Football West have announced a two-year partnership with Healthway.
The partnership will focus on behaviours within the West Australian football community through a campaign based around mental health, club environments e-gaming and priority communities.
The campaign is titled ‘Think Mental Health’ and will support the mental health of players, referees, coaches, volunteers and the rest of the football community.
The Think Mental Health messaging will be promoted to more than 200,000 participants across Western Australia.
Aligned with Healthway’s strategic priorities and in conjunction with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s (ADF) Good Sports Program, Football West will provide support to participants in the state to live a healthy lifestyle.
The governing body will work with the ADF to reduce alcohol related incidents and encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol with football clubs across the state.
Greg Williams, WA State Manager for the ADF, said:“The Good Sports program is a great way for club volunteers to make positive changes to their club environment. It is free, easy to use, and resources are provided to help you make any necessary changes.
“We work with over 900 sporting clubs in WA to support them in developing their own club policy. We look forward to working with many more and maintaining the health and safety of sporting club members across the state.”
The ‘Couch to Pitch’ program is a new initiative targeting video gamers, with the aim of engaging them and entering them into entry level physical football activities.
Football West CEO James Curtis said: “The ‘Couch to Pitch’ program signifies a fundamental aspect of Football West’s commitment to fostering healthy club cultures – from players to officials and volunteers to fans.
“We are pleased to partner with Healthway to ensure our sporting communities are being provided with the highest level of support in developing and sustaining healthier lifestyles and greater mental health.”