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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 The Huddle partner with NBL to deliver GOAL! The Huddle has partnered with the NBL to deliver GOAL!, a basketball themed program to primary school students Riley Goodwin Previous Next

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

Building confidence and essentials skills through Game Changers. < Back Nabiha's experience through Game Changers! Emily Maiorana 28 Oct 2024 Building confidence and essentials skills through Game Changers. Nabiha Mohamed, recently completed Game Changers at The Huddle, working collaboratively with her peers to answer the question how can we plan a multi-sport event that promotes participation and social inclusion. “I heard about Game Changers from my educational program. What I enjoyed about Game Changers was to get to know the other girls in the group and also learning about skills I can use in my job and future wise and how to improve in getting a job in the future.” Through capacity building workshops, Nabiha used ideation strategies to develop and refine ideas that answered the question, before conceptually designing a program that could delivered in a community setting. Working in groups, participants then created engaging presentations to pitch their ideas to a panel industry professionals at our Game Changers Pitch Event. “My pitch was with a group of two other girls and it was based about a multi-sport for inclusion and we did it for people with disabilities and also students that are facing disadvantage in their homes.” Game Changers provides young people with opportunities to learn and develop essential skills through problem solving and project management activities, providing an immersive and engaging experience that replicates modern work environments and expectations. “What I learned in Game Changes was transferable skills that I can use in my future with getting a job and my career. I think it (has) helped me improve to speaking to people and with my confidence.” Check out Nabiha’s time with us in Game Changers in the video below. Previous Next

Basketball is breaking barriers and empowering youth in Melbourne’s West. < Back Using Basketball to Empower Melbourne’s Youth Rachael Scotland 5 Mar 2025 Basketball is breaking barriers and empowering youth in Melbourne’s West. Shooters Shoot is a Melbourne based youth organisation that works to raise money and awareness on key issues facing young people in Western Melbourne including breaking the stigma around mental health, youth disengagement, and the value of sport. Their work culminates in an end of year charity basketball tournament which, now in it’s fourth year, brings together over 1000 people throughout the weekend; the reputation of this event has begun drawing basketball teams from across the country. After the event, organisers work to support young people in Melbourne’s West by providing workshops, free counselling, building bikes and delivering their message through schools. Over the course of the two-day event, they were able to raise $40,000. Shooters Shoot has raised over $100,000 over their last 4 major events, which is reinvested back into community. Huddle staff attended the recent tournament in December, and created a video that captures some of the excitement of the tournament weekend, as well as highlighting the impact their work has across the year. We are working together with Shooters Shoot to help build their capacity as an organisation, to ensure this small volunteer led organisation is able to continue to engage thousands of young people and deliver their powerful message. Previous Next

< Back NBA Math Hoops in Action at Ascot Vale West PS! Ascot Vale West Primary School Students Battle It Out In NBA Math Hoops! Previous Next

< Back Mastering Confidence: Unleashing Your Inner Game Changer Cultivating Skills and Building Lasting Confidence John King Previous Next

< Back Purification of the Heart: A Soulful Retreat of Reflection, Connection, and Nature A Journey of Healing and Empowerment. Asli Abdullahi Previous Next

2023 Spring Huddle Holiday's Program < Back Sanhae's Spring Emily Phu 31 Oct 2023 2023 Spring Huddle Holiday's Program Huddle Holidays is a free school holiday program that provides young people with opportunities to try new experiences and develop their skills and capacity across social inclusion, health, emotional wellbeing, and leadership. Throughout this Spring School Holiday program at The Huddle, Senior participants had the opportunity to go to Strike Bowling & Laser Tag, Bounce, and to compete in the Huddle’s Basketball Slam, offering a diverse range of activities to keep them engaged and excited. School holidays can be a period where young people may disengage from safe social activities. The Huddle aims to contribute to the reduction of anti-social behaviour by providing activities to engage young people throughout the school break. Further, with the rising cost of living, young people may face financial barriers to access engaging activities, making Huddle Holidays a free option for both the youth and their families. “Huddle Holidays was very fun, very inspiring, and very convenient because you brought us there and brought us back.” Sanhae has attended Huddle programs over 60 times (including Huddle Holidays and Huddle Up!) since joining in 2021. He initially attended Huddle Holidays for the sports tournaments but attended every Senior program this time round. “I had a lot of fun hanging out with the staff members who did Bowling with us and played Dodgeball at Bounce with us.” When asked why Sanhae chose to come to Huddle Holidays for the first time, they shared that “…we are getting older, so there’s not a lot of opportunities left. I also don’t have anything else to do on the holidays. With costs and transport covered, I just had to show up - so it was fun! It was also nice to hang out with friends and make new friends too.” Sanhae will continue to engage in the Huddle’s program, including Huddle Up! at Werribee Secondary College and Huddle Holidays. He is more interested in attending future Huddle Holidays to experience different activities during their school holidays, which speaks to the program's long-lasting impact and appeal to the young people of the North Melbourne, Flemington, and Wyndham communities. Previous Next

< Back Ekram's story From Huddle Holidays participant to Huddle Employee Josh Raymer and Maddy Ware 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

< Back The Huddle launches Australian-first immersive AFL program, Game Day The North Melbourne Kangaroos have officially launched Game Day, The Huddle’s newest education program North Media Previous Next