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< Back NMFC Visit to Point Cook College for Next Gen in Schools Eddie Ford, Ben Cunnington and Cooper Harvey visit the students from Point Cook College - of which Eddie is an alumni. Previous Next

Footy to first aid—200+ young people grew, connected, and thrived this Autumn. < Back Autumn Adventures that Build Belonging Patrick McPhee 9 May 2025 Footy to first aid—200+ young people grew, connected, and thrived this Autumn. As everyone settles back in at school, The Huddle invites you to look back at what was a massive school holiday period at Huddle Holidays! 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. These holidays our Juniors (8- to 12-years-old) participated in a Footy and Teamwork Super Clinic, a trip to Bounce Inc., and a Wildlife Day at The Huddle North Melbourne. As always, our Junior programs provided many opportunities for young people to build connections within the community, with the staff, with local clubs and, of course, with each other. One participant shared that their favourite part of the program was that they “… enjoyed spending time with new people (and) got to make new friends”. Such a great way to explain what the Junior activities provide! The first activity for the Juniors these holidays was the Footy and Teamwork Super Clinic at Galvin Park Reserve. This program was facilitated with support from the North Melbourne Football Club and Werribee Football Club. The Clinic provided young people of all skill levels the opportunity to develop their abilities in the game of Aussie Rules while also exploring what it takes to be a good teammate! One participant expressed that their favourite part of this activity was that “everyone was friendly and willing to help” and a parent shared that “it was a perfect introduction to footy for my son”. These reflections demonstrated how The Huddle leverages the power of sport to help young people in the community develop a sense of belonging. Our next Junior activity was a trip out to Bounce Inc in Essendon Fields. This activity was fully booked within days of opening, showing the importance of registering early for activities when they launch with The Huddle. At Bounce, the participants were led through an hour of facilitated programming delivered by Bounce staff before spending an additional hour jumping, hopping and running around the many available areas and obstacles. One young person shared that they enjoyed “the kind people and the kids are ranged between the same age”. The Huddle aims to ensure young people have opportunities to mingle and try something new with others of similar ages, growing their networks with local peers. As this participant identified these holiday activities are a safe and welcoming environment for new connections to develop! The final Junior activity for Autumn was the Wildlife Day held at The Huddle North Melbourne. Participants were invited into our classroom on Arden Street, where they were greeted by our partners at Reptile Encounters with their animal friends. The facilitators were very engaging and taught the young people about each animal while also providing opportunities for participants to interact with them! Our Juniors and their parents shared that they loved getting to try something new and that they had the “best time ever!” This was a great way to finish the holidays for our youngest attendees, with everyone excited for what is yet to come in Winter! Our Seniors (13- to 18-years-old) these holidays challenged each other at the return of The Huddle Volleyball Tournament, developed life skills by participating in a CPR course and just for the girls enjoyed an afternoon Sisters Pool Party! Our Seniors showed up in big numbers these holidays and we believe the environment The Huddle provides creates this space that is easy to come back to. One young person shared “I liked how welcoming and friendly everyone was. The activities were fun, engaging, and gave me the chance to work with new people, learn new skills, and build confidence. It felt like a safe and positive space to be myself and connect with others.” We are so proud to hear such positive reflections! The return of The Huddle Volleyball tournament was highly anticipated these holidays. Over 100 young people headed into Eagle Stadium in Werribee to participate in the full day tournament. The competition highlighted both the amazing athletic prowess of our talented young people (many of whom have honed their craft weekly on Friday afternoons at Huddle Up! – click here to learn more ), but also the beautiful community environment that has been created and fostered at all tournaments hosted by The Huddle. Young people demonstrated amazing sportspersonship and as a result established new relationships with people on opposing teams. One young person shared they enjoyed “building new relationships and enhancing trust with my teammates”. This tournament will definitely be back! Next up for the Seniors was a free Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course delivered by Hero HQ at The Huddle Werribee. This company specialises in supporting young people to develop important lifesaving skills. The participants learnt all the key information necessary to try and preserve someone’s life. The Huddle sees the value in providing these opportunities to support young people becoming positive contributors to their community, while also supporting them with learning new skills that they can add to their