen numeracy, strategic thinking, and collaboration skills — and, as Oscar proved, it can take you all the way to an international stage. Oscar first discovered Math Hoops in his school maths lessons. “It was so fun combining my passions — basketball and maths,” he said. His class, teachers, and peers played a big role in his success, with many helping him prepare before his trip. Alongside Kingston, The Rip City Roos kept their cool under pressure, outsmarting and outscoring opponents from around the globe. For both players, the championship was more than just a game — it was a chance to learn, connect, and experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “If you don’t make it, that doesn’t matter — at least you learned,” said one of the student competitors. “And you tried.” The Huddle is proud to deliver the NBA Math Hoops program in Australia, giving young people like Oscar the chance to develop essential life skills in a fun and engaging way. His achievement is a testament to what’s possible when sport meets STEM, and when young people are supported to aim high. Congratulations, Oscar and Kingston, on bringing the Global Championship trophy home to Australia — and for inspiring the next generation of Math Hoopers. Learn more about NBA Math Hoops and how The Huddle brings sport and STEM together in classrooms across Victoria by clicking HERE. Previous Next

The Huddle improves education and employment outcomes for young people through the power of sport. Enhancing education and career outcomes for young people through the power of sport ABOUT THE HUDDLE Since 2010, The Huddle has engaged over 180,000 young people from over 160 cultures to learn, grow, and belong EDUCATOR RESOURCES Our FREE resources are designed by teachers for teachers to engage Levels 3+ through the power of sport VOLUNTEERS Our volunteers have an impact on young people by playing a key role in fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all Latest Stories Oscar Becomes First Aussie to Win NBA Math Hoops Global Championship 10-year-old Oscar and his teammate The Rip City Roos bring home the trophy from New York. Next Winter School Holiday Activities for Young People Over 200 young people joined us these school holidays for new sports, real-life skills, and unforgettable fun across Melbourne. Next Kevin’s Huddle Journey: New Skills, New Friends, New Perspectives From online beginnings to hands-on learning, Kevin’s made the most of every moment. Next Meet Nyra: Kicking Goals On and Off the Field From sport to study sessions, 8-year-old Nyra is making the most of every opportunity at The Huddle — and loving every minute of it. Next

Latest Videos Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne A celebration of youth, energy, and community during Ramadan. Next Hoopin' For A Cause The Huddle shows support for Shooters Shoot's end of year basketball event Next The Best Holidays Ever Two first-time participants share their Huddle Holidays experience Next A Taste of GOAL! Copy Find out how you can turn your classroom into an action-packed learning experience! Next Ascot Vale West Primary School at Game Day We hear from Bianca about her class' experience at Game Day during Term 2. Next Arsema's Journey to Employment We met up with past Huddle Participant, Arsema, to hear about her journey of gaining employment. Next Game Day Bookings Open for 2024 Register your school for Term One today! Next Mazda Learn 2 Drive Program Yasseen Musa OAM works closely with The Huddle to help migrant families settle into life in Australia. Next Red Box Wildlife Shelter Art Project Huddle Participants and NMFC Players collaborate on an art project to raise funds for the Maldon in Winter Festival Next The Huddle holds community Iftar The Huddle's 2023 Iftar Dinner involved members from the local North Melbourne public housing estate, community leaders, program participants and their families Next Community Iftar at North Melbourne FC A Journey of Personal Growth and Community Connection Next A Game Changers Story Moukhtar grows into a community leader through Game Changers Next A Summer Holiday to Remember Reliving the Huddle Holidays as we head into school term! Next A recap of the Huddle Holidays activities! Reliving the holidays with a recap of the Huddle Holidays activities! Next Welcome To AFL, Round 6 North Melbourne vs Hawthorn, Round 6 Next Huddle Holidays - Summer '24, Surf Trip Anglesea SLSC Next Ubuntu Project CEO, Nor Sharino We chat to Nor about Ubuntu Project's community work, and their relationship with The Huddle Next Math Hoops Regional Tournament 2023 The first ever Victorian State NBA Math Hoops Tournament Next Paving The Way Forward Youthworx capturing the Paving The Way Forward program at NMCC Next Roos give back in Rochester for AFL Community Camp North Media takes you inside the Kangaroos' AFL Community Camp in Rochester and Bendigo Next Kicks, Marks and Cultural Connections The North Melbourne Kangaroos Welcome New Fans to Aussie Rules Footy. Next A Game Changer in Wyndham Bella is Shaping Her Future Through Skills, Community, and Opportunity Next The Huddle’s 2024 Wrap-Up! Celebrating the stories, milestones, and highlights that defined our year. Next Welcome our newest Shinboner to Game Day! Can you guess who's coming next? Next The Huddle Iftar 2024 We join together to break fast at Arden Street. Next Huddle Holidays - Summer '24, Volleyball Tournament Eagle Stadium, Werribee Next HERStory Camp YMCA Camp Manyung, Mount Eliza Next Winter 23' Huddle Holidays Winter Holidays Wrap Next Huddle Day at Round 14 v Western Bulldogs Huddle Participants take part in the Guard of Honour at Marvel Stadium Next Young Rochester flood victims visit Arden Street Two primary schools from Rochester severely impacted by the recent floods in regional Victoria came to visit Arden Street and meet some star Kangaroos Next Community Impact Through Game Changers Game Changers helped Tigist develop skills, connections and community impact Next A Snapshot of Community Camp 2025 Kicking goals inside and outside the classroom Next NBA Math Hoops at St. Damian's Primary School! Two years of NBA Math Hoops with St. Damian's Primary School Next Motorsport joins The Huddle Hear about GOAL! Motorsport Australia from Molly Taylor Next Community Camp - Wyndham 2024 Avalon Oval, Werribee Next The Huddle's 2023 A wrap up of some of our key accomplishments for this year. Next The Future of AI in Education and Careers Learning about the technologies that are reshaping the way we work and learn. Next Multi-Art Super Clinic - Huddle Holidays Winter 23' The inaugural Huddle Holidays Multi-Art Super Clinic Next Autumn 23' Huddle Holidays Huddle Holidays Autumn 23' wrap-up. Next Sights and sounds of the Future Roos clinic The future of North Melbourne descended on Arden St for the 2022 Future Roos clinic. Next

