A day of bowling and mini-golf < Back Hitting the lanes and sinking putts at Strike Jasper Menor 22 Jan 2025 A day of bowling and mini-golf We hit the lanes and the greens at Strike Bowling and Holey Moley in Point Cook for some friendly competition. Our game of bowling came down to the final roll with clutch strikes and spares kept us on the edge of our seats - talk about a dramatic finish! It was a cruisy start on the green, but the final hole had us all screaming "Holey Moley!". It was a perfect mix of challenging and hilarious. Whether it's bowling or mini-golf, Strike Bowling and Holey Moley are the go-to spots for a fun filled day out! Previous Next

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. < Back Meet Nyra: Kicking Goals On and Off the Field Patrick McPhee 29 July 2025 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. Nyra is a grade 3 student who first attended an activity at The Huddle in July 2024. Since then, she has participated in a range of different programs offered by The Huddle. We sat with Nyra to hear about her experience. In July 2024 Nyra joined Huddle Up! Junior at Docklands with a group of her friends. This is a sport and recreation program for 5-12 year-olds that offers young people the opportunity to get involved and get active through social games and sport. Nyra shared that she “likes that it includes running (and) we get fit!” Also, that she gets to try new sports she may not have otherwise. Since participating Nyra has tried sports including Basketball, Soccer, AFL and more! While participating at Huddle Up! Nyra learnt about Study Squad. Study Squad launched in Docklands in Term 4 2024 and Nyra as well as some of her friends was one of the first participants. Study Squad provides a safe place for young people to access learning support outside of school hours, Nyra attended almost every week coming in to complete her weekly math homework. Nyra enjoyed that Study Squad “gave us snacks, has fun study breaks, lots of time to study and a fun game at the end”. Nyra also explained that she enjoyed studying there as she “felt supported with my friends around me”. Through her time in the previous program Nyra learnt about the exciting Welcome to AFL program. Welcome to AFL is an introductory AFL program for newly arrived, multicultural and international student communities to learn the basics of AFL. Nyra attended Welcome to AFL at Marvel Stadium attending Round 2 of the 2025 AFL season where the North Melbourne Kangaroos beat Melbourne by 59 points. Nyra shared “This was my first game of footy that I watched, I liked having friends there and waving the flag when players kicked goals. I found the players face cards (in the cheer squad) funny.” Nyra also had the opportunity to go on Marvel Stadium where she learnt to kick and handball and she “did better than I expected!”. Just recently Nyra turned 8 years old making her eligible for her first Huddle Holidays during the July school holidays. Huddle Holidays is a school holiday program that promotes happy and healthy lifestyles to local children, of all cultural backgrounds. Nyra attended the Welcome to Tennis Activity hosted by the Australian Tennis Foundation, here she learnt some basics of Tennis, in a cardio session and met even more young people her age! Above everything, getting to do all these activities with friends has been Nyra’s favourite part about her time at The Huddle. Nyra’s journey, though just 1 year in time, has already demonstrated part of the life cycle of programs at The Huddle available to young people from 5 through to 25 years’ old and their families. We look forward to seeing Nyra back for more at future programs! To learn more about the programs mentioned below please click on the below links. Huddle Up! Junior Study Squad Welcome to AFL Huddle Holidays Previous Next

Youth Advisory Group builds stronger connections between young people and key decision makers < Back Young Voices Shaping North Melbourne Community Centre Zakaria Farah 5 Mar 2025 Youth Advisory Group builds stronger connections between young people and key decision makers The North Melbourne Community Centre (NMCC) Youth Advisory Group provided young people with a platform to shape their community centre while developing leadership and advocacy skills. In partnership with YMCA and the City of Melbourne , the program empowered participants to refine their communication and problem-solving abilities while contributing ideas to improve the North Melbourne Community Centre. Throughout the 10-week program across July-November, 12 young people worked collaboratively to identify opportunities for enhancing the centre’s inclusivity and engagement. They explored the question: What would you do with $10,000 to ensure the North Melbourne Community Centre is more welcoming, fun, inclusive, and usable? Through lively brainstorming sessions, passionate debates, and a few wild ideas thrown into the mix, they developed two key proposals: A Maker’s Space - A creative hub for arts and crafts A Games Room Revamp - improving equipment to make the space more engaging. The program culminated in a final presentation, where participants pitched their ideas to YMCA and City of Melbourne staff. This process not only encouraged youth-driven innovation but also helped strengthen relationships between young people, and key decision makers, ensuring their voices remain central to facilities future planning. “This process gave young people the opportunity to be heard and have a say in how their community centre serves them.” – YMCA Staff Moving forward, the advisory group will continue working with YMCA to refine and implement their proposals. This initiative has demonstrated the power of youth engagement in shaping community spaces , and we look forward to seeing these ideas take shape. Previous Next

