The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation is pleased to join with the AFL as a delivery partner for Movember Ahead of the Game (AOTG) – a mental health literacy and resilience program for young people that will commence in community football clubs next month.

The AOTG program will be the largest roll out of a mental fitness program in sport globally and aims to educate young players and umpires (aged 12-18 years) and their support networks of parents, coaches, and club volunteers on the importance of mental health. Giving them tools to deal with life's challenges, and the confidence to support their mates through tough times, whilst also empowering them to look after their own mental wellbeing.

The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation will join 15 other community organisations from across the country to facilitate AOTG’s interactive workshops to teams of young players and umpires in community football club changerooms, before, after or during training.

The program also extends to workshops for parents, coaches and club volunteers, providing opportunities to educate whole football club communities on recognising mental health challenges, identifying when to get help, and building resilience to deal with challenges in sport and life.

AFL Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Dr Kate Hall said it was great to welcome a host of delivery partners to the program.

“The AFL is thrilled to partner with Movember and work with our delivery partners to facilitate the Ahead of the Game program to hundreds of communities this year,” Dr Hall said.

“We know that grassroots football clubs around Australia provide a place for connection and belonging for young people. The AFL and Movember believe footy is a way for young Australians to learn crucial mental skills that build resilience in football and life. These skills include appreciating your team and helping out a mate."

“We want to harness the power of our great game to help players, coaches, parents and volunteers to understand mental health, build mental fitness and strengthen resilience across the country so that we can build communities that are mentally fit and capable to handle any challenge that comes their way.” 

With most common mental health conditions occurring in adolescence to mid-20s, Movember APAC Country Director, Rachel Carr said giving young people the tools to better understand mental health and mental fitness has never been more important.

“We know that 75% of all mental health conditions onset before the age of 25 years old, making these critical early intervention years. If we can connect with young people before this point and help improve 2023 Delivery Partners media kit their mental health literacy and resilience, we could slow the onset and burden of mental ill health for future generations,” Carr said.  

General Manager of Community and Government Relations at the Western Bulldogs, Kashif Bouns, said the Bulldogs were looking forward to delivering the program across the West of Melbourne and Victoria. 

“At the Western Bulldogs we take great pride in serving our community across Melbourne and Victoria’s west through a range of established community programs. Mental health is a key focus across all our programs, and we understand the importance of working with young people to help them understand their mental health so, this initiative is a great fit for us and we are looking forward to working with the AFL, Movember and community football clubs in our heartland to deliver practical mental fitness training through Ahead of the Game,” he said. 

“Research tells us that one of the best way to deliver mental health education for young people is in a familiar setting through a trusted source, and there is no better way to reach young people than in the comfortable and welcoming environment of their local football club using the power of a brand like the Western bulldogs Football Club.” 

The AOTG program will be delivered to in stages to community football clubs across all states and territories throughout the three-year partnership, with the program to begin in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania in the first year.  

Community football clubs can registration their expression of interest for the first year of the AOTG program via the Play AFL website.