resumes. Participants identified that their favourite part of this program was it was free, and that staff were friendly and supportive of their learning. Huddle Holidays looks to offer courses like this one regularly and will offer a full First Aid Level 2 course in the September Holidays. Our final activity for the seniors was the Sisters Only Pool Party at Melbourne City Baths. This activity was set aside for females only, aimed at providing an opportunity for our senior participants to develop their knowledge of water safety and their water confidence. The facilitators took the participants through an extensive session about water safety and important information to consider, before jumping in the water to play games and have some free time. Our participants identified what they enjoyed about the program was that there was “friendly staff (and they got to) try something new.” The next step back into the water for the Huddle Holidays participants will be our return to Anglesea in January 2026. Thanks to our participants, their families, activity providers and partners – Victorian Department of Education and Community Bank Seddon. We couldn’t have this much fun without you! Huddle Holidays will return in July 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 . Previous Next

Bella is Shaping Her Future Through Skills, Community, and Opportunity < Back A Game Changer in Wyndham Emily Maiorana 26 Feb 2025 Bella is Shaping Her Future Through Skills, Community, and Opportunity Belamedha (Bella) is a passionate and driven young resident of Wyndham, committed to broadening her skill set and experiences to shape her future. With a deep belief in the power of youth to inspire and drive change, she has actively engaged in various initiatives that empower young people. So, when the opportunity to join Game Changers was presented, by the Youth Team Leader at Wyndham Youth Services, Bella eagerly embraced it. Game Changers is designed to help young people develop and showcase their transferable skills through workshops, coaching, and real-world employment experiences. The program equips participants with the confidence and knowledge to take control of their early careers while gaining valuable insights into the professional world. From November to December 2024, Bella, alongside six other young people from Wyndham, took part in the program. Through interactive workshops, they refined their communication skills, strengthened their confidence in job interviews, and deepened their understanding of effective networking. Participants also worked in groups to address the central question, "How can Chirnside Park better support the wellbeing, social connections, and health needs of young people in Wyndham?" . Which aligns with the broader priorities of The Huddle, North Melbourne Football Club, and Wyndham Council. Reflecting on the experience, Bella shared, "It allowed us to identify community needs and create meaningful solutions. I found the experience incredibly valuable". The highlight of Game Changers is our Pitch Night, where participants expand their professional networks while showcasing their ideas to a panel of industry experts. The event, held at Wyndham Council, brought together council representatives, sports and recreation specialists, and youth engagement experts. Bella and her team introduced their initiative, Diversely Chirnside , which leverages the power of cultural dance to foster community connection. "Pitch Night was exciting, everyone made me feel comfortable, and I was honoured to meet such experienced professionals," Bella reflected. In recognition of their dedication, all participants were offered Program Support Officer roles with The Huddle as part of our Employment Experience program. In this role, Bella and her peers will help deliver an event during the April school holidays, allowing for further activation of the space and engaging the wider community. Bella's journey in Game Changers is a testament to the power of collaboration in creating positive change, not just in career development, but in personal impact. Since completing the program, she has continued her involvement with The Huddle, including participating in Huddle Holidays, where she created lasting memories, such as attending the Australian Open. Bella's story is one of growth, leadership, and the drive to make a difference, both for herself and her community. Previous Next

For more information about The Huddle contact us. Contact Us General enquiries: huddle@nmfc.com.au Educator enquiries: education@thehuddle.org.au The Huddle @ Arden St 204-206 Arden St North Melbourne VIC 3051 The Huddle @ Chirnside Park Level 1, 150-226 Watton St Werribee VIC 3030

