Yasseen Musa OAM works closely with The Huddle to help migrant families settle into life in Australia. < Back Mazda Learn 2 Drive Program Previous Next

Creating a welcoming and inclusive space where young people feel supported and motivated to stay active. Creating a welcoming and inclusive space where young people feel supported and motivated to stay active. 20260209_Kickback_First Session-14.jpg 20260209_Kickback_First Session-16.jpg 20260209_Kickback_First Session.jpg 20260209_Kickback_First Session-14.jpg 1/7 Huddle Kickback shifts away from sport only activities at community-centred hubs, providing flexible non-sport activities and drop-in spaces to “kickback” allowing participants to get active through non-traditional & traditional sports activities, for young people aged 16-25. The program is aimed at engaging young men through a mix of sport, recreation, and social connection. Designed to give participants the choice to engage in activities that suit their interests and energy levels. They can play organized sports on the basketball court, join a structured high-intensity gym session, or relax and connect with others in the games room/area, facilitated by Community Engagement staff. Register Here Previous Next

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

Celebrating Sagalee Omer's awards and recognition at the Multicultural Youth Awards 2024. < Back Congratulations Sagelee Omer and Shooters Shoot! Cassandra Hadson 9 Oct 2024 Celebrating Sagalee Omer's awards and recognition at the Multicultural Youth Awards 2024. The Multicultural Youth Awards 2024 took centre stage at Victoria’s Parliament House on October 5, celebrating the remarkable achievements of young multicultural leaders from across Victoria. A standout of the evening was Sagalee Omer, honored as both the Entrepreneur of the Year and recipient of the Australian Minister for Youth’s Award. As a co-founder of the charity basketball organisation Shooters Shoot, Omer has played a pivotal role in raising over $66,000 to support youth in the community. Over the past year, The Huddle has collaborated with Shooters Shoot to support charity basketball tournaments that provide vital funds for young people's physical and mental wellbeing. These initiatives have directly funded psychological and therapy appointments, as well as purchased bicycles to encourage physical activity. This partnership exemplifies Shooters Shoot’s commitment to understanding the crucial link between physical and mental health, and the importance of supporting young people at every stage of their mental health journey. Congratulations, Sagalee, on your hard work and the incredible impact you are making in our communities! Previous Next

How mentorship and experience helped Moukhtar grow into a community leader. < Back From Game Changer to Community Leader John King 31 Jan 2025 How mentorship and experience helped Moukhtar grow into a community leader. Moukhtar Dahir participated in our first Game Changers cohort in Spring 2023, working as a casual to support the development of an Alumni program at The Huddle as part of his Employment Experience. In March 2024, Moukhtar successfully applied for a Multicultural Development Officer role through the Bachar Houli Foundation, housed with the Sports & Recreation Team at The Huddle and would support delivery of our Huddle Up, Welcome to AFL, Huddle Holidays and AFL Victoria programs in a part-time capacity, while he completed his studies. “Moukhtar has been an incredible asset to our team, he brings a passion, dedication, and most importantly a genuine connection to the community. His ability to engage with young people and create meaningful connections with them has had a lasting impact, empowering them and fostering a sense of belonging,” said Xavier Smith, Head of Sport & Recreation of Moukhtar’s contribution to the team. “Not only did working part-time with The Huddle provide me with the flexibility to manage my studies but I was also mentored throughout the role helping me develop experience in the workforce, build up my confidence, improve communication skills and learn how to deal with uncomfortable situations head on.” Moukhtar said. In October 2024, a role within The Huddle’s Community Development team became available and Moukhtar was encouraged to apply. He was appointed to the full-time position of Coordinator Community Engagement, which focuses on developing and implementing initiatives that foster interaction, participation, and a sense of belonging among our community members, stakeholders, and the broader organisation, primarily with the Somali community in the Cities of Melbourne and Wyndham. “Because of the skills, knowledge, and confidence I had developed in the part-time role, it allowed me to grow and be in a position where I was encouraged to apply for and appointed for the Coordinator Community Engagement role, which was only possible because of the valuable work the Game Changers program does for young people,” Moukhtar said. Moukhtar’s journey from Game Changers participant to Community Engagement Coordinator shows the power of mentorship, experience, and opportunity. His story highlights how programs like Game Changers empower young people, build confidence, and create meaningful career pathways. Previous Next

