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Aussie Rules to new communities and schools, one kick at a time. < Back Bringing Footy to Wyndham & Shepparton Jasper Menor 5 Mar 2025 Aussie Rules to new communities and schools, one kick at a time. This year, the North Melbourne Football Club and The Huddle set out to bring the excitement of Aussie Rules Football to young people in Wyndham and Shepparton through the annual AFL Community Camp – and what an unforgettable experience it was! Over two action-packed days— Monday, February 10, and Tuesday, February 11 —the North Melbourne Kangaroos made a lasting impact, forging real connections and creating special moments with young people in local schools and communities. 44 AFL Men’s players and two AFL Men’s coaches stepped off the field and into classrooms, schoolyards, and local communities, proving that Aussie Rules is more than just a game—it’s about building a sense of belonging and community. To launch the Community Camp,The Huddle introduced our latest GOAL! Kangaroos lessons at Werribee Primary School , taking the footy experience beyond the field. These engaging sessions gave students the opportunity to learn through footy themed STEM activities fused with a Kangas flair before heading out to experience it firsthand. As Jodie, Assistant Principal for Wellbeing and Inclusion at Werribee Primary School, put it: "The reason we've loved making connections with North Melbourne and The Huddle is because we can see the benefits of engaging all students in their programs. It's great for those kids who are interested in sport, but also those kids who are interested in their STEM activities to come together, work together collaboratively, and develop new learning." This holistic approach to engagement ensures that young people—regardless of their interests—can find value in the programs and build new skills, whether on the field or in the classroom. Wyndham is Victoria’s fastest-growing cities and one of Australia’s most diverse communities, with over 70 languages spoken . However, only a small percentage of the population currently engages with Aussie Rules Football. The AFL Community Camp was designed to introduce the sport to new audiences, showing young people what the game is all about and inspiring them to get involved. From school visits to hands-on footy skills clinics , the Kangaroos set out to connect, inspire, and ignite passion for the sport. With a goal of engaging 4,500 young people , the impact was significant: 1,500 students in Shepparton welcomed the Kangaroos with cheers and excitement. 3,500 students in Wyndham had the chance to meet and learn from AFL players. But the real magic happened when the young people took the field themselves! For those already passionate about Aussie Rules, the Come & Play Auskick and Superkick Skills Clinic was a dream come true. This was their chance to lace up their boots, practice their skills, and experience the thrill of the game alongside professional AFL players. 90 kids in Shepparton brought their energy and enthusiasm to the field. 75 eager participants in Wyndham pushed themselves to new heights. Even when fatigue set in, the determination never wavered. As one player summed it up perfectly: “I’m running on empty, but I’m gonna find another gear.” Beyond the drills and excitement, the most powerful moments were found in the connections made along the way. One parent reached out to AFL Victoria , expressing deep gratitude for the visit. Her son, who had been struggling with mental health challenges, found joy and hope in meeting the players. A simple handshake and a smile meant the world to him. Then there was the young girl who was thrilled at the chance to attend a Kangaroos game—until she realised it clashed with her gymnastics class. With tears in her eyes, she approached Charlie Comben to apologise for missing it. That’s the kind of impact this camp had on young people. With Wyndham’s population rapidly expanding and becoming increasingly diverse, events like the AFL Community Camp are crucial for introducing Aussie Rules to new communities. The Kangaroos didn’t just visit—they showed thousands of young people that Aussie Rules Football can be a space for fun, connection, and personal growth. The days were long, and the schedule was packed, but the players never lost their energy. With every school visit, clinic, and conversation, they planted the seeds for a stronger, more inclusive footy community—one that will hopefully grow for years to come. We can’t wait to do it all again next year! Previous Next

Celebrating the stories, milestones, and highlights that defined our year. < Back The Huddle’s 2024 Wrap-Up! Previous Next

Huddle Holidays Autumn 23' wrap-up. < Back Autumn 23' Huddle Holidays Previous Next

