Embedding social sport and active reaction in Community Hubs Nation Wide for women. Embedding social sport and active reaction in Community Hubs Nation Wide for women. 20251111_Community Hubs_Netball Gala-36.jpg 20251111_Community Hubs_Netball Gala-35.jpg 20251111_Community Hubs_Netball Gala-33.jpg 20251111_Community Hubs_Netball Gala-36.jpg 1/9 Huddle Up! in Community hubs is a program embedding social sport and active reaction in Community Hubs, aimed at women from Migrant and First Nations to get active in a safe and inclusive environment. Register for VIC "Since its recent introduction, the Huddle Up sports program has already created meaningful change to the women in our community by promoting health, connection, and empowerment. The program gives them a rare space to move freely, laugh, compete, develop skills and express themselves outside their family responsibilities...all in a safe and inclusive space." Kristina Medak - Hub Leader, Parramatta West Public School Previous Next

Kicking into the holidays with jewellery making thats fun and creative! < Back Making the holidays shine with Jewellery making! 2 July 2024 Kicking into the holidays with jewellery making thats fun and creative! The Huddle Holidays are up and running for the mid-year school holidays! Our young participants kicked off the holiday program with a fun and creative jewellery making workshop at The Huddle Classroom at North Melbourne Football Club. They crafted and designed their own personalised jewellery from necklaces, bracelets and whatever they could imagine. This is one of the many Huddle Holiday programs happening throughout the school holidays. Make sure to stay up-to-date with the latest news and upcoming activities by following our social pages and signing up to our newsletter. Come join us for a fun experience filled with laughter, learning, and glamour! 😁 Previous Next

< Back Think Progress, Not Perfection How one creative idea became a platform for real conversations and community connection. Zakaria Farah Previous Next

Join the local community in breaking fast during Ramadan < Back The Huddle's 2023 Iftar Cassandra Hadson 24 Apr 2023 Join the local community in breaking fast during Ramadan The City of Melbourne is proudly diverse, with more than 56 per cent of residents having been born overseas. In North Melbourne, almost seven per cent of the community observe Ramadan, the most sacred month of the year for Muslims, marked by a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. On March 30, The Huddle held a community iftar, inviting members from the local North Melbourne public housing estate, community leaders, program participants and their families. It was important for this event to be inclusive of all community, rather than concentrated on community elders and leaders. With COVID-19 and venue refurbishments across 2020, 2021 and 2022, the event was a great opportunity to connect with a community who have experienced a difficult few years and have not had access to the spaces and places in which they feel most comfortable. The Huddle's 2023 iftar dinner involved members from the local North Melbourne public housing estate, community leaders, program participants and their families The North Melbourne Recreation Centre was transformed on the night, with professional staging, dining, and seating bought into the venue. On the night, more than 160 people attended, with most of these attendees being mothers, who cannot always take part in such events. During the evening, several activities took place to ensure all the attendees felt comfortable and at home. The North Melbourne Arts Bus facilitated arts and crafts on the night for the children and were able to refer participants to their monthly program at the North Melbourne Community Centre. Somali food was served to attendees and mats were laid out during the maghrib prayer. Importantly, Sheikh Adam from the Australian Muslim Special Services Agency addressed the audience, explaining to all non-Muslims in attendance the significance of Ramadan and was then able to lead the maghrib prayer. Islamic Nasheeds (a song without musical instruments with lyrics that resemble hymns that praise God) were played throughout the evening, and our MC on the night was previous Huddle employee Nasteha Mohamud. During the event, one mother mentioned that she felt “transported back to Somalia” while another mother thanked a staff member in part “for helping to raise her children”. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to experience the hospitality and warmth of Ramadan, and many commented on the delicious food and festive atmosphere. As the days passed, we witnessed a ripple of positive outcomes beyond the immediate iftar dinner. The event served as a means for promoting cultural diversity and inclusion, which is particularly important in the current climate of heightened social tensions. It provided the opportunity for The Huddle, local businesses, and organisations to build relationships and pave future collaborations and partnerships. The Huddle’s iftar played an important role in bringing people together and fostering a sense of community and belonging, while also promoting cultural understanding and inclusivity. Previous Next

