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The Huddle Up! Senior Program in Wyndham < 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

The Huddle saw a group of four young individuals participate in the Youth Parliament initiative. < Back YMCA’s 38th Youth Parliament initiative 1 Aug 2024 The Huddle saw a group of four young individuals participate in the Youth Parliament initiative. In 2024, The Huddle saw a group of four young individuals participate in the YMCA’s 38th Youth Parliament initiative, a program designed to empower youth to find their voices and advocate for change. Over four months, participants from both the City of Melbourne and Wyndham engaged in various sessions where they brainstormed and drafted their proposed bill. With the guidance of a taskforce mentor, the group decided to propose the Education Reform Bill 2024, aiming to improve education conditions, accessibility, and resources. Their goal was to address an issue they were passionate about and that would benefit their communities. The young people attended a six-day residential "Week of Youth Parliament" camp, which included training days that provided an in-depth look at parliamentary processes, from democracy to voting and debating. The group described this experience as enlightening, giving them a deeper understanding of how legislation is passed. During the sitting day at Parliament House Melbourne, in the presence of the Minister for Youth, State MPs, and other esteemed individuals, The Huddle team passionately debated and advocated for their bill. They emphasised the importance of improving access to education, reducing the costs of school supplies and technology to enhance learning, and ultimately promoting sustainability and economic security for the youth and their future. Young people stated that the experience inspired them and helped them develop essential skills such as leadership, communication, and confidence. The Huddle recognizes that this process can be daunting but congratulates these young individuals for being catalysts for change, not just for their community but for the entire state. Previous Next

< Back Sanhae's Spring 2023 Spring Huddle Holiday's Program Emily Phu Previous Next

Carmen Bruce from St. Damien’s Primary School share their journey with Math Hoops < Back Math Hoops: From the Classroom to the International Stage Jasper Menor 17 Sept 2025 Carmen Bruce from St. Damien’s Primary School share their journey with Math Hoops At St Damian’s Primary School , maths has taken on a whole new energy thanks to NBA Math Hoops. The program, delivered through The Huddle , has transformed how students engage with numbers — from those who struggle with maths anxiety to those who can’t get enough of it. Carmen Bruce , Maths Leader at St Damian’s, has seen the impact firsthand: "It's been fantastic as a maths leader to see all the kids being engaged in maths from our students that find maths a bit challenging or have anxiety with maths to our students that love maths and want to do it every day." Making Maths Fun and Accessible What makes Math Hoops so engaging is its mix of skill and chance. " “It’s got all different components to it, including our four operations and then the probability and chance. And the great component of this is that it has luck involved. So it doesn’t matter what skill level you’re at, sometimes you can have a stinker of a game and sometimes you can have a great game. So it’s been fantastic.” This balance means that every student — no matter their ability level — has the chance to succeed, play, and most importantly, enjoy learning maths. From Local Games to Global Opportunities The program has even opened doors beyond the classroom. " We were lucky enough to nominate two of our students to go to the international championships, and we were so thrilled to hear that one of our students got chosen. He had the most fantastic time over in America, meeting the players in the draft and just had such an experience. So those opportunities are so few and far between that it was just such an amazing challenge.” For the school community, watching one of their own compete on an international stage was a moment of pride and inspiration. A Partnership That Delivers Carmen credits The Huddle and its partners for making these experiences possible. “We really want to say a big shout out to Learn Fresh and the North Melbourne Football Club in The Huddle for all the amazing opportunities that we’ve had with them, from the training online for the teachers, to the board games being delivered to the school, the Victorian tournament and even the international championships, it’s been absolutely fantastic.” Through Math Hoops, St Damian’s Primary School has shown that learning doesn’t just happen in books — it happens through play, teamwork, and opportunity. Watch our interview with Carmen below! Previous Next

< Back Huddle Holidays - Spring '23 All the best moments from the most recent Huddle Holiday's Previous Next

Using all the learnings from Game Changers and using them for the Pitch event. < Back Pitch night with Game Changers! 16 July 2024 Using all the learnings from Game Changers and using them for the Pitch event. Creating an inclusive community sports event 🗣️ During the school holidays, our Game Changers participants went through a myriad of workshops, mentoring sessions and coaching to help them develop transferable skills and create an inclusive sports program with a chance to turn it into a reality. Using the skills and learnings from the course, they pitched their inclusive community sports programs to three panelists where they also had the opportunity to receive employment as well as develop their programs into something tangible. Game Changers run every school holidays! Stay tuned for the next one and join us to develop your skills for the future! We would like to acknowledge our partners Ubuntu Project, Paving the Way Forward and the Victorian State Government Previous Next

