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

No one can deny that in the past two years, every member of the community faced challenges like never before < Back Volunteer profile - Tess Beagley Riley Goodwin 14 Jan 2022 No one can deny that in the past two years, every member of the community faced challenges like never before No one can deny that in the past two years, every member of the community faced challenges like never before. However, it takes a special kind of person to see the extra strain put on others and put their hand up to help. Tess Beagley is one such person. “It is just who I am, to always be doing something with the community,” said Tess. “When you’ve got skills to give to people who need the extra support then you can’t stand by, it’s just one of those things.” One of The Huddle’s 2021 volunteer recruits, Tess reached out to The Huddle after hearing about our after-school study program, Study Squad. “Towards the end of 2020 I was looking at tutoring and was put in touch with The Huddle to get involved with their Study Squad program. “I really felt for all the students last year but at the time there were so many volunteers for Study Squad that I actually ended up helping run Huddle Up programs for juniors. “After the year we’ve all had, I think the kids had eared a bit of a break so I was happy to help out in any way I could.” Moving into 2021, Tess was keen to still lend a hand and quickly found a spot volunteering with our school holiday program. “I’m starting a new job this month but earlier I had a bit of time up my sleeve, so I headed along to the Anglesea Surf Day and it was so much fun. “The kids loved it and I was so impressed with how quickly they took to the water.” Not only supporting young people begin 2021 with a smile, but Tess also soon discovered that through volunteering, she had built lasting connections with community members. “It was a really fun way to re-engage with the community and support people who have had a really hard year. I could follow up with parents and kids on how they have been over summer, so it was nice to have that connection. “Parents know how difficult life can be sometimes and then to give up your time, they really appreciate it. I got a lot of thank-you from the parents I saw which was really nice.” In supporting others, Tess found that she was able to bring back some happiness that was missing in recent times. Young people kicked off their year with cries of excitement as they saw the water for the first time, showcasing the resilience of young people in bouncing back from times of crisis. Volunteers are a core part of The Huddle and it is when we see young people supporting other young people to learn, grow and belong that we see the true strength in our community. Previous Next

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< Back 2023 Autumn Huddle Holidays Rock Climbing, Reptile Encounter, Multisport Superclinic, Barista Course Previous Next

How lived experience, storytelling, and resilience are shaping more inclusive pathways into the game we love. < Back A Game for Everyone: Nima’s Journey Through AFL Fraser Moorfield 27 Aug 2025 How lived experience, storytelling, and resilience are shaping more inclusive pathways into the game we love. Off the back of our wildly successful W2AFL program this past weekend, we had the pleasure of premiering a very special video involving Nima who is the National Cultural Diversity Engagement & Participation Manager at the AFL. Nima has been a valued partner with The Huddle across multiple programs, helping us connect with new and diverse communities, introducing them to the game we love — but more importantly, he brings a depth of lived experience and storytelling that resonates deeply with our participants. We first met Nima during our Game Changers program, where he joined as a panellist, as well as jumping in to support our participants as they developed their ideas for our pitch night. It was clear from his first visit that he had an amazing ability to connect meaningfully with our participants — sharing some of the challenges he faced following a non-traditional career path and the realities of navigating employment alongside the strengths you can gain from it. As the National Cultural Diversity Engagement & Participation Manager at the AFL, Nima’s work aligns beautifully with what we aim to do at our W2AFL program and the wider Huddle, creating inclusive, welcoming pathways for all. So, we sat down with him to talk about his journey — how he fell in love with AFL, the challenges he’s overcome following a non-traditional career pathway, and how those experiences have shaped the work he’s doing today to make the game accessible for all communities. 🎥 In this video, Nima shares personal reflections on his journey falling in love with the sport of AFL and the broader efforts across the AFL to ensure it truly is a sport for everyone. Stay tuned for more from Nima because this is a story worth hearing. 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

The inaugural Huddle Holidays Multi-Art Super Clinic < Back Multi-Art Super Clinic - Huddle Holidays Winter 23' Previous Next

Celebrating community in North Melbourne < Back North Melbourne Public Housing Residents Association Community Fair 11 July 2024 Celebrating community in North Melbourne On Saturday, June 29th, 2024, the vibrant community of North Melbourne gathered at 33 Alfred Street to celebrate the official launch of the North Melbourne Public Housing Residents Association (NMPHRA). The inaugural Community Fair was a testament to the rich diversity and spirited culture of our local community. Highlighting Diversity and Community Spirit The Community Fair was a joyous occasion aimed at celebrating the diversity and community spirit that define North Melbourne. From cultural performances to interactive exhibits, the event showcased the myriad of cultures and traditions that thrive within our neighbourhood. In addition to cultural festivities, the Fair also spotlighted the invaluable services provided by local organisations. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about and engage with initiatives that support education, health, and social well-being within our community. Join us in celebrating the spirit of North Melbourne’s public housing community and discover how together, we can continue to foster a vibrant and inclusive neighbourhood. Previous Next

