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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

Learning about the technologies that are reshaping the way we work and learn. < Back The Future of AI in Education and Careers 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

Hear about GOAL! Motorsport Australia from Molly Taylor < Back Motorsport joins The Huddle Previous Next

The Huddle's 2023 Iftar Dinner involved members from the local North Melbourne public housing estate, community leaders, program participants and their families < Back The Huddle holds community Iftar Previous Next

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How Howard became the driving force behind volleyball in the West < Back Coach Howard starts new club Steph Webb 18 Apr 2023 How Howard became the driving force behind volleyball in the West Huddle Up! is a ‘drop in’ style program that creates a safe and welcoming environment to increase participation in sport and recreation activities for young people aged 12-25. As a part of the Huddle Up! Senior program, The Huddle have been running different sports programs at Eagle Stadium since (2017). Young people can attend on Friday nights to play in a social round robin volleyball competition and practice their skills. There are very limited options for Wyndham residents to play volleyball in a competitive environment outside of the program. Based on this need in community, long-time Huddle participant Howard and his father Joe have started their own club, Melbourne Volleyball Club. Howard capitalized on both a need in the community, and the large attendance numbers at Huddle Up! at Eagle Stadium (380 registrations in 2022), and after much consultation with young people in the area, hatched the plan to start Melbourne Volleyball Club. Since I had migrated to Australia, the area in which I live doesn't locally offer any sports aside from conventional sports such as footy, cricket, and football. Though I will soon grow out childhood and progress to adulthood, [my dad and I] still aspire to provide kids in a similar situation with the opportunities that I had lacked. - Howard Howard is 15 and has participated in Huddle Up! Senior at Eagle Stadium since May 2021. He has also been involved with three Huddle Holidays volleyball tournaments and one basketball tournament. In 2022, Howard was also invited to Wyndham Council Sport Leadership Breakfast through The Huddle. Our aim and objective with MVC is to enrich the Western suburbs with a strong volleyball culture and to provide local players with the opportunities they would otherwise have to travel a long distance for. - Howard MVC train on a regular basis and enter volleyball competitions against other clubs all around Melbourne and Victoria. A number of these young people involved with MVC have been participating in Huddle Up! at Eagle Stadium for several years and have built great friendships with Howard (who they affectionately refer to as ‘Coach Howard’) and other likeminded young people through the program. At the time of writing, 17 young people have become the founding members of MVC and are taking the next steps of their individual volleyball pathways. Howard and his father hope to, in the future, expand their audience to include primary school aged children in the hopes that they can foster a volleyball culture and inspire new passionate players. …the sense of duty to improve the community and provide the children with more opportunities has inspired and continues to motivate me. The Huddle has greatly influenced the making of our club. Huddle Up! has brought to our attention that there is great interest and initiative for volleyball in the West of Melbourne. Howard gave a special shoutout to Huddle volunteer Eli, who has been a great help in the foundational stages of MVC. Howard stands out in ensuring everyone feels welcome and has a team to play in. He is well respected by the participants and is always seen giving coaching tips to other young people. Howard has always been a strong advocator for the Huddle Up! program and shares the voices and needs of other young people in the community. Interested in getting started with your own volleyball journey? Huddle Up! Senior at Eagle Stadium runs every Friday night from 4:30pm-6:15pm and 6:15pm-8pm on Court 12. Register via the link here . Melbourne Volleyball Club is actively recruiting new players. Register your expression of interest here . Previous Next

< Back North captain rewarded for outstanding community work North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos captain Emma Kearney has been awarded the 2022 Tom Hafey Variety Heart of Football Award North Media Previous Next

< Back Aida's Voice River Nile student's reflection on her 2 years participating in Voice Your Voice Claudie Groves Previous Next

We met up with past Huddle Participant, Arsema, to hear about her journey of gaining employment. < Back Arsema's Journey to Employment Previous Next

Game Changers helped Tigist develop skills, connections, and community impact < Back Learning and growing through Game Changers Jasper Menor 7 Mar 2025 Game Changers helped Tigist develop skills, connections, and community impact For Tigist Lakew, joining the Game Changers program at The Huddle was more than just an opportunity—it was a transformative experience. Throughout the program, she gained valuable transferable skills , built strong connections , and learned how to make a meaningful impact in her local community. One of the biggest highlights for Tigist was the opportunity to network with a diverse group of people. The program brought together individuals from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and age groups, fostering collaboration and new perspectives. A key takeaway from the experience was learning how to apply knowledge in real-world settings. From working on project plans to participating in an e xciting pitch event, Tigist developed hands-on skills that will benefit her in both professional and personal settings. The pitch event, in particular, provided an incredible networking opportunity, where she connected with inspiring panelists who shared their experiences and insights. For Tigist, Game Changers was more than just a program—it was an empowering journey that left a lasting impact. She is grateful for the skills, connections, and opportunities it provided and encourages anyone considering the program to take the leap. “You won’t regret it!” Previous Next

< Back Welcome To AFL - Session 2 Round 18 v Hawthorn ! Previous Next