Discover how over 300 young people made the most of their autumn. < Back Making the most of the Autumn holidays Xavier Smith 8 May 2026 Discover how over 300 young people made the most of their autumn. More than 300 young people from across Melbourne and Wyndham came together these autumn school holidays to stay active, learn new skills and build meaningful connections. Huddle Holidays Autumn 2026 has officially wrapped up, marking our biggest autumn program yet. Across a wide mix of activities, our Junior and Senior programs created safe, inclusive and engaging spaces where young people could challenge themselves, try something new and feel a strong sense of belonging. From the trails of the You Yangs to the beaches of Anglesea, this autumn was all about growth, confidence and shared experiences. Exploring and Getting Active: Junior Program (8–12 years old) Our Junior program focused on curiosity, fun and hands-on learning, giving young people the chance to explore new environments and experiences. Wildlife Encounter (Truganina) Our Wildlife Encounter brought the animal kingdom up close, giving participants the opportunity to learn about and interact with a range of unique species. From snakes and a crocodile to a wombat, the experience sparked curiosity and excitement. As one participant shared: “It was my first time I saw and touched sugar glider.” Moments like these created lasting memories while building confidence in trying new things. Bounce A Huddle Holidays favourite returned, with young people bouncing and climbing their way around the indoor adventure park. This high-energy session encouraged movement, confidence and plenty of laughter, as participants challenged themselves in a fun and supportive environment. Anglesea Beach Trip With the support of the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, participants headed down the coast for a day of sun, surf and learning (and we can’t forget the sausages). Young people caught waves, built sandcastles and developed important water safety skills, all while enjoying one of Victoria’s most iconic beach settings. Independence and Teamwork: Senior Program (13–18 years old) Our Senior program empowered young people to step outside their comfort zones, build independence and strengthen their connections with others. Volleyball Tournament This year’s tournament was the largest in Huddle Holidays history, bringing together 180 young people across 21 teams. The day was filled with energy, teamwork, friendly competition and high quality Volleyball, showcasing the power of sport to bring people together and create a strong sense of community. Mountain Biking (You Yangs) A brand-new addition to Huddle Holidays, mountain biking saw participants take on the trails of the You Yangs. The experience challenged young people both physically and mentally, encouraging resilience and confidence. One participant reflected: “Mountain biking was not only fun and engaging but also making kids learn new things by coming out of their comfort zone.” First Aid Course Beyond the physical activities, seniors also had the opportunity to gain practical, life-saving skills through a First Aid course. This session focused on building confidence, responsibility and real-world readiness, helping young people feel more prepared for future employment and everyday situations. A Community Where Everyone Belongs At the heart of Huddle Holidays is a commitment to inclusion and belonging. Every activity is designed to ensure young people feel safe, supported and valued. This autumn was no different, with participants embracing new opportunities, forming friendships and growing in confidence along the way. https://vimeo.com/1190341456 Looking Ahead As we reflect on our biggest autumn program yet, we’re proud of the impact Huddle Holidays continues to have. Over 300 young people walked away with new experiences, stronger connections and memories that will last well beyond the school holidays. A huge thank you to our participants, families, staff, volunteers and partners, including the Department of Education, Community Bank Seddon, City of Melbourne, Wyndham City Council, The Y, HOKA and Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club, for making this program possible. We can’t wait to do it all again. We’ll see you at Huddle Holidays this winter. Previous Next

From online beginnings to hands-on learning, Kevin’s made the most of every moment. < Back Kevin’s Huddle Journey: New Skills, New Friends, New Perspectives Patrick McPhee 30 July 2025 From online beginnings to hands-on learning, Kevin’s made the most of every moment. Kevin started attending activities with The Huddle back in 2020, as were the times back then, a lot of his introduction to The Huddle was through online programs. He participated in online sporting sessions, picnics and exciting education activities, such as a mammal encounter! Once the world opened up, Kevin continued accessing programs as they returned to face to face. Through Huddle Holidays he has attended snow trips, surf trips, yoga classes and more. At Huddle Up! Junior he has been introduced and developed skills in a range of sports and has also attended community events such as Iftar. Most recently Kevin attended his first Huddle Holidays Senior activity, a Barista course where he learned to make coffees. A skill he hopes to take home, to be able to make coffees for his family. Kevin has attended many Junior programs alongside his brother Louis, however he has also been bold and open to attending programs alone where he has had great experiences and met new people which has helped to, as he says, “widen his eyes and see the world in a different perspective”. See below Kevin’s responses to our questions exploring his experience at The Huddle! What’s Your name and how old are you?   My name is Kevin and I am 12 years old.  What are some of the activities you have done with The Huddle?  I have been ice skating, coffee making, tennis, Snow mountain excursions, and also been to footy and weekly sports at north Melbourne community centre.  What has been your favourite activity?  I like going to the snow mountains, coffee making and ice skating.  Why was it your favourite activity and how did it make you feel?  My favourite activity is coffee making because in this whole day activity I get to learn something new that I have never experienced before.  What have you learnt at The Huddle?  I learnt how to make coffee, play footy, basketball, tennis, skate on ice, ski on snow and also learnt how to be kind to others without hurting yourself either physically or mentally.  What keeps you coming back to The Huddle and what would you tell someone attending for the first time?  I like to come to the huddle because it makes me widen my eyes and see the world in a different perspective. Previous Next

North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney has been awarded the 2022 Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award < Back North captain rewarded for outstanding community work North Media 27 Sept 2022 North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney has been awarded the 2022 Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney has been awarded the 2022 Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award. The award, presented by Variety - the Children's Charity, acknowledges a current AFL or AFLW player who has demonstrated selfless actions and dedication to children. It is named in honour of football legend Tom Hafey who coached and played at several clubs before inspiring thousands of school children with his community work. Kearney is the Head of Education at The Huddle and throughout the past 12 months she has designed and delivered programs to support thousands of children and young people's resilience, mental health and well-being and helped educators address the complexities of home learning during COVID lockdowns. Through her leadership, the True North program was established to help engage at-risk and vulnerable students from diverse backgrounds. Over the past year, the program has benefited more than 650 children and young people by helping them learn, grow and belong by being re-engaged in their classroom. Kearney's passion for education has seen her become the first AFLW player to receive the award, and she joins a list of past winners that includes Joel Selwood, Eddie Betts, Luke Ball and others. Previous Next

< Back NBA Math Hoops in Action at Ascot Vale West PS! Ascot Vale West Primary School Students Battle It Out In NBA Math Hoops! Previous Next

< Back 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. Josh Raymer Previous Next

We chat to Nor about Ubuntu Project's community work, and their relationship with The Huddle < Back Ubuntu Project CEO, Nor Sharino Previous Next

< Back A Day of Sports and History at the MCG Exploring the rich history of Australian sports! Jasper Menor Previous Next