Aligned to the Victorian Curriculum, GOAL! uses the power of sport to engage students in Levels 3 to 6 in STEM. Fun and innovative sports-themed STEM lessons, aligned with Curriculum. Filter by State Select State Filter by Learning Topics Select Learning Topics Filter by Sport Select Sport Filter by Year Level Select Year Level VICTORIAN CURRICULUM A Chance At Victory Can your students build a Supercars Championship team using a set budget? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Design A Race Car Can your students design a wound-up rubber band powered race car? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Footy Facilities Can your students redesign innovative facilities to help our Kangaroos perform at their best? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Goalie Reaction Experiment Can your students conduct experiments to see if they have faster reactions than Goalies? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM MVP Mayhem Can your students interpret statistics and make financial decisions to create an MVP Team? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Mini Pitch Master Can your students create a scale model of Melbourne City’s football pitch? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Protecting Eggbert Can your students design and prototype a helmet to keep a driver safe? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Shot Challenge Can your students improve the functionality and accuracy of a basketball catapult? VIEW LESSON NEW SOUTH WALES SYLLABUS A Chance At Victory Can your students build a Supercars Championship team using a set budget? VIEW LESSON NEW SOUTH WALES SYLLABUS Map A Rally Can your students use mapping software to design a rally course on Australian roads? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM A Chance At Victory Can your students build a Supercars Championship team using a set budget? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Design A Race Car Can your students design a wound-up rubber band powered race car? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Goalie Reaction Experiment Can your students conduct experiments to see if they have faster reactions than Goalies? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Map A Rally Can your students use mapping software to design a rally course on Australian roads? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM NBL Trophy Challenge Can your students design a new Championship Trophy using technology and mathematics? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Rookie Card Can your students create their own player card identifying their physical and personal strengths? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM A Day In The Life Can your students present what a day in their life looks like using 12- and 24-hour time? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Engineer A Race Track Can your students design the perfect racetrack for Formula 4 racing? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Future Roo Tech Can your students brainstorm creative technology to enhance Aussie Rules Footy? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Head-to-Head Can your students simulate the movement of a football being headed from player to player? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Map A Rally Can your students use mapping software to design a rally course on Australian roads? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Motorkhana Method Can your students set up a Motorkhana-style obstacle course? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Road Trip Can your students organise the travel plans for a basketball team pre-season competition? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Signature Boot Can your students use geometric shapes, symmetry, and patterns to design a signature football boot? VIEW LESSON NEW SOUTH WALES SYLLABUS Design A Race Car Can your students design a wound-up rubber band powered race car? VIEW LESSON NEW SOUTH WALES SYLLABUS Motorkhana Method Can your students set up a Motorkhana-style obstacle course? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM A Day In The Life Can your students present what a day in their life looks like using 12- and 24-hour time? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Engineer A Race Track Can your students design the perfect racetrack for Formula 4 racing? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Head-to-Head Can your students simulate the movement of a football being headed from player to player? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Mini Pitch Master Can your students create a scale model of Melbourne City’s football pitch? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Protecting Eggbert Can your students design and prototype a helmet to keep a driver safe? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Shot Challenge Can your students improve the functionality and accuracy of a basketball catapult? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Catch Me If You Can Can your students construct an obstacle course then calculate and graph their times? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Final Minute Can your students utilise data to win the Grand Final in the final minute of the game? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Goal Accuracy Can your students use data to help the Kangaroos find the best location to kick goals? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Kicking Machine Can your students create a kicking machine to understand the principles of a great kick? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Measuring Marvel Can your students use their estimation skills to uncover the numbers within Marvel Stadium? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM NBL Trophy Challenge Can your students design a new Championship Trophy using technology and mathematics? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Rookie Card Can your students create their own player card identifying their physical and personal strengths? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Statistical Showdown Can your students use stats to better understand how our Kangaroos perform? VIEW LESSON NEW SOUTH WALES SYLLABUS Engineer A Race Track Can your students design the perfect racetrack for Formula 4 racing? VIEW LESSON NEW SOUTH WALES SYLLABUS Protecting Eggbert Can your students design and prototype a helmet to keep a driver safe? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Catch Me If You Can Can your students construct an obstacle course then calculate and graph their times? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Final Minute Can your students utilise data to win the Grand Final in the final minute of the game? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM MVP Mayhem Can your students interpret statistics and make financial decisions to create an MVP Team? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Motorkhana Method Can your students set up a Motorkhana-style obstacle course? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Road Trip Can your students organise the travel plans for a basketball team pre-season competition? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Signature Boot Can your students use geometric shapes, symmetry, and patterns to design a signature football boot? VIEW LESSON It was high student engagement - peers communicating, using mathematical language, comparing, reasoning, measuring, justifying, analysing… Jane - Learning Specialist, Eagle Point Primary School In partnership with

An 8-year Surfing Adventure with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club and Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea < Back Making Waves in Anglesea Ruth Game 19 Feb 2024 An 8-year Surfing Adventure with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club and Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea The collaborative effort between Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (ASLSC), Go Ride a Wave, Anglesea (GRAW) and The Huddle created another joyous beach experience for young participants and their parents this January. The generous provision of wetsuits and surf lessons from GRAW, coupled with the dedication of ASLSC volunteers, has each year become one of the major highlights of The Huddle calendar. This initiative, beginning in 2016 and now funded by The Department of Education and Bendigo Bank Seddon introduces first-timers to the beach, teaches skills for water competency and provides a quintessential Australian experience all by the generosity of the Anglesea community. Since the beginning of this partnership, over 150 wetsuits and 8 surf lessons provided by GRAW, there has been enthusiastic participation of ASLSC volunteers and the wider club over 9 visits to their venue, and overwhelming positive feedback from 300+ participants. "I was so impressed with the patience and enthusiasm that the young water safety volunteers displayed. They genuinely made the days of so many young people." – Huddle Staff Member In 2016, families living in Flemington, Kensington, North Melbourne and Ascot Vale were invited to brainstorm ideas for a Huddle school holiday program to keep youth engaged over the break. The concept of a Surf Trip began to form, and The Huddle reached out to Go Ride A Wave and Anglesea was quickly suggested as a suitable location for beginners. From there, a relationship with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club was established and has strengthened year on year. ASLSC’s Nippers, volunteers, and young people have been keeping other young people and their families safe in the water and have shared in the joy of many participants’ first time at the beach. Three themes have emerged from this partnership over the years; the importance of water competency, social inclusion, and providing what is a quintessential Australian experience; a day at the beach with a snag. "I was so excited, and a bit nervous. I got dumped by a wave but I will definitely come back next year!” - Participant The generous contribution of wetsuits and surf lessons by GRAW has been a game-changer. Paired with the dedication of ASLSC volunteers and their newly renovated venue, the event has been meticulously organised every year. Partnering with GRAW and ASLSC has ensured the sustainability of such a well-loved program. “I was so impressed with the patience and enthusiasm that the young water safety volunteers displayed. They genuinely made the days of so many young people." – Huddle Staff Member “I can’t emphasise enough how loved this day is by the families we work with and that’s in huge part to the warmth and generosity of the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club.” – Huddle staff member The success of this place-based partnerships initiative funded by the Department of Education and Bendigo Bank Seddon paves the way for future collaborations with ASLSC and Go Ride a Wave Anglesea. The Huddle is committed to expanding this program, ensuring more young people can experience the joy of the ocean in a safe and supportive environment. “The waves are kinda hard and I was like oh my god, I was really scared... I had a try and then it was really fun!” – Huddle participant To support initiatives like these and make a lasting impact on young lives, consider contributing to The Huddle's mission. Your support can help create more memorable experiences and positive transformations for the community. 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