Gary Lee inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll! < Back Multicultural Honour Roll of The Huddle's Advisory Committee Member Don Doughty 16 Dec 2024 Gary Lee inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll! On December 4, Seddon resident, and international student advocate Gary Lee was inducted into the Victorian Multic ultural Honour Roll at Government House, receiving the accolade from the Governor, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Miss Ingrid Stitt. This was the third year the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll which recognises the efforts of individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to multiculturalism in Victoria, recognising the vital role that multicultural individuals have played to keep communities safe and connected. From international student, Senior Fellow of the International Education Association Australia (IEAA) to being recognised as the Australian Day Council ‘New Australian of the Year’ and just recently, an Order of Australia Medal, Gary has long been a passionate member of the international education community. Originally from Malaysia, Gary started his journey in Melbourne as an international student and quickly discovered his passion for multicultural communities, dedicating his life to ensuring all international students feel welcomed, supported and motivated. His empathetic approach and tireless efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of students, creating a home away from home for many. Dynamic, creative and visionary, he has over 20 years’ experience in the areas of high level strategic planning and design; policy development and advice; design and delivery of complex projects and student wellbeing initiatives. Currently, Gary leads the international education portfolio at the City of Melbourne in delivering the Council Plan 2021–25 and the Economic Development Strategy 2031. He also oversees City of Melbourne’s collaboration with State Government on the International Education Recovery Plan 2025. Gary is a member of numerous advisory committees including the North Melbourne Football Club’s The Huddle, the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) Regional Advisory Council, Crime Stoppers Cultural Inclusion Reference Group, African Music and Cultural Festival and the Australian Government’s Best Practice in International Student Engagement Project. He is also an ambassador for the AFL Multicultural Program, Melbourne Victory, Welcoming Australia and the Bully Zero Australia Foundation. Gary Lee is not just an advocate; he is a beacon of hope for many international students navigating the complexities of being in a new country. Previous Next

Game Changers program provided by The Huddle < Back Supporting young people on their unique career journeys Em O’Halloran, John King and Maddy Ware 29 Aug 2022 Game Changers program provided by The Huddle Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people aged 15-24 were already disproportionately adversely affected in the labour market. Before COVID-19, it took young people on average 2.6 years to transition from full-time education to full-time work, despite being more qualified than any previous generation. The crisis has aggravated existing disadvantage and significantly disrupted the plans and livelihoods of most young Australians. When entering the job market, young people in this age bracket with little or no work experience are the 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 and/or underemployment. Either avenue will result in 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. The objective for The Huddle is to adjust from a one-size-fits-all job placement support model to a more individualistic approach. Introducing: Game Changers - a program that creates employment opportunities within and supported by The Huddle to maximise youth engagement in paid work and strengthen employment pathways. Betty Betty is a 20-year-old Ethiopian-Australian and Wyndham resident, currently studying Year 12 at Tarneit Senior College. Betty first interacted with The Huddle in 2020, when she began participating in school holiday activities such as the professional barista course and MasterChef as part of the DET-funded Huddle Holidays initiative. Shortly afterwards, Betty started attending The Huddle’s after-school homework program, Study Squad, to seek free tutoring to support her with her Year 12 studies. After some time of continued involvement, The Huddle’s Education Coordinator encouraged Betty to participate in Game Changers to access individualised employment pathways support as well. Betty connected with the Careers Coordinator in late 2021 to participate in the Game Changers program. Initially, she was very shy and reserved, barely talking throughout her initial appointments. Collectively, they identified that Betty’s immediate goals should focus on creating a resume and identifying her industries of interest. Betty continued engaging with the Careers Coordinator in 2022 and shared that she had applied for many jobs through various online systems but was unsuccessful. The key takeaways from their sessions were a need for focus on improving her cover letter writing, finding ways to nurture her self-confidence, and learning the navigate workplace cross-cultural junctions. Throughout ongoing one-on-one coaching with the Careers Coordinator, Betty managed to flesh out her resume with work experience, apply for her Working with Children’s Check, and began volunteering alongside The Huddle. “I helped out and pushed myself outside my comfort zone” Over time, The Huddle staff observed a shift in Betty’s confidence and communication skills, and watched her initiating conversations with guests, volunteers and staff. Shortly after, Betty applied for a casual employment position with the North Melbourne Football Club selling merchandise on Game Days at Marvel Stadium. “I felt more confident applying and interviewing because I can use my recent volunteering experience to demonstrate my skills” With the guidance of the Game Changers program, Betty was successful in gaining both confidence and employment, and now works match days and contributes to the membership team. Betty completed her first shift at the North Melbourne vs. GWS game at Marvel Stadium in June 2022. She demonstrated confidence and solid interpersonal skills during her first shift, engaging positively with NMFC staff, club members, patrons and customers. Betty’s confidence and communication skills have improved dramatically since her first Game Changers coaching session. The Careers Coordinator shared that “…it has been a rewarding experience to witness Betty’s development and employment journey”. Betty’s pathway from participant to volunteer to an employee at NMFC demonstrates the power that individualised career coaching can have on a young person’s life. The Game Changers coaching sessions provided Betty with access to culturally safe networks and experiences that enabled her to build her transferable skills and confidence. The program supported her to traverse the unique barriers she faced in obtaining employment and aided her in navigating the ‘unwritten’ rules of Australian workplace culture and expectations. The Careers team at The Huddle will continue to run Game Changers to support and coach young people to harness educational work experiences to better prepare and equip themselves with the transferable skills, expertise and networks needed to integrate into the Australian workforce successfully and confidently. Previous Next

