The Geelong Cats is in its 14th year of playing a support role to the Read the Play program.
AFL players Mark Blicavs and Mark O’Connor along with AFLW player Danielle Higgins are proud ambassadors of the Read the Play program.
Read the Play provides participants in all local Clubs within the Geelong region with a greater understanding and awareness of youth mental health and was delivered to over 40 football and netball clubs in 2019.
The Read the Play team, led by the head Education Coordinator, have created two online courses around youth mental health to equip club officials and parents with the tools to support young people with their mental health.
As sporting clubs are a positive and safe environment for young people, they're a setting where young people are more likely to open up and share their struggles.
These courses provide the knowledge and literacy to assist someone who is struggling with their mental health, equip people with the confidence to engage with young people who are having mental health difficulties, break down barriers and reduce stigma around youth mental health.
They have been developed with sporting clubs and parents in mind but are open to anyone and are free to complete.