< Back North Melbourne Kangaroos Community Camp The Kangaroos combine pre-season preparation with a packed community program across Tasmania. Previous Next

Abdullah's Journey with Huddle Up! Junior < Back Nurturing Growth and Connection Mariam Taleb 19 Jan 2024 Abdullah's Journey with Huddle Up! Junior Huddle Up! Junior, a program situated at The Hub in Docklands, is on a mission to enrich the lives of primary school-aged children. The program not only seeks to increase physical activity levels but also endeavors to build social connections, instill new skills, and create a profound sense of belonging for its participants. Huddle Up! Junior addresses the challenge of the limited availability of activities for children to stay active and socialise in a secure environment after school, especially for families like Abdullah's, who are new to Australia and unfamiliar with the area. Abdullah is a 8-year-old boy who, along with his parents, arrived in Australia from Saudi Arabia in 2020. The family's primary purpose was to pursue education and obtain degrees. Having accomplished their academic goals in 2023, Abdullah's parents recently returned to Saudi Arabia in January of 2024. Abdullah and his mother, Amal, attended Huddle Up! at Docklands every Tuesday. Amal first learned about the program at Docklands Primary School and is delighted that Abdullah could participate in a variety of sports and engaging activities each week. She expressed that she found joy in seeing Abdullah play with other children, make new friends, and extend those connections to school. Abdullah's father has expressed gratitude for the additional activities that the Huddle has involved the family in. A standout moment was their participation in the AFLW Grand Final, where Abdullah had the opportunity to run out through the banner as the junior mascot for The Huddle. For Abdullah, this experience was not only his favourite but also the most memorable with The Huddle, evident in the uncontainable smile on his face on the day. He shared that the diversity of sports he engages in keeps him returning to the Tuesday program. Some sports are entirely new to him, and the coaches, especially his favourite, Maz, make it easy for him to connect with both them and fellow participants. Abdullah's time with Huddle Up! Junior has cultivated a sense of fun, the building of connections with peers, a heightened sense of belonging within the community, and the confidence to embrace new experiences. As Abdullah returns to Saudi Arabia, he carries with him not just memories, but a stockpile of new skills and games acquired during his time in Australia. Previous Next

A hands-on STEM experience exploring teamwork, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. < Back Brunswick South West Primary Takes on Game Day at The Huddle Tam Shama 19 Nov 2025 A hands-on STEM experience exploring teamwork, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. Students from Brunswick South West Primary School had an exciting day at Game Day hosted by The Huddle, and let me tell you, it was a whirlwind of energy, creativity, and teamwork from beginning to end! The event took place in The Huddle’s cutting-edge simulation stadium, where students were challenged to think critically, collaborate effectively, and put their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills to the ultimate test. One of the standout moments of the day was the engineering challenge, where teams had to build a pendulum to kick a ball through the goals. It wasn’t just about putting things together; it was all about experimenting, solving problems, and learning while having fun. The excitement grew as teams tested their designs, fine-tuned their ideas, and celebrated each little victory together. Throughout the day, students delved into deeper concepts like emotional intelligence, grit, and the growth mindset. They also took time to reflect on their own strengths and characteristics, discovering what it truly means to “win” both on the field and in life. Here’s what some of the Brunswick South West students had to say about their Game Day experience: "I liked how we did a lot of teamwork and got to use our brains a lot. " "I liked doing the different activities and working with my friends. " "We tried new things and did some cool programs with the robots and the iPads. " "We got to work as a team and make and fix things. " "Doing activities for my classmates and building a stronger class bond." Game Day isn’t just a day filled with fun, it’s a unique educational experience that aligns with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. Students engage in learning that connects to Mathematics, Science, Design and Technologies, all while building critical thinking and personal and social skills along the way. The best part? Game Day is completely FREE for schools and is specifically designed for Grade 5 and 6 students. Game Day offers a powerful learning experience where students develop teamwork, creativity, and resilience in a real world environment. The day and lessons were structured really well by the staff and team. They know how to engage and meet the needs of all students. - Georgia (classroom teacher) Want your students to experience the magic of Game Day in 2026? Click to book your Game day experience HERE . Previous Next

< Back A Game for Everyone: Nima’s Journey Through AFL How lived experience, storytelling, and resilience are shaping more inclusive pathways into the game we love. Fraser Moorfield Previous Next