Welcome To AFL Welcome to AFL is a free event for newly arrived, multicultural and international student communities to learn the basics of AFL! You'll experience the unique and memorable opportunity of being front and centre at one of Australia's most exciting stages for sport; Marvel Stadium. We'll teach you the ins and outs of footy, from rules to the skills, and cap it all off by watching a live game of footy from the mighty North Melbourne Kangaroos. EVENT DETAILS Date: Sunday 23rd March Time: 11:30 am - 5:30 pm Location: Marvel Stadium Cost: Free event (however registration is required) Food: Lunch and snacks provided Transport: We encourage you to use public transport OR park at Marvel Stadium. FREE SIGN UP

Aligned to the Victorian Curriculum, GOAL! uses the power of sport to engage students in Levels 3 to 6 in STEM. Fun and innovative basketball-themed STEM lessons, aligned with Curriculum. Filter by State Select State Filter by Learning Topics Select Learning Topics VICTORIAN CURRICULUM A Day In The Life Can your students present what a day in their life looks like using 12- and 24-hour time? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Road Trip Can your students organise the travel plans for a basketball team pre-season competition? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM A Day In The Life Can your students present what a day in their life looks like using 12- and 24-hour time? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Road Trip Can your students organise the travel plans for a basketball team pre-season competition? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Final Minute Can your students utilise data to win the Grand Final in the final minute of the game? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Rookie Card Can your students create their own player card identifying their physical and personal strengths? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Final Minute Can your students utilise data to win the Grand Final in the final minute of the game? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Rookie Card Can your students create their own player card identifying their physical and personal strengths? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM NBL Trophy Challenge Can your students design a new Championship Trophy using technology and mathematics? VIEW LESSON VICTORIAN CURRICULUM Shot Challenge Can your students improve the functionality and accuracy of a basketball catapult? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM NBL Trophy Challenge Can your students design a new Championship Trophy using technology and mathematics? VIEW LESSON AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Shot Challenge Can your students improve the functionality and accuracy of a basketball catapult? VIEW LESSON Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied It was high student engagement - peers communicating, using mathematical language, comparing, reasoning, measuring, justifying, analysing… Jane - Learning Specialist, Eagle Point Primary School In partnership with

Free STEM Lessons GOAL! is a series of fun and innovative sports-themed STEM lessons, aligned with Victorian & Australian Curriculum, and NSW Syllabus. Designed for Levels 3-8 FREE SIGN UP ACCESS LESSONS How GOAL! Lessons Work 3 Lessons To Get You Started VIEW LESSON Goal Accuracy Can your students use data to help the Kangaroos find the best location to kick goals? VIEW LESSON Goalie Reaction Experiment Can your students conduct experiments to see if they have faster reactions than Goalies? VIEW LESSON A Chance At Victory Can your students build a Supercars Championship team using a set budget? DESIGNED BY TEACHERS As former teachers, we get the sweat and magic that goes into crafting a great lesson! All our GOAL! lessons are created by teachers and tested in real classrooms to make sure students can dive in, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate together. We make it super easy for you to plug and play with detailed lesson plans and all the fun resources students need. CURRICULUM LINKED Mapping lessons to the curriculum is crucial but can be a real headache. We've done the heavy lifting so you can focus on bringing these lessons to life in the classroom. Plus, we'll stay on top of any curriculum changes to ensure you can keep using these lessons with new classes without a hitch. EXCITING SPORT STARS Just like us, students love sports stars, so each of our GOAL! lessons includes a video featuring a sports star who introduces the lesson and helps draw the connection between the STEM-based activity and their sport. Play this at the start of the lesson to get your students buzzing! PLAY / SPORT THEMED Sport and play are powerful vehicles in Education. Introducing a sports context in learning improves attitudes towards abstract concepts and brings them into the real world. While integrating sports and play into lessons is beneficial, it demands precious time and energy, which are often scarce for teachers. That's why we created GOAL! FREE SIGN UP ACCESS LESSONS Get A Taste Of The Lessons FREE SIGN UP

