Eight members of the headspace Warrnambool team are now trained facilitators of Ahead of the Game, an AFL and Movember program designed to strengthen the mental health and resilience of young athletes.
The team completed its facilitator training this week and will now deliver the program to football clubs across Warrnambool, Portland and surrounding communities.
Ahead of the Game is an interactive mental health program for players and umpires aged 12 to 18, as well as their parents, carers and coaches.
Delivered through 45-minute workshops, the program helps young people recognise the signs of mental health challenges, develop practical coping strategies and learn how to support their teammates both on and off the field.
Player sessions focus on two key areas:
Mental health literacy
Helping young people recognise the signs of mental health challenges in themselves and others.
Resilience and coping
Providing players with practical tools to manage challenges they may experience through football and everyday life.
Separate sessions are also available for parents, carers and coaches, focusing on building their understanding of mental health and increasing their confidence to support young people experiencing challenges.
The workshops can be delivered in clubrooms before, after or during regular training sessions, making them easy for local clubs to incorporate into their existing schedules.
headspace Warrnambool is proud to partner with the AFL and Movember to bring this valuable program to young athletes and their support networks across the region.
Football clubs interested in learning more or arranging a workshop can contact Kayla Mugavin at kmugavin@brophy.org.au or Lucy Whelan at lwhelan@brophy.org.au.