Search Results

The Huddle has partnered with the NBL to deliver GOAL!, a basketball themed program to primary school students < Back The Huddle partner with NBL to deliver GOAL! Riley Goodwin 23 Jan 2022 The Huddle has partnered with the NBL to deliver GOAL!, a basketball themed program to primary school students The Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) is proud to announce a partnership with The Huddle, an award-winning not-for-profit organisation that leverages the power of sport to help young people learn, grow and belong. For the past 11 years, The Huddle has worked with more than 100,000 young people from more than 160 different cultures across Australia using sport to strengthen education and employment pathways. The NBL and The Huddle will partner to deliver innovative curriculum modules to primary school students through its “GOAL!” program. GOAL! is a free online resource that integrates basketball themes into the classroom to engage students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “Bringing basketball into the classroom to engage and inspire students to learn and grow is a game-changer for students, teachers, families and the community,” The Huddle CEO Cameron McLeod said. “Research shows that approximately 40 per cent of students are consistently disengaged in class, leading to a range of disruptive behaviours and falling behind their peers academically and socially. “The NBL is one of the most recognisable sporting brands in Australia with a long and proud history of supporting strong community outcomes, and The Huddle is proud to partner with the NBL to inspire life-long learning.” Designed by teachers, for teachers, GOAL! has been piloted in parts of Australia with more than 16,500 students already benefiting from the program. “The NBL is proud to be working with The Huddle to convey the passion young people have for basketball, into the classroom,” Hungry Jack’s NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said. “Basketball is one of Australia’s most participated team sports, and as one of the world’s best leagues, the NBL is delighted to be in a position to support better engagement and stronger educational outcomes in STEM, using the internationally recognised themes and principles of the game of basketball and profile of the NBL.” For enquiries, please contact education@thehuddle.org.au . Previous Next

A fun and memorable way to engage the whole class in mathematical learning < Back A reflection on NBA Math Hoops Thomas O’Halloran – 5/6 Teacher at Moreland Primary School 5 Sept 2022 A fun and memorable way to engage the whole class in mathematical learning As a teacher, I have no doubt that effective teaching has the most significant impact on student learning outside influences in the home. However, effective teaching takes time and investment. The 2021 Grattan survey reports that 92% of teachers frequently feel that they do not have enough time to prepare for effective teaching. I am one of those teachers, spending endless unpaid hours planning each week to ensure I am delivering effective and engaging lessons. I am always on the hunt for fun and memorable learning resources, especially the lessons that capture the minds and hearts of the students. They must be easy to implement and enable me to work smarter - not harder. So, when I saw the Huddle promoting NBA Math Hoops, a board game that promised to leverage sport in the classroom to maximise student engagement, I was open to giving it a go. As a sports and maths fan, I immediately recognised the power of a board game that leverages basketball to engage students in mathematics. After completing the teacher training (thankfully, a painless, super-informative online 90-minute workshop), I was impressed by the game's potential to shift the mindset of students who consider themselves to be 'bad at maths'. While initially excited, it wasn't until I received the FREE class set that I was blown away by the high quality of the board game. The game was fun, colourful, and the player cards were attention-grabbing. I also recently found out that Hasbro, the creators of Monopoly, are also the creators of NBA Math Hoops. The NBA Math Hoops game formula is simple in its utilisation of “the four C’s”. Students must collaborate, communicate, think critically and creatively to win. The in-school NBA Math Hoops draft was pure chaotic bliss. Students were scrambling to review player cards, deciphering statistics, using multiplicative thinking, debating player selection with peers, and justifying their decisions. It is always wonderful to watch students practising the skills that will equip them to navigate and thrive in our ever-changing world. I love how the game establishes intrinsic motivation in students to build upon and use their mathematical knowledge. The associated lesson plans effectively scaffold students to practice the relevant mathematical skill while gradually layering the game rules. This means that I didn’t have to be the game expert, and what's more, I liked that I could adapt the rules to support or challenge every student in my class. To sum up my experience, NBA Math Hoops was a series of wonderful surprises. While compiling the semester reports, I was astonished by how many students referenced NBA Math Hoops in their reflective comments, many describing the game as a fun way to learn maths - even students who declare themselves as ‘bad at maths’. Like sneaking vegetables into a pasta sauce, NBA Math Hoops is stealth learning! I would highly recommend the board game and accompanying resources to any educator looking for a way to engage their whole class in mathematical learning, whilst offering a fun and memorable experience that will be a highlight of the school year. To find out more about NBA Math Hoops, please click here Previous Next

< Back 2023 Summer Huddle Holidays Volleyball Previous Next

Huddle Holidays concludes with an exhilarating day of bouldering at Climb West Melbourne < Back Bouldering Back To School 13 July 2024 Huddle Holidays concludes with an exhilarating day of bouldering at Climb West Melbourne As Huddle Holidays come to a close, we capped off the holidays with an exhilarating bouldering session at Climb West Melbourne. Coach Josh guided us through the fundamentals and coached us through challenging climbs. Although Huddle Holidays has concluded for now, keep an eye on our page for updates on next term's exciting holiday programs! 📅 A big thank you to The Victorian State Government and Community Bank Seddon for their support in making these enriching experiences possible. 🙌 Previous Next

