Regional Youth Communities Connection through Softball in Bundoora is one of the 27 program partners which will receive a share of $5 million from VicHealth as part of The Big Connect.
Through the program, Softball Victoria will increase opportunities for youth around the sport of softball. It will specifically look to engage people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD), females, the indigenous community and those who have a disability.
Softball Victoria state operations manager Justin Zelones said it was all about providing access to sport to the disadvantaged.
“The program will be to engage youth as well as juniors from five-years-old and upwards in regional areas where they wouldn’t necessarily have access to softball or a great amount of community sport,“ Mr Zelones said.
Mr Zelones believes it gives the minority groups a sense of direction and social skills.
“So particularly at a youth level, it gives them somewhere to engage with the community and get out, socialise and give them places to go, and hopefully purpose,“ he said.
Funding the program receives will go towards a number of different avenues said Mr Zelones.
“So what this allows us to do, is to purchase equipment in these areas, making sure we can have people go out and spend time in these places and provide the service.“
“We really are excited about what’s going to be happening over the next 18 months in regional Victoria.“
The Big Connect is part of VicHealth’s initiative, supporting the mental wellbeing of young people by getting them to engage with friends, family and communities in ways that are comfortable for them.
