In partnership with AFL Goulburn Murray and Bendigo Health the Goulburn Murray football netball clubs in the Shire of Campaspe have been selected to be part of a project featuring the innovative and new Outside The Locker Room program.
The initiative will involve funding being provided for the participating clubs to participate in the program across the course of the 2015 season.
Outside The Locker Room (OTLR) is a series of workshops and interactions focused on community responsibility, responsible decision making and personal branding. With former AFL players Glenn Manton, Jake Edwards, Heath Black and Luke Ball the program seeks to equip adolescent boys and girls and young adults, along with their parents, families and communities, with the information and resources to better enable them to tackle the increasing number of social and mental health issues in a productive and not destructive way.
AFL Goulburn Murray Region General Manager Martin Gleeson is excited at bringing the program to the region.
"We have been working with Bendigo Health and the OTLR team over the past four months to set up this opportunity" he said.
"A key strategic priority of the AFL Goulburn Murray Commission’s Strategic Plan is Community and through this priority a Health Services Strategy was released at the end of 2014."
"This strategy focuses on the provision of services and initiatives recognising the integral place that football netball clubs hold in the community."
"Following an U18 Development Day held for the KDFNL pre season and the very successful Man Up event last week, the OTLR program is the next exciting opportunity for the participating clubs to receive tuition and training on important issues in the community and how to deal with them."
"With Glenn Manton confirmed as the mentor for each club and the support of other ex-AFL players, behavioural experts and mental health experts each participant in the program will have a great opportunity to better understand themselves and make appropriate life decisions."
"Information sessions have already begun and the initial response we have had from clubs has been terrific and it is clear there is an identified need and an enthusiasm to get involved."
"Bendigo Health has been fantastic in this initiative and without their support we would not be able to provide this opportunity to footballers and netballers in the Goulburn Murray."
Julie Bright from Bendigo Health, Carer Support Services, considers that working with individuals within local football netball clubs is of benefit to the whole community.
"This not only builds stronger clubs it enhances leadership within the clubs and supports every individual to realise their own potential" she said.
"Bendigo Health is determined to prompt positive mental and physical health messages and is excited to be able to support the first phase of the program with funding, targeting 12 clubs in Campaspe Shire."
Jake Edwards, a Director of Outside the Locker Room, is really looking forward to working with clubs to make a difference.
"OTLR has been developed to ensure that our youth involved in community sport are getting the mentoring, education and support they require to develop into strong young men and women" he said.
"We are not interested in how many goals they kick or how many interceptions they complete; we care about their well-being and building relationships that encourage conversation."
"Working alongside AFL Goulburn Murray and the Carer Support Services for Bendigo Health is something that we are very excited about and their amazing work behind the scenes will enable us to reach up to 600 players in the Campaspe Shire."
Information sessions in the selected clubs will be held throughout May with the first of the workshops commencing in early June. The Goulburn Murray clubs who will be involved in the program include:
GVFL – Echuca, Rochester, Kyabram
MFL – Echuca United, Tongala
KDFNL – Lancaster, Stanhope, Rushworth, Girgarre
SDJFL – Echuca U16, Kyabram U16, Rochester U16
Last Modified on 05/06/2015 10:19