Riley's Game Changers Story < Back Leaping Into Employment Emily Maiorana 20 July 2023 Riley's Game Changers Story Feeling job ready and understanding career opportunities can be both an overwhelming and difficult concept to grasp for those in the early stages of their job seeking journey. Young people within our community consistently face barriers to employment and are often not exposed to available support services. This leads to challenges in obtaining meaningful employment and affects their confidence to apply for roles. Young people are told their lack of experience is a main reason for not being successful when applying for roles. We also know young people struggle to find meaningful opportunities to gain relevant work experience. Game Changers fills the experience gap by providing real world opportunities for young people to develop experience and transferable skills through our workshops, Pitch Event and Employment Experiences. Fostering a hands on and problem-solving based learning approach, Game Changers creates an environment where all people feel they can belong and are able to develop skills essential to successfully obtaining sustainable employment. Empowered to reflect and identify their own strengths, Game Changers provides participants with the chance to create and pitch their ideas and solutions to a social issue to a panel of industry experts. Successful program participants can also take part in a paid Employment Experience working on a project at The Huddle. Riley is a 17-year-old male born and raised in Wyndham. Riley has been a participant in The Huddle’s Huddle Up! And Huddle Holidays programs since 2022. His commitment and enthusiastic character led staff to encourage Riley to register for Game Changers in Wyndham. “They told me I would be a perfect fit and after completing the course and Pitch Event I can say that everyone who had suggested the program was correct. I had a blast.” Riley attended four days of workshops, learning about ideation frameworks, problem solving and transferable skills and was able to meaningfully connect with his peers, displaying excellent leadership qualities in the process. Posed with the question “How can we create an engaging and sustainable event for young people in Wyndham which leverages the power of sport to promote social inclusion? ” Riley worked in a collaborative partnership with other participants to create a presentation highlighting their lived experiences in struggling to access sport when growing up. They also provided insights into how they didn’t feel accepted in many organised sports clubs and competitions because of their cultural identity. Their idea to help young people facing similar challenges was to hold a series of free sports clinics and events, which also celebrated the cultural diversity of the participants involved. Riley’s passion and ideas captivated staff at The Huddle, leading to him being offered a paid Employment Experience, working on the implementation of the Spring Huddle Slam, a basketball tournament for young people within his local community. “Game Changers has provided me with an amazing position in helping design the next Huddle basketball tournament and I am looking forward to being able to work surrounded by intelligent and fun people who share my love of sports and creating an inclusive environment.” By participating in Game Changers, Riley was able to improve his transferable skills, gain experience and be more confident within himself. “The Game Changers program has helped me be more aware of the career opportunities available, I will definitely be suggesting any future programs like this one to friends, as a lesson I have learned from participating in Game Changers is that everyone deserves a chance to be able to showcase their talent, and have it be seen and put to use with the help of experts in the field”. Riley will begin his paid Employment Experience in July 2023 and hopes to work casually within other sports programs at The Huddle. The Huddle would like to thank program partner Equal Ed and funding partner Wyndham City Council for their support of Game Changers in Wyndham. If you are interested in participating in Game Changers or would like tailored 1-on-1 career support* from The Huddle, please contact: Emily Maiorana - Careers Coordinator (The Huddle) Email: Emily.Maiorana@nmfc.com.au Phone: 0478 756 418 * 1-on-1 Game Changers sessions by appointment Previous Next

North Media takes you inside the Kangaroos' AFL Community Camp in Rochester and Bendigo < Back Roos give back in Rochester for AFL Community Camp Previous Next

Carmen Bruce from St. Damien’s Primary School share their journey with Math Hoops < Back Math Hoops: From the Classroom to the International Stage Jasper Menor 17 Sept 2025 Carmen Bruce from St. Damien’s Primary School share their journey with Math Hoops At St Damian’s Primary School , maths has taken on a whole new energy thanks to NBA Math Hoops. The program, delivered through The Huddle , has transformed how students engage with numbers — from those who struggle with maths anxiety to those who can’t get enough of it. Carmen Bruce , Maths Leader at St Damian’s, has seen the impact firsthand: "It's been fantastic as a maths leader to see all the kids being engaged in maths from our students that find maths a bit challenging or have anxiety with maths to our students that love maths and want to do it every day." Making Maths Fun and Accessible What makes Math Hoops so engaging is its mix of skill and chance. " “It’s got all different components to it, including our four operations and then the probability and chance. And the great component of this is that it has luck involved. So it doesn’t matter what skill level you’re at, sometimes you can have a stinker of a game and sometimes you can have a great game. So it’s been fantastic.” This balance means that every student — no matter their ability level — has the chance to succeed, play, and most importantly, enjoy learning maths. From Local Games to Global Opportunities The program has even opened doors beyond the classroom. " We were lucky enough to nominate two of our students to go to the international championships, and we were so thrilled to hear that one of our students got chosen. He had the most fantastic time over in America, meeting the players in the draft and just had such an experience. So those opportunities are so few and far between that it was just such an amazing challenge.” For the school community, watching one of their own compete on an international stage was a moment of pride and inspiration. A Partnership That Delivers Carmen credits The Huddle and its partners for making these experiences possible. “We really want to say a big shout out to Learn Fresh and the North Melbourne Football Club in The Huddle for all the amazing opportunities that we’ve had with them, from the training online for the teachers, to the board games being delivered to the school, the Victorian tournament and even the international championships, it’s been absolutely fantastic.” Through Math Hoops, St Damian’s Primary School has shown that learning doesn’t just happen in books — it happens through play, teamwork, and opportunity. Watch our interview with Carmen below! Previous Next

