Football West and Healthway want to give a big shoutout to all the clubs that took part in the 2024 Kick off the Conversation program. Your dedication to enhancing the health of your members and the community is truly commendable.
A total of 15 clubs snagged prizes, with Albany Sharks Sporting Club, Northam Springfield Football Club, Mandurah City Football Club, and Bunbury United Soccer Club all tying for first place.
Kick off the Conversation is all about helping clubs set up mental health and wellbeing practices. Some of the initiatives included:
- Mental health education sessions
- Appointing a Wellbeing Officer for the club
- Organizing the Think Mental Health Round
- Spreading mental health awareness
- Creating and implementing a mental health and wellbeing policy
Sixty clubs joined in on the program, many of which worked hard to foster environments that promote social inclusion and participation.
Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell expressed his excitement about clubs recognizing the significance of mental health through the Kick off the Conversation program.
“Football West is thrilled to partner with Healthway in promoting positive mental health practices through this initiative, and we’re eager to keep up the great work in this area,” he said.
Healthway CEO Colin Smith also shared his pride in supporting this meaningful mental health program.
“It’s fantastic to see more football clubs getting involved and striving to create a supportive environment for their members and the wider community,” he said.
Judy McLean, the club's Welfare Officer, participated in four different mental health training sessions. Her commitment to the topic and the club was impressive, especially since she even joined an online session while on vacation. At the beginning of the season, the club also released a podcast featuring Judy, where she talked about her role, the significance of mental health support within the club, and how members can tap into the resources available to them.
Judy mentioned, “This program highlighted the importance of wellbeing and motivated all our members to look out for one another. The club is now much better prepared and informed on how to handle situations where someone might be having a tough time.”
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