Students explored teamwork and presentation skills across four engaging workshop days. < Back Building Futures: Islamic College of Sport Students at The Huddle Tam Shama 5 June 2026 Students explored teamwork and presentation skills across four engaging workshop days. Four Vocational Major classes from the Islamic College of Sport recently joined us at The Huddle across four days, each built around what matters most to young people on the cusp of entering the workforce: knowing how to work well with others, and knowing how to present themselves. Sessions opened with a player Q&A, with AFL players Brayden George, Cooper Harvey, Riley Hardeman, and Caleb Daniel visiting across the program to speak directly with students and field their questions. Conversations covered the pathway to AFL, the work required to get there, and what professional life at the club genuinely looks like day to day. For VM students, many of whom are actively preparing for employment or further training, that kind of direct access to young sporting professionals navigating their own careers set a strong tone for everything that followed. From there, students moved into the Networking and Professionalism session, grounded firmly in the practical realities of entering the job market. The focus was on how to conduct yourself in a professional environment, understanding how important your network is to creating employment opportunities, and how to prepare for and perform well in a job interview. The player Q&A provided a natural lead-in: students had just heard players reflect honestly on their own professional journeys, which gave the interview preparation and networking content something concrete to anchor to. Sessions closed with Game Day, The Huddle's immersive AFL-themed excursion that uses cutting-edge technology to put students into hands-on, collaborative challenges. For a cohort that had spent the morning thinking about teamwork and professionalism in the abstract, Game Day gave them a chance to put both into practice in a setting where those qualities are immediately visible. It was four days that demonstrated exactly what the partnership between The Huddle and Islamic College of Sport makes possible, with young people leaving with sharper skills, broader perspectives, and a genuine connection to a club and community that is invested in their futures. We look forward to continuing to build on what has been a fantastic relationship. Previous Next

A full-on day of maths, sportspersonship and fun! < Back An Unforgettable Day at the NBA Math Hoops Victorian State Championship 18 Sept 2024 A full-on day of maths, sportspersonship and fun! On September 4, the 2024 NBA Math Hoops Victorian State Championship brought together over 120 Grade 5 and 6 students from six schools. Hosted at Arden St, the event was an electrifying mix of brainpower, sportspersonship, and sheer excitement as students competed for the title of "The Huddle Math Hoops 2024 Victorian State Champions" and, of course, that shiny trophy! The championship kicked off with three nail-biting rounds that saw students flex their maths skills and quick thinking under pressure. After some tight competition, the Elite Eight were chosen to advance to the semi-finals, each team determined to make it to the top. The excitement reached a serious peak as the final two teams went head-to-head, battling for ultimate glory and the championship title. While the competition was fierce, the day was about more than just winning. Throughout the event, students demonstrated incredible sportspersonship and teamwork. The "Huddle Heroes"—students who went above and beyond to support their peers—cheered on competitors, proving that kindness and respect are just as important as coming out on top. Their display of honesty and heart was a true highlight of the event. Just when it seemed the day couldn’t get any better, the Math Hoops participants were surprised with a visit from the AFLW North Melbourne Kangaroos! Star players Jenna Bruton, Kim Rennie and Ash Riddell joined in the fun, receiving a crash course in NBA Math Hoops from the students themselves. The interaction between the young competitors and professional athletes added an extra layer of excitement and inspiration to the day. A massive thanks to Learn Fresh, NBA Math Hoops, and the Department of Education. We’d also like to extend a special shoutout to the schools who participated and helped make the day unforgettable: - St Andrew’s Primary School - St Justin’s Parish Primary School - St Mary’s Primary School - Ascot Vale West Primary School - Silverton Primary School - St Damian’s Primary School The 2024 NBA Math Hoops Victorian State Championship was a day to remember. We already can't wait for next year! Previous Next

