Young leaders took the reins — and redefined what’s possible. < Back Game Changers in Action: Driving Ubuntu African Australian Career Expo John King 20 June 2025 Young leaders took the reins — and redefined what’s possible. Ubuntu Project’s African Australian Career Expo, held on 17 May 2025 and attended by more than 100 young people, was created to provide young people from African backgrounds with a space where they could see themselves reflected in a wide range of careers. The goal is to break down barriers by connecting youth with African Australian professionals who have navigated similar challenges and succeeded in their fields. “What makes this year’s expo different is that its youth led and culturally grounded,” said Abubaker Okud, Employment Coordinator at Ubuntu Project. “It’s designed by young people for young people. Five participants from the Game Changers program helped shape and run every aspect of the event, from program design and logistics to speaker outreach and managing the event on the day.” While working on the expo, participants gained valuable hands-on experience in event planning and professional communication. They developed leadership and teamwork skills by assisting with coordination of various elements of the expo, including logistics, outreach, and on the day operations. They also gained insight into time management, problem solving, and how to adapt in a fast-paced event environment. Overall, the experience helped them build confidence in their abilities and gave them a real-world understanding of what it takes to deliver a large-scale community event. “At first I was thinking, how it was my first time [coordinating] events, am I able to do that? The outcome was great. And it was easy! I'd like to [be involved] in more events like this one, and organising events in the future,” said Game Changers participant Madina Omar. To support participants, Ubuntu Project and The Huddle provided mentoring, regular check-ins, and clear role delegation while still giving them space to lead. “We walked them through key elements of event planning and supported them in building confidence when communicating with professionals or managing parts of the expo. We made sure they felt included, valued, and supported throughout — not just as helpers, but as co-creators,” said Abubaker. “I did a lot of things I said I couldn’t do,” said Yusra Abdulkarim, who also worked in the project team. “I was interested in studying project management, but I wasn't sure. After I did Game Changers, now I'm sure I want do it.” A highlight for Abubaker was seeing how the participants took ownership of their roles and worked collaboratively to deliver such a successful event. “Whether it was helping to coordinate activities, managing staff on the day, or confidently approaching speakers and attendees, each participant contributed meaningfully and brought their own strengths to the table,” he said. “It was clear that they were proud of the event they helped shape, and it was inspiring to see their growth and leadership in action throughout the process.” Liam Jansen was another Game Changers participant who worked on the African Australian Careers Expo and found great value in getting outside his comfort zone to get the most out of himself and take the next steps on his career journey. “My most enjoyable aspect was I got to work in a group and be a part of a project,” he said. “That was great. I got to meet people, like Fraser (Careers & Volunteers Officer with The Huddle) who helped me with developing my resume. He really supported me and even directed me to a Certificate in Engineering course, which I’ll be studying at Victoria University.” Game Changers and the partnership between The Huddle and Ubuntu Project was made possible thanks to the support of Paving the Way Forward and the Victorian State Government. Previous Next

< Back Motorsport joins The Huddle The Huddle and Motorsport Australia are proud to announce a new partnership to integrate motorsport into Australian schools Previous Next

< Back Spirit of Tasmania Visit Werribee Secondary College visit the Port of Geelong Previous Next

Kicking goals inside and outside the classroom < Back A Snapshot of Community Camp 2025 Previous Next

Find out how you can turn your classroom into an action-packed learning experience! < Back A Taste of GOAL! Copy Previous Next

The Huddle has partnered with the NBL to deliver GOAL!, a basketball themed program to primary school students < Back The Huddle partner with NBL to deliver GOAL! Riley Goodwin 24 Jan 2022 The Huddle has partnered with the NBL to deliver GOAL!, a basketball themed program to primary school students The Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) is proud to announce a partnership with The Huddle, an award-winning not-for-profit organisation that leverages the power of sport to help young people learn, grow and belong. For the past 11 years, The Huddle has worked with more than 100,000 young people from more than 160 different cultures across Australia using sport to strengthen education and employment pathways. The NBL and The Huddle will partner to deliver innovative curriculum modules to primary school students through its “GOAL!” program. GOAL! is a free online resource that integrates basketball themes into the classroom to engage students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “Bringing basketball into the classroom to engage and inspire students to learn and grow is a game-changer for students, teachers, families and the community,” The Huddle CEO Cameron McLeod said. “Research shows that approximately 40 per cent of students are consistently disengaged in class, leading to a range of disruptive behaviours and falling behind their peers academically and socially. “The NBL is one of the most recognisable sporting brands in Australia with a long and proud history of supporting strong community outcomes, and The Huddle is proud to partner with the NBL to inspire life-long learning.” Designed by teachers, for teachers, GOAL! has been piloted in parts of Australia with more than 16,500 students already benefiting from the program. “The NBL is proud to be working with The Huddle to convey the passion young people have for basketball, into the classroom,” Hungry Jack’s NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said. “Basketball is one of Australia’s most participated team sports, and as one of the world’s best leagues, the NBL is delighted to be in a position to support better engagement and stronger educational outcomes in STEM, using the internationally recognised themes and principles of the game of basketball and profile of the NBL.” For enquiries, please contact education@thehuddle.org.au . Previous Next

< Back Game, Set, Match: Huddle Holidays Takes on the AO Take a look back at the excursion to the Australian Open. Previous Next

< Back 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 North Media Previous Next

The future of North Melbourne descended on Arden St for the 2022 Future Roos clinic. < Back Sights and sounds of the Future Roos clinic Previous Next

Eagle Stadium, Werribee < Back Huddle Holidays - Summer '24, Volleyball Tournament Previous Next

< Back Young People Shaping the Future of MARVEL Stadium Game Changers program developed real-world solutions for a more inclusive MARVEL Stadium experience. John King Previous Next

< Back Art in Action: The Huddle’s Crafternoon Bringing big ideas to life through hands-on art. Previous Next