The Huddle Holiday Juniors hone their skills in Aussie Rules and Soccer! < Back Warming up this winter with AFL and Soccer clinics 4 July 2024 The Huddle Holiday Juniors hone their skills in Aussie Rules and Soccer! The Huddle Holiday Sports Clinic at Avalon Airport Oval, home of the Werribee Football Club, offered young sports enthusiasts a day of soccer and AFL training to enhance skills and promote teamwork. The engaging sessions included drills and skill games to challenge and develop abilities. The Cart Co team's warm hospitality with hot chocolate and coffee added to the festive atmosphere, keeping participants cozy. The blend of sportsmanship, skill-building, and comfort provided a holistic experience, leaving a lasting impression on young athletes for a memorable day of learning and fun. Previous Next

Celebrating 10 years of the African Music and Cultural Festival < Back African Music & Cultural Festival 2023 Claudie Groves 24 Nov 2023 Celebrating 10 years of the African Music and Cultural Festival This past weekend, The Huddle and North Melbourne Football Club were honoured to sponsor a 10th straight African Music and Cultural Festival. As in previous years, we enthusiastically brought the sport, and over 35 African countries and communities generously contributed music, food, fashion, film, dance, and art to the spring event. It was lively, full of feel-good moments, and particularly memorable in 2023. Many of our friendly staff were on-hand at Federation Square over these three days, facilitating an AFL skills-themed inflatable for young and old as well as a ‘Roo Squad Spin to Win,’ where participants had the chance to win a slew of great Kangaroos prizes. While all were enjoying the sun and fun, it was Kanga, the much-loved club mascot, who put the biggest smiles on faces in our area. The African Music and Cultural Festival also presented an opportunity for us to further cement and build on several of The Huddle’s key tenets – proudly learning, growing, and belonging in a city that privileges understanding, unity, respect, education, and cross-cultural awareness. Locals and visitors alike were treated to live performances on the main stage, in addition to African street food and market stalls along the Yarra, all with these values in mind. “If diversity is the heartbeat of Melbourne, then the African Music and Cultural Festival makes the heart beat with rhythm.” Cam McLeod – The Huddle CEO Both The Huddle and North Melbourne Football Club were equally humbled to receive a Service Award at the weekend, acknowledging our ongoing support of this inclusive and spirited annual event. We would like to extend a big thank you to Fred Alale AM, Gary Lee OAM, and the whole team at the African Music and Cultural Festival for having us along for the ride for the past 10 years. It continues to be both a joy and huge privilege. Previous Next