Spring has sprung with an action-packed holiday program! Huddle Holidays did not disappoint! < Back Spring Huddle Holidays 2024 Recap! Patrick McPhee 16 Oct 2024 Spring has sprung with an action-packed holiday program! Huddle Holidays did not disappoint! Spring Huddle Holidays 2024 have come and gone, and what an awesome couple of weeks it was for The Huddle! 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. Over the most recent holidays our Juniors (8- to 12-years-old) engaged in three awesome activities: Ninja Warrior, ACMI and a trip to Werribee Zoo. This term some of our most excited participants were our first time attendees who were ecstatic to have reached an age where they can attend all the activities. One enthusiastic young person shared that it was their “first time going without my parents and (they) made new friends”. They were thrilled! First on the junior itinerary was Ninja Warrior with Fighting Lyons Gym. On this exciting morning, the group was challenged both as teams and as individuals. They played whole group classics such as ‘The Floor is Lava’ and ‘Hide and Seek’ before splitting into groups and trialling different sections of the challenging Ninja Warrior course. This involved tightrope walking, swinging on the flying fox, jumping on the Trampoline and lots of climbing! The activity was an opportunity for some who had a background in gymnastics and circus to demonstrate their skills, but for most of the group it was a completely new experience. At the end of the activity when asked if they found anything challenging throughout the day almost everyone raised their hands. Then, when asked if they kept trying when the challenges occurred, they raised their hands again – how good is that! Leaving our first activity we were excited for the rest of the holidays; we knew we had a group of resilient juniors ready to try new things! Next, the juniors headed to ACMI in Federation Square. At ACMI, our young people got to explore the universe of Film, TV, Video Games and Art. The first stop was the ‘Beings’ exhibit, produced by Universal Everything. Here, young people had the chance to move, dance, and play to interact with a vibrant array of larger-than-life digital creatures, each reacting uniquely to their movements. Following this, the group moved into ‘The Story of the Moving Image’ exhibit, where they got to explore an interactive space that encouraged them to learn about the past, present and future of all things moving image. A big hit in this space was the Video Game zone. Participants identified that this was a different activity than what is normally offered at Huddle Holidays, which gave students the chance to learn new things – and who knows, maybe inspire a potential future artist? Our last activity for the juniors was heading to Werribee Zoo. This was our most popular activity these holidays, booking out weeks before the holidays even began. At the Zoo the participants spent time exploring the different enclosures, playing on the themed playgrounds, and dancing to some rhythmic African drumming. The highlight of the day for most was the safari. The Huddle group all loaded into a bus that drove us through some wide-open enclosures, passing Rhinos, Giraffes, Zebras, and so much more. While most commented on seeing the animals as their favourite moment, one young person shared that they liked “the zoo because it taught me new information”. We love that our participants love to learn! While exploring the Zoo the participants learned about the different animals, their diets and habitats, but also how to care for the world we live in and contribute to its preservation. It was a great way to cap off the junior program! Our seniors (13- to 18-years-old) these holidays had the opportunity to sign up for two activities and one career-ready training opportunity. We facilitated a Basic First Aid and CPR course, a Martial Arts life skills workshop and a 3v3 Basketball Tournament. One participant identified that their favourite thing was that “I get to meet new people and expand on various skills.” An additional focus of the senior program is to also provide experiences that can enhance career opportunities for young people through skill development, such as nationally recognised training. Our first activity these holidays engaged young people of employment age (14+) in a Basic First Aid and CPR course at The Huddle in North Melbourne. Young people spent time learning the basics of bandaging, injury management, CPR and more. Each young person left with a certificate of completion that they can add to their resumes, alongside important life skills that they can take with them everywhere. Next up for the seniors was the Martial Arts Life Skills workshop with Tessa Inc. and their MAT program, which was run at the Werribee Football Club. The theme of the session was connecting the values and fundamentals of MMA with mental and emotional wellbeing principles. Participants left the session with a greater understanding of the value in controlling what they can control. Through the acknowledgement of their resilience, they demonstrated they can overcome anything - even physical challenges such as squats, push ups, holding the T-Pose, evading, punching and so much more. Connecting our mind and our body is an essential part of wellbeing, and a valuable lesson to learn during adolescence. Our final senior activity was the 3v3 Basketball Tournament at Eagle Stadium in Werribee. Excitingly, this activity was planned and run by young people employed by The Huddle through our Employment Experience program, Game Changers (learn about Game Changers ( thehuddle.org.au ) here). The young employees’ contributions were acknowledged by the participants as a highlight of the day. One shared, “I like how some students our age helped organise and run it and I like how the day was set up and organised.” The tournament was a massive day that saw all the teams play a minimum of 6 games before finals, where we crowned both mixed and all-female competition winners, as well as a 3-point contest champion. However, the biggest win on the day was the demonstration of sportsmanship that filled the stadium. This excellent sportsmanship was embodied by the kindness of a team that took on one of the youngest participants after realising that his team had to leave halfway through the day. Thanks to our participants, their families, activity providers and partners – Victorian Department of Education and Bendigo Bank Seddon. We couldn’t have this much fun without you! Huddle Holidays will return in January 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 . If you’re looking to get involved in our programs that run throughout the term, please check out the below links: Study Squad ( thehuddle.org.au ) (10-25 years-old) Huddle Up! Junior ( thehuddle.org.au ) (5-12 years-old) Huddle Up! Senior ( thehuddle.org.au ) (12-25 years-old) Previous Next

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

< Back Stories from HERStory Camp Mount Evelyn Discovery Camp Asli Abdullahi Previous Next

< Back Strength to strength How The Huddle’s free tutoring program in Werribee is flourishing in 2022 Josh Raymer Previous Next

< Back Volunteer Get to Know: Eli As The Huddle’s impact in the Wyndham area continues to grow, our volunteers and their connections to the community are vital in helping young people learn, grow and belong Riley Goodwin Previous Next

< Back More Than a Game: Young People Leading the Way Empowering youth through football, leadership, and community connection. Zakaria Farah Previous Next

Special thanks to our funding and program partners, the Victorian State Government, City of Melbourne, Ubuntu Project and North Melbourne Football Club < Back The Huddle and MARVEL Stadium are teaming up to support young people into employment. Previous Next