Anglesea SLSC < Back Huddle Holidays - Summer '24, Surf Trip Previous Next

< Back Huddle Tote Bags For Sale Available for purchase from the Roo Shop Previous Next

Trent Archer shares Werribee Primary School's journey with The Huddle. < Back Building Confident Learners: Werribee Primary School’s Journey with The Huddle Jasper Menor 17 Sept 2025 Trent Archer shares Werribee Primary School's journey with The Huddle. When it comes to engaging students in meaningful learning, Werribee Primary School is leading the way. Guided by Learning Specialist of Wellbeing and Inclusion, Trent Archer , the school has embraced the full suite of programs offered through The Huddle —from GOAL! to True North , Game Day , and most recently, Math Hoops . What began as a curiosity quickly turned into a cornerstone of the school’s approach to student engagement. "...we started off with GOAL! last year that really engaged a lot of our Year 3 & 4's in particular...then we jumped into the other ones like True North... and then Game Day as well, which is a really fun experience... and Math Hoops obviously today, which is fantastic. So all very good programs." Beyond the Game: STEM, Wellbeing, and Inclusion One of the biggest surprises for Trent was just how broad the programs are. "...it's not just around footy focused, it's quite STEM focused, and you're really looking at how to involve the interests of all students...our Year 4's this year, we're a real focus for wellbeing in particular. So True North is something that I saw last year for our Year 5 & 6's, and we worked together to create a new program that fits the needs of our year fours...the curriculum as a vehicle. But the motors really run by their interests and engaging the students in their learning, which is really important." This student-led approach has sparked new levels of excitement in the classroom. Whether it’s teamwork on the court, problem-solving in Math Hoops, or reflection in True North, students are actively connecting their learning to real-world skills. Tailored for Every Year Level Werribee Primary has also worked closely with The Huddle to adapt programs to meet the needs of specific cohorts. "...we've been very lucky that The Huddle's worked with us...I've really enjoyed the ability to work together in creating a platform that's available for all students. " A Partnership with Community at its Heart For Trent, what stands out most is the collaboration and commitment behind The Huddle. "...[The Huddle] are really focused in on, the Wyndham community, but also, North Melbourne and the western part of Melbourne and really making sure that we're meeting the needs of the students, but also we're building up really good people." At its core, this partnership is about more than academic learning. It’s about shaping confident, resilient young people who are proud of where they come from and inspired to reach their potential. Watch the full interview with Trent Archer from Werribee Primary School below to hear more about their journey with The Huddle. Previous Next

< Back A reflection on NBA Math Hoops A fun and memorable way to engage the whole class in mathematical learning Thomas O’Halloran – 5/6 Teacher at Moreland Primary School Previous Next

Need a space to get locked in this school term? < Back Study Squad is back for 2025! Patrick McPhee 24 Feb 2025 Need a space to get locked in this school term? Yes, Study Squad is back! If you are looking for a free, safe, and inclusive space to do your homework independently, in groups, or with the support of a FREE tutor then look no further! Study Squad is a safe space for young students aged 10 - 25 years to learn, grow and belong while receiving academic support. The program offers subject-specific volunteer tutors, computers, and internet access, as well as a study space, at no cost to participants. When and where is Study Squad? Currently, Study Squad runs across three locations, with a fourth location coming soon! Study Squad runs out of: NORTH MELBOURNE When: Every Monday and Thursday during the school term Time: 3.30pm – 6.30pm Where: The Huddle North Melbourne, 204-206 Arden St, North Melbourne 3051 WERRIBEE When: Every Tuesday during the school term Time: 3.30pm - 5.30pm Where: The Huddle Werribee, Level 1, 150-226 Watton St, Werribee (Chirnside Park) DOCKLANDS (younger age program, 7 years and older) When: Every Wednesday during the school term Time: 3.30pm - 5.00pm Where: The Hub at Docklands, 80 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands 3008 Where do I register? To register for study squad, please click HERE . Previous Next