Akram’s journey to become a community leader < Back Providing opportunities to learn, grow and belong Maddy Ware and John King 17 Oct 2022 Akram’s journey to become a community leader Prior work experience, or specifically lack thereof, continues to be a barrier to employment for young people. This is especially the case for young people from multicultural backgrounds who must compete with cultural biases and other barriers (VMC, 2021). In this current climate, young people struggle to gain employment without previous paid employment experience and therefore often get into volunteer or internship roles to build their skill set. However, a lot of intern and volunteer roles are largely unpaid which leaves young people at risk of exploitation and therefore continue to struggle to gain paid employment experience. Many young people also lack mentors or role models who can provide guidance or inspiration to strive for improvements in education and career pathways. Mentors and role models can also provide insights and help broaden the horizons of young people still navigating their education or employment journey. The Huddle engages with young people through a variety of program options which are considered “soft entry points”. This provides an opportunity for staff to observe the growth of young people and to identify the talent, skills and qualities they possess. By encouraging those talented young people to participate in more structured courses and programs with The Huddle, young people are exposed to a variety of networks and opportunities where they can further develop their skills in safe and supported environments. Young people who succeed in programs like Game Changers, which have tangible and visible real-world outcomes, not only serve as inspiration for their peers, but also provide a template on how young people can develop valuable skills and experiences while serving as positive community role models. Akram began his journey as a participant with The Huddle in 2019, taking part in our True North Mentoring and Huddle Up! programs. I found the programs interesting. I got to meet the North Melbourne players during True North. They were really open and down to earth. They made us feel involved and kept encouraging us to participate and think outside the box. - Akram Since that time, he has also attended regular Study Squad sessions, for education support, and in 2021 registered for Game Changers, our employment program. The employment opportunities were appealing. So was the involvement of other organisations like Young Australian People and Ubuntu Project. They all provided good resources and connections which could lead to other opportunities after the program. I Highly recommend Game Changers – just make sure you attend all the sessions. If you miss out on sessions, you’ll miss out on something good! - Akram Following years of connections with multiple program coordinators and volunteers, Akram had been able to display many of the qualities and traits required to contribute his skills and expertise in several our regular programs. In 2022, Akram was offered a casual role as a Program Support Officer in our Huddle Up! program. It is really good working with The Huddle. It’s a great team and I enjoy the programs that we run (Huddle Up! Junior). I love seeing the kids progressing and having fun. I also like working with other groups in collaborative projects. - Akram Akram was also able to further develop his project management and transferable skills as a Huddle Holidays Project Officer, a role which was created for successful participants within Game Changers, whose community project ideas were deemed appropriate and feasible by a volunteer panel of experts from the YMCA, City of Melbourne and the Melbourne Youth Alliance. Akram worked in partnership with two other Game Changers participants, The Huddle’s Careers Coordinator and Education Coordinators, North Melbourne Football Club staff, and volunteers to create ‘The Race’, an amazing race for young people aged between 13 and 18 which contained a series of personal development and wellbeing themed challenges and activities. Akram and his group were responsible for the design of the project, budgeting, creating the marketing and promotion strategy (including design of all collateral), registration of participants and delivery of the activity as part of The Huddle’s Winter Huddle Holidays. It was pretty difficult, not going to lie, but I enjoyed doing multiple tasks, working in a team and learning how to manage a project. It was great to put a whole lot of skills I didn’t know I had into a project and completing something meaningful. - Akram Throughout the project, Akram took on a leadership role with his team and was able to keep his group on task and accountable. He was able to ensure tasks were allocated fairly and according to skills, abilities and availability of those within his group. He also provided regular communication and feedback to those in his working group and the staff at The Huddle who coordinate Huddle Holidays. Akram’s journey from a participant in the Huddle’s social inclusion programs, through to accessing more individualised education and career support and, finally, into employment is an example of how young people learn, grow and belong through the various initiatives provided by The Huddle. Akram is a young leader within the North Melbourne community, he provides inspiration to others and has made significant personal and professional developments by taking advantage of the opportunities available to him through The Huddle. Previous Next

Confidence and communication skills to amplify ideas and stories. < Back Helping Others To Find Their True North John King 2 Aug 2023 Confidence and communication skills to amplify ideas and stories. Employment Experiences are paid opportunities for young people to contribute their skills to a real-world project and are offered to successful participants from The Huddle’s Game Changers program. Participants are immersed in a supportive environment, designed to build their confidence, further develop skills, and amplify their ideas, while gaining relevant experiences that will benefit their career aspirations. Suleiman is 24-year-old male from Point Cook, who participated in our Autumn Game Changers program. He, along with 19 other participants were posed the question: "How can we tell the stories of elite athletes in a unique and engaging way?" and taken through a series of workshops designed to develop transferrable and project management skills, through a media and communications lens. Working in small groups, Suleiman and his peers used ideation strategies to develop and refine a solution to the central question, before creating a media and communications plan for their idea, with an accompanying slide deck, which would be presented to a panel of industry experts at our Pitch Event and Networking session. “I enjoyed meeting new people, being creative by brainstorming, collaborating with a team and using the 'yes and' mentality. It helped me understand that every idea has the potential to be a great idea.” After presenting his ideas at the Pitch Event, Suleiman was able to build his networks with professionals from the media and communications industry, learning about their career journeys and sharing his own aspirations of forging a career in creative media. Suleiman had displayed outstanding enthusiasm, professionalism, and reliability through his participation in Game Changers and was offered one of five Employment Experience positions, getting an opportunity contribute his own ideas to the next series of True North videos, before interviewing elite athletes from our AFL and AFLW programs. “Game Changers has been really rewarding. This program has provided me with a platform to be creative and work on an exciting project. Working alongside elite athletes was the best part. A great experience.” Game Changers Employment Experiences will continue to provide unique and relevant opportunities for young people to learn new skills, grow professionally and amplify their ideas to prove they truly belong in their aspiring career industries. Game Changers programs run every school holidays, please click here for more information. Previous Next

