Geelong is the first AFL club to team up with the Achievement Program, a Victorian Government health and wellbeing initiative delivered by Cancer Council Victoria.
Launched in 2012 as part of the Victorian government’s vision for a state free of avoidable disease and injury, the Achievement Program aligns perfectly with the Cats various community outreach initiatives.
The partnership plan ensures the Achievement Program and Cats education programs such as Healthy Heroes, Cyber Cats and Just Think support the creation of healthy school environments, in schools throughout the greater Geelong region.
“The club is always looking to make a positive difference in the lives of young people, and joining the Achievement Program further enhances the work we do," Geelong’s General Manager of Community Sarah Albon said.
“This will see schools within our region embed our programs and practices and inspire kids to take positive action to enhance their health and wellbeing."
Head of the Achievement Program, Tope Adepoyibi, believes the Geelong Cats community outreach initiatives offer schools within the region the opportunity to meet health and wellbeing targets in the Achievement Program.
“By working with local councils and programs, we want to see as many schools as possible recognised by the Victorian Government for their dedication to health and wellbeing,” Adepoyibi said.
City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stephanie Asher also acknowledges this great partnership stating, “The best way for the City of Greater Geelong to deliver the Achievement Program to primary and secondary schools is to collaborate. We are thrilled to support great organisations like the Geelong Cats who provide health and wellbeing school initiatives through their community programs.”
The three key Geelong Cats programs included as part of the Achievement Program are:
Healthy Heroes
Healthy Heroes focuses on positive behaviour change across five key areas; physical activity, healthy eating, hydration, screen time and sleep. Delivered by AFL and AFLW players and Cats staff, Healthy Heroes has expanded delivering to grade 3 & 4 students from over 90 schools across the Geelong region.
The program is proudly presented by GMHBA.
Cyber Cats
Cyber Cats, a full day program held in the Deakin Cats Community Centre, engages year seven students and asks them to consider what their online activity looks like, their impact on others, their privacy and general safety and how their behaviour may impact on their future.
Just Think
The Just Think program aims to reduce the amount of harm associated with underage consumption of alcohol. The program is delivered to year eight and nine students and the message is then replicated and promoted through the Just Think campaign at AFL and local level through dedicated matches.
Geelong Cats thank the support of GMHBA, Barwon Child Youth Family, Deakin University, Communities That Care and St John of God with the development, implementation and evaluation of these programs.
This article has been republished with permission from the Geelong Cats. To read the original: click here.