Watching tennis superstars up close! < Back A day at the Australian Open Jasper Menor 15 Jan 2025 Watching tennis superstars up close! Our Senior Huddle Holidays participants had an unforgettable day exploring the Australian Open! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was electric, with exciting activations at every turn—there was never a dull moment! We watched some Aussie superstars hit the courts for practice and even caught the first few sets of an incredible match between Naomi Osaka and Karolina Muchova. The thrill of seeing world-class tennis up close was truly inspiring. The feeling of watching tennis live is like no other—you can feel the energy and glory as two athletes battle it out in front of thousands. For many, it was their first time at the AO, making the experience even more special. The cheers, the action, and the sheer energy of the event made for a day we won’t soon forget! Stay tuned for more Huddle Holidays adventures and watch us hit the waves as we head to Anglesea! Previous Next

< Back Victorian Math Hoops Championship The first ever Victorian Math Hoops Championship was held at The Huddle this month. Previous Next

How The Huddle and its participants foster collaborative partnerships < Back Changing the game for young people Maddy Ware and John King 24 Nov 2022 How The Huddle and its participants foster collaborative partnerships Due to the pandemic, young people from diverse backgrounds continued to be affected by the structures of the labour market. The “Meet Me in The Middle” report (2020) identified that due to COVID-19, the gap between young people and employers worsened and barriers to employment were exacerbated. The report identified issues such as lack of interpersonal skills, limited access to transport, limited understanding of complex recruitment methods and lack of experience, exacerbated due to the hard lockdowns. Young people aged 15 –24 entering the job market, with little or no work experience, are 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, underemployment, and 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 (CMY and MYAN, 2020, COVID-19 submission ). The objective of Game Changers, a City of Melbourne Social Partnerships Grant funded initiative, is to provide resume-worthy experiences that will encourage young people to think about their careers and futures. Game Changers develops the employability skills of young people while also encouraging participants to become more aware of self and others. The program bridges the gap between what skills applicants think are necessary for employment and what employers actually want. Through a unique structure of personal and professional development workshops, project development, pitching for funding and project execution, Game Changers provides real-world opportunities to develop the project management and transferable skills of young people from diverse backgrounds, through a collaborative approach and utilising the unique skills of several value-aligned community organisations. The Social Partnerships Grant funding allowed The Huddle to partner with, Young Australian People, Ubuntu Project and YLab to deliver Game Changers twice over a two-year span to two sperate groups of City of Melbourne residents. Based on the success of the program, The Huddle hopes to utilise this model for future employment programs. Game Changers supported young people from diverse backgrounds by providing a well-rounded and collaborative approach to developing transferable skills. Utilising the mentoring abilities and support from Young Australian People and Ubuntu Project, Game Changers kept participants accountable for their attendance in the program, organised transport to and from workshops and encouraged active engagement and opportunities for participants to provide insights into their own lived experiences. Game Changers also utilised the creative abilities of YLab which assisted participants to think about complex ideas and issues such as racism, access to education, cultural expectations and how they can support other young people in their community to move through these experiences while still gaining necessary skills and knowledge. Within the creation and ideation phase delivered by YLab, participants reflected on their own experiences and connected that to what other young people in community need. Participants were then split into groups and encouraged to create a Community Action Project, framed within an issue close to their heart, which met a community need. Game Changers was delivered to two separate groups from the City of Melbourne over a two-year funding cycle. Across both iterations of the program, there were seven Community Action Projects created. The groups had to pitch their ideas in front of a panel of experts to win funding for their projects. In the lead up to the Pitch Event, participants practiced putting together a presentation and presenting in front of a group. This stage of the project saw participants develop their confidence and public speaking abilities as they presented formal pitches in hopes of gaining funding. The development from the workshop stage to the pitch stage included creating and presenting a pitch, organising each group member, and assigning roles and tasks, collecting data and information relevant to their community action project and using their research to help justify the need for their project within the community. Groups also had to provide accurate budget estimates for the cost of their proposed projects and activities. Ubuntu Project is proud of the successes of Game Changers and our delivery of the cultural and vision mapping components. The Pitch Event was a fitting showcase of participants growth in confidence, ambition and knowledge in concept development and presentation. - Nor Shanino, CEO of Ubuntu Project Over the two years of program delivery, The Huddle supported groups to implement their community project, either into existing programs, such as Huddle Holidays, with events being conducted by partner organisations, or as stand-alone community projects. Casual employment with The Huddle was also provided for group members, whose projects were delivered within Huddle Holidays. These approaches allowed participants to experience genuine real-world opportunities to deliver their projects and develop their project management skills and experience. Many of the participants from Game Changers were able to either gain additional casual work from The Huddle, or use the experience to gain employment with other organisations. Game Changers also saw several Year 12 students utilise the experience for university applications, highlighting that the program helped them develop skillsets which could be applied to their chosen field of study. I wanted to say thanks for letting me join the Game Changers program. I found it really beneficial since not only did it allow me to meet new people, but also helped me form networks where I could ask for volunteering opportunities and potentially work. Through the workshops I was able to learn more about the transferable skills that I could use when applying for jobs - whether it’d be answering questions at a job interview or pitching a new business/community project idea. I’d highly recommend this program to anyone who’s looking to develop career goals or need guidance at securing a job. - Rea Tinoy, program participant The Huddle hopes to implement the Game Changers model into regular career programming due to the significant positive impacts it has had on young people and their employment prospects. The skills developed throughout Game Changers are setting young people up for their future careers, as evidenced by the employment and education outcomes of the program over the last two years. Previous Next

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