Taking NBA Math Hoops to the Big Apple! < Back The Huddle at the NBA Math Hoops Global Championships in New York City! Annabel Dorey 29 July 2024 Taking NBA Math Hoops to the Big Apple! The NBA Math Hoops Global Championships recently brought together young maths enthusiasts from around the world to compete in an exciting four-day tournament combining basketball, maths and social-emotional learning. Selected participants were flown to New York City, where they engaged in intense rounds of Math Hoops, alongside touring places like Syracuse University, Liberty Science Centre, and even attending the 2024 NBA Draft. The event highlighted the importance of combining education with fun, leaving a lasting impact on all involved and inspiring future champions. We were lucky at The Huddle to send three young people from participating schools to attend the Global Championships, supported by our partners Learn Fresh. Orion, Caitlin and Alice made The Huddle and their schools proud throughout the week with their maths skills, but even more so their outstanding sportsmanship and generosity – we were so proud of them all! Want your kids to have a chance to attend the Global Championships in 2025 for FREE? Get involved with The Huddle Math Hoops to receive your FREE class set of board games and curriculum. Nominations open early 2025, and any participating schools are encouraged to nominate! Previous Next

The North Melbourne Kangaroos have officially launched Game Day, The Huddle’s newest education program < Back The Huddle launches Australian-first immersive AFL program, Game Day North Media 29 Sept 2022 The North Melbourne Kangaroos have officially launched Game Day, The Huddle’s newest education program The North Melbourne Kangaroos have officially launched Game Day, The Huddle’s newest education program. Game Day will run out of The Huddle’s new-look facility, developed as part of the club’s current upgrades to its Arden Street headquarters. An Australian-first immersive AFL themed program, Game Day will be presented in a world-class education centre featuring cutting-edge technology. The Huddle has launched its new facility and program Game Day, which will see thousands of local students experience a cutting-edge and interactive way of learning Game Day will take grade 5 and 6 students on an empowering journey to build on their strengths and plan for their future. Throughout the Game Day experience, students will work in teams to complete STEM challenges which will require teamwork and resilience to solve problems and learn how to win. Innovative technology will be used to create an atmosphere where students feel like they are part of an AFL game. Since its inception in 2010, The Huddle’s award-winning programs have engaged more than 100,000 young people from over 160 different cultures, with a particular focus on those that are vulnerable and at risk of disengagement. Game Day encompasses our mission at The Huddle, and we are thrilled to see the concept come to life through this incredible facility, made possible through a $7.3 million investment by the Victorian State Government. - The Huddle CEO Cam McLeod In 2023, Game Day is expected to engage up to 4,500 students from 100 schools located in low socio-economic areas across Victoria. “At The Huddle, our mission is to improve education and employment outcomes for young people by leveraging the power of sport,” The Huddle CEO Cam McLeod said. “Pre-COVID 40% of Australian students were disengaged in the classroom, leading to students falling two years behind their peers and becoming at-risk of leaving school. Through innovative technology, the Game Day program will work to strengthen the engagement of at-risk and vulnerable young people, helping them to learn, grow and belong. “Game Day encompasses our mission at The Huddle, and we are thrilled to see the concept come to life through this incredible facility, made possible through a $7.3 million investment by the Victorian State Government.” A world-class team from Spatial, MKTG and Beautiful Minds have worked to design and produce Game Day including screenplay, audio, visual, special effects and a pedagogical framework aligned to the Victorian Curriculum. Previous Next

