SALT (Sport and Life Training) has been working with Victorian sporting clubs for eight years to foster mental resilience and healthy values in their teams and broader community. They received a Community Grant to deliver their Wellbeing and Mental Health module to sporting clubs. This initiative, called the Clubs with Heart webinar series, engaged nine clubs, including the City of Melbourne Bowls Club, the Warrandyte Netball Club, and others.
The program focuses on creating clubs and team environments that cater to both competitive and personal development needs. More than 100 clubs have participated in the series. The funding allowed SALT to offer Masters Football Clubs in Victoria the Club Wellbeing Package, including interactive mental health sessions at clubrooms with a unique Live Quiz platform so people can give anonymous real-time feedback about how they are really travelling.
The sessions are followed by online training for Club Wellbeing Teams to help facilitate a healthy and supportive community. This isn’t just about young people either - for people of all ages, the local sports club may often be their closest community.
Parkside Spurs FC Well-being Coordinator Jo Richardson said their two sessions were highly engaging and well received.
“SALT facilitators took time to meet and understand the culture of the club. They were experienced and knowledgeable in mental health. The sessions raised awareness and highlighted the important role the football club can play in supporting players, volunteers and families."
Clubs like the Plenty Valley Masters and the Western Spurs Masters have also received this training, and they now join SALT alumni that number over 700 clubs throughout Australia via 2,500+ educational sessions across 18 different sports.
FFV is certainly proud to be supporting such an integral community endeavour.
Following the fourth instalment of the Clubs with Heart webinar series, SALT can now say they have had participation from more than 100 clubs!