A celebration of youth, energy, and community during Ramadan. < Back Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne Previous Next

< Back Ramadan Soccer Tournament: Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne A celebration of youth, energy, and community. Moukhtar Daher Previous Next

A celebration of youth, energy, and community. < Back Ramadan Soccer Tournament: Uniting Communities Through Sport at North Melbourne Moukhtar Daher 2 Apr 2025 A celebration of youth, energy, and community. The Ramadan Soccer Tournament at the North Melbourne Recreational Centre was held in partnership with AMSSA Youth Connect over three weekends in March, with games played on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm – 1am, allowing those observing Ramadan to fully participate. Eight teams, predominantly from North Melbourne, Flemington, and Kensington participated in this vibrant and energetic competition with strong support from local families and community leaders, showcasing the power of sport to foster community spirit and youth engagement. Ramadan Soccer Tournament Highlights: Stronger Community & Connection; The tournament brought together 8 competitive teams and over 150 spectators each night , creating an electric atmosphere. Beyond the sport, it fostered deep connections across generations, strengthening bonds between youth, parents, and community leaders. Resilience & Mental Strength; Players demonstrated remarkable perseverance, competing while fasting and attending night prayers. They adapted to the physical and mental challenges of Ramadan, developing a resilient mindset and learning to manage stress more effectively. Spiritual & Personal Growth; Participants reported a heightened sense of faith and motivation , with many expressing that their experiences reinforced the belief that "anything is possible with faith." The discipline built during the tournament extended beyond Ramadan, helping players form better habits in nutrition, fitness, and daily routines. Physical & Athletic Development; Competing while fasting pushed players to new limits, enhancing stamina, endurance, and overall fitness. This was particularly evident among those playing at a professional level, such as in the Melbourne Premier League (MPL), who noted performance improvements. Breaking Barriers & Fostering Inclusion; By bringing together young people from diverse communities across Melbourne, the tournament became more than just a game—it was a platform for overcoming social and cultural divides, encouraging teamwork, unity, and mutual respect. Young people in the inner city areas of North Melbourne, Flemington and Kensington face a lack of organised, engaging and affordable activities. Especially during Ramadan many often struggle to find positive outlets for their energy, particularly during the evenings after breaking their fast. The tournament sought to create an inclusive space where young people could come together to stay active, engage with their peers, and experience a sense of community. Additionally, there was a need for an event that bridged the gap between neighbouring North Melbourne communities and youth from other suburbs, including Dandenong and Wyndham - Hoppers Crossing, to connect. The aim was to provide a platform for healthy competition and interaction, all while fostering a sense of belonging and pride in the community. The Ramadan Soccer Tournament provided the perfect solution to these challenges. By organising an exciting and inclusive event during the Ramadan period, young people were given a healthy, engaging activity that kept them active and involved in their community. The tournament not only offered an outlet for physical activity but also created an environment where players from diverse backgrounds could form friendships and break down social barriers. Each night the event brought around 80 participants together with more than 150 regular spectators - comprising local youths, parents, and community leaders, filling the North Melbourne Recreational Centre with energy and excitement. The tournament's success was built on its ability to foster both competition and camaraderie among the youth. This environment encouraged personal growth, teamwork, and leadership among the young athletes, while also strengthening the bonds between the wider community and local leaders. The tournament successfully achieved its goal of engaging youth and building community spirit. The packed recreation centre, with its buzzing atmosphere, was a testament to how sports can energise and unify a community. Moreover, the event's ability to bridge the gap between different neighbourhoods was a significant achievement, helping to foster greater understanding and friendships across diverse groups, and reinforcing the tournament's role in community-building. "It’s amazing to see so many young people come together for the tournament from all different parts of Melbourne, all with one common goal—to play soccer and build community. and then to win that tournament, I’m going home happy." – Tournament Participant/ player of winning team Previous Next