< Back Community Camp 2025 Highlights Snapshot of Community Camp in Wyndham Previous Next

The Huddle is beginning a new series to shout out the Local Legends in our community < Back The Huddle thanks Local Legends Riley Goodwin 19 Oct 2021 The Huddle is beginning a new series to shout out the Local Legends in our community Pictured: Yasseen Musa and Khalil Ali Khalil The Huddle is beginning a new series to shout out the Local Legends in our community. This could be individuals and or groups in the community that are doing amazing work, especially during the pandemic. This week’s Local Legends are the wonderful people at the Eritrean Jeberti Community in Australia Inc (EJCA). The Eritrean Jeberti Community in Australia Inc was established in 2016 by experienced members of the community, to help newly arrived refugees and migrants from Eritrean background and other African countries to smoothly integrate with the wider Australian Community. The group helps new arrivals with the necessary settlement needs, such as housing, banking, Medicare, Centrelink, enrolling in English courses and more. To fill their vision and mission, the EJCA communicate and build a good relationship with government departments and organisations such as Victoria Police, sporting clubs, Co-Health, Salvation Army and The Huddle. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the EJCA organisation worked hard to spread awareness among its community members. When the virus broke out in the North Melbourne and Flemington housing towers, they were one of the first to arrive to assist the residents. The group has held several information sessions in English and Tigrinya and post information in WhatsApp groups and their Facebook pages to spread the awareness and provide updates on COVID-19, and to help the community get vaccinated against it to protect themselves and their families. During lockdowns, the EJCA distributed four rounds of culturally appropriate food, reaching more than 300 households. Each bag included an information sheet about the COVID-19 vaccinations in three different languages - English, Tigrigna, and Arabic. Thanks to Local Legends such as the EJCA, the community they work with have been able to receive the tools and resources required to navigate through the pandemic and beyond. Previous Next

Howard's Story < Back Empowering Early Careers Emily Maiorana 21 Nov 2023 Howard's Story For many young people the expectation of needing to have your career path decided is both an unrealistic and overwhelming process. Game Changers is a program that instills confidence in young people, provides authentic experiences and uncovers skills that assist young people in defining their own career path. In partnership with Equal Ed and Wyndham City Council, The Huddle delivered Game Changers to eager young people living, learning or playing in the city of Wyndham during the June school holidays. Fostering creative thinking, active problem solving, teamwork and project management, Game Changers acts as a launchpad for young people to develop skills, make new connections and gain real-world experience. Howard is a 16 year old male from Wyndham, and has been a consistent participant of The Huddle’s Multisport program, Huddle Up!. Howard was encouraged to participate in Game Changers due to his proven leadership abilities and enthusiasm to professionally develop his skillset. The program took place over three days and saw participants engaged in ideation and project development workshops facilitated by Equal Ed, while The Huddle delivered job readiness sessions. “What I enjoyed most about the program was the teamwork and connection created by the delivers and participants, The Huddle offered valuable support in building our personal character, Equal Ed shared practical knowledge and challenged our way of thinking and Liam provided us with connection to Wyndham Council”. Howard alongside six of his peers were offered an Employment Experience position at The Huddle where they assisted the planning, recruitment, and execution of our Huddle Slam event for over 60 young people in the Wyndham community. “This opportunity has braced me for the future. I feel aware and reassured that I will not be overwhelmed by what a workplace feels like in the future,” said Howard. As a result of the collaboration, Howard has felt supported and comfortable to engage in other programs to further elevate him on his early career journey. He took part in the Wyndam Emerging Professionals Network event, where he was able to connect with leaders from different industries and have safe conversations about his future endeavors. The partnership has allowed Howard to seek mentors across a variety of industries and gain access to a wealth of services who can further support him along the way. “Aside from the development of my skills, the partnership has helped me build a foundation for my future”. Howard will soon embark on a new challenge as he gears up to participate in the Change-Maker Summit held in Canberra in December. Howard is one of 25 young Australians who have been accepted into this program hosted by the Australian Olympic Committee. Game Changers will again be delivered in Wyndham in Autumn 2024. If you would like further information about the program or other employment services offered at The Huddle, please contact Emily Maiorana at emily.maiorana@nmfc.com.au . Previous Next

Need educational support and a safe space to study? Come down to Study Squad! < Back Study Squad is back for Term 3 29 July 2024 Need educational support and a safe space to study? Come down to Study Squad! Looking for a safe space to do your homework and receive academic support? 📝 Study Squad is the program for you! 📚 Get ahead this school term and join us for this FREE program! Study Squad is a safe space for young people aged 12-25 years 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. Study Squad will be running on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Mondays & Tuesdays 3:30pm - 6:30pm @ Arden St. Wednesdays 3:30pm - 5:30pm @ The Huddle Werribee See you there! Previous Next