Ten male participants took a leap and climbed high in the first ever HIStory Camp < Back HIStory Camp debuts Riley Goodwin 29 Nov 2021 Ten male participants took a leap and climbed high in the first ever HIStory Camp In the serene location of Anglesea, ten male participants took a leap and climbed high in the first ever HIStory Camp. Facilitated by Cali Bukurow the Coordinator, Social Cohesion – Children and Young People, the camp saw the ten participants aged 12-25 head down by the coast to YMCA Anglesea for a two-day action-packed experience. Based on the female equivalent HERstory Camp, the program aims to increase group participation and build connections among all participants. The camp activities kicked off with challenges of new heights, with the high rope course. The activity gave the young men a chance to bond and showcase their teamwork and motivational skills as they navigated through the obstacles. Shortly after, participants decked themselves in lifejackets and helmets, with paddles in hand for an afternoon of canoeing. With three participants per canoe, the young men collaborated together and practiced good communication to ensure they were a smooth sailing team. “I was really looking forward to the canoeing activity.” Said one participant, Yunus. Early on Sunday morning, the young men tackled the wall climb. Another opportunity to build confidence amongst the participants, as well as getting active. The final day of HIStory was topped off with games of indoor soccer and basketball where everyone got a chance to shoot some hoops and kick it like Salah. This was followed by a round at the archery area, finessing their sharp shooting skills. “So much fun! Wish the camp days were longer” participant James said. In partnership with YMCA Victoria and the Victorian State Government, HIStory provides men with culturally appropriate activities to engage young men, connect and build networks as well as pushing participants out of their comfort zones. Previous Next

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 < Back Huddle trio honoured for services to the community North Media 31 Jan 2023 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 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. The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow citizens. Last week, three of North Melbourne Football Club and The Huddle’s most respected volunteers were honoured for their services to the community. Fred Alale AM, a passionate North Melbourne Football Club member, has over two decades of experience as a public service professional in both Australia and the UK. More recently, he has been a part of the Victorian governments efforts to keep Victorian businesses in line with the Public Health Officer’s regulations. He has been recognised and awarded with this honour as a result of his enormous contributions to the African Australian communities that reside in Victoria. He serves on multiple boards apart from The Huddle’s Advisory Committee, including Chair of the African Music and Culture Festival, and is the Treasurer of Africa Day Australia Inc. He is also a member of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan implementation committee. Alongside Fred on the Advisory Comittee of The Huddle and a Committee Member of the African Music and Cultural Festival, is Gary Lee OAM. He was recognised for service to the community through a range or organisations. First arriving in Melbourne as an international student from Malaysia, Lee quickly fell in love with the city, the North Melbourne FC and everything it had to offer. There are a lot of people in Australia who don’t have much but are willing to give everything to help others, and this Australian spirit is everything I am about. - Gary Lee OAM Working closely with The Huddle, Lee has worked tirelessly with international students empowering them to learn new skills, grow their network, and form new connections within the community through Welcome to AFL sessions. Gary continued his work throughout the pandemic, even if that meant that Welcome to AFL sessions looked a bit different to what everyone was used to. Yaseen Musa OAM has been the Multicultural Ambassador for the North Melbourne Football club since 2020. He is a former member of the Multicultural Australian Football League Committee, in which he won the Multicultural Community Ambassador of the Year Award back in 2015. Arriving in Melbourne over 25 years ago, the father of six was quick to recognise the need to bring hope and a sense of belonging to migrants. Working closely with The Huddle, Yasseen says that sport had played a key role in helping young people learn new skills, meet new people, and provide a new home. When new families arrive in Melbourne, we need to give them hope and we need to give them a place where they can feel safe which is what our community does. - Yasseen Musa OAM Musa OAM played a pivotal role in aiding more than 3,000 residents of Melbourne’s public housing towers, who found themselves suddenly in lockdown due to COVID-19. Delivering culturally sensitive food and medicine and aiding nurses, police and government bodies in communicating with local residents, he worked tirelessly to ensure each and every community member was receiving the right care. The Huddle’s CEO Cameron McLeod said: “Fred, Gary and Yasseen are all outstanding role models who epitomize the ‘Shinboner Spirit’. Their passion is unwavering as is their dedication to create rich cultural experiences for all Victorians to learn, grow and belong alongside other cultures. Their contributions to The Huddle, as volunteers and cultural leaders has been invaluable. Their Australia Day Honours is a testament to the impacts and benefits of multicultural communities’ contributions to Australia”. The North Melbourne Football Club and The Huddle would like to extend their congratulations to Fred, Gary and Yasseen for their awards, and acknowledge their selfless work in empowering all young people to continue to learn, grow and belong. Previous Next