< Back Winter School Holiday Activities for Young People Over 200 young people joined us these school holidays for new sports, real-life skills, and unforgettable fun across Melbourne. Patrick McPhee Previous Next

Over 200 young people joined us these school holidays for new sports, real-life skills, and unforgettable fun across Melbourne. < Back Winter School Holiday Activities for Young People Patrick McPhee 31 July 2025 Over 200 young people joined us these school holidays for new sports, real-life skills, and unforgettable fun across Melbourne. Huddle Holidays Winter 2025 has come to an end and what an awesome way to beat the cold it was! Huddle Holidays is a school holiday program offered at the end of each school term for primary and secondary school students aged 8-18. The program provides children and young people with opportunities to try new experiences, developing their skills and capacity across social inclusion, health and emotional wellbeing, leadership, education, and careers. This time around the juniors (8- to 12-years-old) participated in a Welcome to Tennis clinic, an exciting day of activities planned by The Huddle and a trip to Ice HQ for our annual Ice-Skating activity! These holidays the Junior program focused on providing the opportunity to try something new, build social connections and demonstrate resilience! One junior participant shared that their favourite part of the program was “meeting new people and making good friends”, meeting a key focus of the program to increase a sense of belonging in the community! The first Junior activity, ‘Welcome to Tennis’, was based at the North Melbourne Recreation Centre. Here the young people engaged in a cardio tennis session, one participant shared that “playing tennis was amazing, good and first time experiencing for me.” For many of cohort this was their first experience playing tennis and even holding a racquet! The activity was supported by the Australian Tennis Foundation who provided amazing coaches that facilitated the session as well as supporting a group of young people from Wyndham to access transport to the activity. Providing the opportunity to try new things is always a key focus of Huddle Holidays and introducing a new sport is just one example of how The Huddle achieves this! Next up for the juniors was the Huddle Activity Day! This session was also run at the North Melbourne Recreation Centre with a bus being provided for young people coming from the Wyndham region. The Activity Day provided young people the opportunity to engage in a range of different games and activities facilitated by staff from The Huddle such as Rock, Paper, Scissors Evolution, Sprout Ball, I’ve Got a Letter and many more! These activities aimed to support the young people to communicate with each other and through this, foster deeper connections and sense of belonging. One participant shared “it's safe, it makes me familiar and fun”. The value of playing fun games that encourage communication between participants was a highlight of this activity. Days like this encourage young people to have fun while feeling welcomed and safe at programs provided by The Huddle. Ice-Skating was the final event for the Juniors; this year it was run as a merged event with senior participants also attending the same session, providing a nice opportunity for siblings who cross age groups to attend together. This activity was extremely popular booking out in hours! Ice-Skating is an activity that Huddle Holidays aims to do annually, providing the chance to engage in something you might not otherwise, while also demonstrating great resilience as participants learn a challenging new skill, but show that they can get back up and keep trying after they fall. This year the session was run at Ice HQ, whose staff provided a brief intro to skating before supporting the young people to feel safe on the Ice. One participant shared about Ice- Skating, "it was my first time doing and it was really fun” and another identified that “the staff were so inclusive and kind”. We are sure there are plenty of participants ready to sign up for this activity again next year! The senior programming (13- to 18-years-old) saw two additional activities to Ice Skating, these included a competitive 3 v 3 Basketball Tournament and a Barista Course. One explained their experience as “very engaging, I had a lot of fun, I learnt some new skills and made some new friends.” As well as providing opportunities for young people to build connections the senior program tries to include opportunities like the Barista course that support young people develop skills they can use in their everyday lives and add to their resumes. The Basketball tournament was held at Eagle Stadium. It saw many returning players compete and great sportspersonship was demonstrated throughout the day! The winning team on the day featured young people who regularly attend our Huddle Up! Senior program. They had all competed before, but this was their first time winning a tournament run by The Huddle. To learn more about our free Sport and Recreation program head to the link here . The Barista session was run at The Huddle classroom in North Melbourne. Participants learned about the history of coffee, the different types of coffee and how to make them as well as some of the basics behind why coffee works as a business. The general key take away for each person as summed up by one participant was that “It gave me a real-life skill I can apply to my life. I learnt many new things, and it was a great experience overall.” As well as just enjoying “learning how to make coffees and hot chocolates and drinking the hot chocolates”. Another highlight of the activity was inviting staff from the North Melbourne Football Club to stop by and enjoy a free cuppa made by the young people. The Huddle was also lucky to have 3 volunteers attend from the Community Bank Seddon. These workers add so much to the program and are big reason as to why so many young people can attend the program, with their support there was over 200 attendances these holidays! Thanks to our participants, their families, activity providers and partners – Victorian Department of Education and Community Bank Seddon. We couldn’t have this much fun without you! Huddle Holidays will return in September 2025 with an all-new, exciting range of activities across both junior and senior age groups. If you would like and further information or to join our email list to be notified when we launch registrations, please email huddle@nmfc.com.au . Previous Next

< Back Kevin’s Huddle Journey: New Skills, New Friends, New Perspectives From online beginnings to hands-on learning, Kevin’s made the most of every moment. Patrick McPhee Previous Next