We recap seven incredible action packed activities for the Spring 2025 Huddle Holidays. < Back Huddle Holidays Spring 2025 Recap Previous Next

Anglesea SLSC < Back Huddle Holidays - Summer '24, Surf Trip Previous Next

A safe space for young people engaged in education to learn, grow and belong. < Back Meet Selina from Study Squad! Patrick McPhee 29 Oct 2024 A safe space for young people engaged in education to learn, grow and belong. Meet Selina from Study Squad! Selina is a year 8 student who has been coming to The Huddle since term 4, 2023. In her spare time Selina likes to play video games and walk outside. She also likes to eat, especially sweet food! Selina started coming to The Huddle to attend our Study Squad program, and has been one of the most regular attendees coming over 50 times in 2024! Selina likes that coming to Study Squad has given her more time to focus on learning, she has also spent some time working with our volunteer tutors who she has found helpful and likes that there are snacks! As well as coming to Study Squad, Selina has also engaged in our Huddle Holidays activities. Study Squad will remain open until the end of November 2024. Study Squad is a safe space for young people engaged in education to learn, grow and belong while receiving academic support. The program offers subject-specific volunteer tutors, computers, and internet access, as well as a study space, at no cost to participants. If you are interested in attending, please join us in: North Melbourne: Every Monday and Tuesday from 3.30pm-6.30pm at The Huddle North Melbourne, 204-206 Arden St, North Melbourne 3051 Docklands: On Wednesdays from 3.30pm – 5.00pm at The Hub @ Docklands, 80 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands VIC 3008 Werribee: On Wednesdays from 3.30pm-5.30pm at The Huddle Werribee, Level 1, 150-226 Watton St, Werribee (Chirnside Park) Previous Next

Somali Healthcare Professionals (SHP) is a networking platform founded by three passionate young Somali women < Back Local Legends: Somali Healthcare Professionals Riley Goodwin 15 Dec 2021 Somali Healthcare Professionals (SHP) is a networking platform founded by three passionate young Somali women Somali Healthcare Professionals (SHP) is a networking platform founded by three passionate young Somali women in the Australian healthcare field. With the mission of creating a networking platform that connects current and future Somali healthcare professionals, the platform also raises awareness on public health issues within the Somali community. Lead by Najmo Said, a registered nurse, Fatumo Elmi, a 4th year nursing and midwifery student and Umal Kheyr, a registered midwife; Somali Healthcare Professionals showcases the diverse areas in the healthcare profession by sharing the young women’s journeys in their particular profession. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the young women at SHP worked hard to communicate public health messages to the Somali community. In September, SHP organised and facilitated an in-language COVID-19 Q&A session to provide a culturally safe space to ask questions on COVID-19 and the vaccines available. Alongside this, the team provides regular updates on COVID-19 to their following, as well as promoting COVID vaccines from the frontlines at Western Health vaccination hubs. The network is open to join at any time. Check Somali Healthcare Professionals out on Instagram @SomaliHealthcarePro_ and Facebook. Previous Next

Take a look at the highlights from the Huddle Holidays junior snow day at Lake Mountain. < Back Snow Day Previous Next