Duad’s experiences with careers support from The Huddle < Back Community supporting community Maddy Ware and John King 15 Feb 2023 Duad’s experiences with careers support from The Huddle Recruitment processes, such as resume writing and interviews, in today’s employment landscape are becoming more complex. Young people from diverse backgrounds continue to be adversely affected by these processes, often due to a lack of exposure or access to appropriate support through their own networks. This leads to challenges in obtaining sustainable employment. Mentoring and coaching throughout the recruitment process has proven to be highly valuable to young people from diverse communities (Meet Me in the Middle Report, P.21 ). In today’s employment market, employers are consistently looking for transferrable skills over technical skills. They expect young people to be able to confidently speak about their transferable skills, as well as explain in what circumstances they use them. The objective of The Huddle’s Game Changers program is to bridge the information gap between young people and employers. By providing Career Coaching on resume writing, cover letter writing and interview preparation, young people can identify their skills and confidently communicate them to an employer. Game Changers supports young people from diverse backgrounds to not only identify skills they have acquired through their lived experiences, but also understand that they use transferable skills in everyday settings such as home life, sports, school, and work. Daud is a 19-year-old male from North Melbourne. He had been involved with The Huddle’s Huddle Holidays and Huddle Up! programs since 2020, and was referred to Game Changers through a family member who had previously been involved in the program, suggesting the supportive structure and coaching provided in the program would be beneficial. Daud connected with the Careers Coordinator mid-2022 and, following Career Coaching sessions, expressed interest in working with The Huddle or within the community setting more broadly. The interest was due to positive experiences he had participating in programs in his local North Melbourne area. After finalising his resume and cover letter, the Careers Coordinator suggested Daud apply for a role available with the YMCA, a partner organisation of The Huddle, at the North Melbourne Community Centre (NMCC). Daud was reluctant because he had been a participant at NMCC and was unsure of his abilities to lead people within his social circle. The Careers Coordinator and Daud had many conversations about his skills and abilities and what it would mean to work within his community and, despite being initially apprehensive, Daud had built up enough confidence in his abilities and decided to apply for a Duty Manager role. Daud was successful in getting an interview at NMCC and took part in a number of job interview preparation sessions, answering practice interview questions and preparing examples with the Careers Coordinator. After Daud’s interview, he felt confident in how he presented himself, his transferrable skills, and his experience as a member of the North Melbourne community. Daud was successful in his application and appointed to the role of Duty Manager, beginning at NMCC in December 2022. Through participating in Game Changers, Daud was supported to identify his talents and believe in himself, giving him the confidence needed to apply for a management position. Furthermore, Game Changers resulted in Daud having a better understanding of recruitment processes and procedures while also fostering a safe psychological environment in which Daud could learn about his abilities and successfully talk to his skillset. Daud was able to identify his skills and communicate them to an employer confidently and succinctly in an interview situation, successfully gaining employment. Game Changers massively helped me with resumes, with cover letter writing, with interviewing skills…[and] being able to appropriately sell myself in a way. - Duad Daud is thoroughly enjoying work at North Melbourne Community Centre and hopes to gain full-time employment in the community space in the future. “The thing I enjoy most about working at North Melbourne Community Centre is the community atmosphere. Being part of the community myself and being able to work in the community and do my part and give back what I got, it’s a great feeling.” Previous Next

River Nile student's reflection on her 2 years participating in Voice Your Voice < Back Aida's Voice Claudie Groves 19 Oct 2023 River Nile student's reflection on her 2 years participating in Voice Your Voice Aida is the first to complete two rounds of Voice Your Voice, a collaborative and hands-on advocacy program delivered by The Huddle to local secondary and VCAL students. Like her introductory experience in 2022, this year’s initiative encouraged Aida and her peers at River Nile School to think bigger than just awareness-raising, and to think about what it truly means to feel safe, valued, and included in society. Together, this group of young women not only spoke about the issues that are commonly faced by people of refugee and migrant backgrounds, but also – and more powerfully – explored ways to mobilise communities and build capacity for meaningful social action in this regard. They participated in several workshops with Voice Your Voice throughout their third semester, creating short video campaigns on topics of their own choosing. “My group focused on racism, which is a problem many of us face every day due to our hijabs and skin colour.” “Being able to talk about something so persistent, hurtful and wrong is really important, and advocating for change means a lot to those of us who have personally experienced racism.” Last year, Aida and her team worked on a media project about cyberbullying, which they argue is just as pervasive and challenging. The issue’s popularity and resonance also meant that this team grew to be the largest in Voice Your Voice’s history. “Everyone played a role, whether that was doing voiceovers, writing the script, editing or starring in the actual video.” “I really want to thank The Huddle for providing us with this opportunity as people who are new to Australia.” Voice Your Voice aims to inspire students like Aida, giving them the tools necessary to self-advocate and contribute to cohesive communities where all feel they belong. Previous Next