100 SPORTING CLUBS & 50 SCHOOLS PER YEAR
WESTERN AUSTRALIA FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Thanks to the support of the Federal Government and the Health Department the Outside The Locker Room welfare and education program is now fully funded for up to 100 sporting clubs and 50 schools across Western Australia per year for the next four years.
The allocated funding will also ensure the employment of a full time Program Coordinator and a Part Time Indigenous Coordinator & Mentor to ensure the successful roll out of the program across the state.
The funding will ensure that 100 sporting clubs and 50 schools get x 2 educational visits covering topics such as mental health, resilience, drugs, alcohol and/or gambling. All participants will also get free access to the OTLR Welfare Team via the free downloadable app where they can seek support and/or advice for personal, family or friends.
“We are very grateful for the support shown to us by the federal government and the health department. This funding allows us to set up our program across community sport and schools for the next four years”, CEO Jake Edwards explains.
There will be a strong focus on building partnerships with sporting codes and focusing on offering their communities this amazing opportunity to ensure the education and support of their players, families and community.
Outside The Locker Room are also in the process of creating and implementing an Indigenous Program targeted at rolling out across the Pilbara region in northern Western Australia. This initiative is being supported and partnered with local organisations that will see the training and employment of local residents to help facilitate the education program across sporting clubs and schools.
Jake talks about focusing on rural communities.
“Our team is really passionate about working in rural areas across Australia where access to programs like ours is very rare. The training and support of local communities is a vital step in ensuring the sustainability of our program for many years to come”.
Over the last 2 years the program has been working alongside the elite level WAFL clubs such as;
– Perth
– South Fremantle
– Subiaco
– Peel Thunder
– Swan Districts
– Claremont
In March 2020 the Outside The Locker Room team including CEO Jake Edwards and Board Member, Robert Dipierdomenico aka ‘Dipper’ are kicking off a road trip from Broome to Perth in order to launch the program across the state in a campaign called The Stigma Stops Here Tour. Along the way they will be stopping at sporting clubs, schools, communities and main attractions to bring awareness to mental health while documenting the experience to be shown on a major television network.
The two week tour will finish up in Perth at their annual Celebrity Tackling Suicide Game. Dates are yet to be confirmed for March 2020.
“This opportunity is available now for all sporting clubs and schools, so we strongly encourage anyone associated with either to contact us immediately to reserve your spot before the 150 are gone before July 2020”.
Are you a part of a sporting club or schools in Perth? If you would like to learn more and have our team contact you to get started, please email our WA Program Coordinator Katie Cowcher on kcowcher@outsidethelockerroom.com.au