CATS IN THE COMMUNITY 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Sponsors & Partners A message from Brian The Geelong Football Club is committed to help sustain the community that sustains it. We have a unique opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to us over 160 years; to contribute to the circle of community wellbeing. The club is continually looking to do more, to do things better and to ensure that our intentions are matched by our actions. It is our vision to be world class in our community strategy. We are committed to open doors, create networks, lead change, advocate for progress, and leverage partnerships across industries and agencies. As highly visible members of the community, everyone involved in the club, from players to coaches and staff understand their unique public role and aspire to make a positive contribution to the community. READ THE PLAY Youth Health Awareness All the club’s programs have one central purpose - to play our role in building a healthier community. Our goal is to empower young people to make good choices about their health and wellbeing. Geelong Cats have three key focus areas that together make up the Cats in the Community Program: • Education programs • Game development/social connectivity • Community assistance While the club has always had a strong community presence, we have refined our focus in the past decade. The club committed to ‘deep dives’, taking our community work from reactive response across thousands of requests, to driving meaningful change in our community. Our club wanted to leverage its unique position to ‘makes things happen’ and lead projects that reflect the principles the players live every day. We are pleased that we have been able to achieve these goals and will continue to do so. In addition to growing participation in our game, our determined focus became youth health across the Geelong region. We made a conscious decision that this is the age group our resources, our knowledge, and our messages could best be directed. We have co-designed programs that are ethically sound, backed by experts, and most importantly result in youth making good choices for their health and wellbeing. These programs are continually evaluated and adapted to ensure best practice. While many judge our club on wins and losses on the field, we take a broader view. We are proud of our wins in the community and the positive difference we can make in people’s lives. This commitment is real and meaningful to our club, and we look forward to it continuing in the years ahead. Brian Cook Chief Executive Club Community Champ Welcome Tom Hawkins Kate Darby Every year, our goal is to win premierships. However, in between that, it is also to be good people and help our community where we can. I was Community to me, is one of the most important things when building clubs like this...clubs that always told that no matter how tough you think your life is, there’s always someone who has to face challenges that are even tougher than yours. If are full of great culture and togetherness. We are lucky down here at Geelong to have such a our work in the community can teach us all something, it is perspective and how fortunate we all are. strong connection with our community, and to have a community team that does an incredible job connecting us with different people every day. From the nine year olds learning key health literacy It’s an honour to win the Club Community Champion award. However, in my in our Healthy Heroes program, to the 90 year olds attending Coffee Club, our reach is incredible eyes, any Geelong player could have won this award. I think that every year and the sense of belonging and connection we are able to provide people with is very special. when the recipient accepts this award and that’s not to take anything away from the past winners either. We are so lucky as players that we are in a position to be able to see first hand the effect we can have on young people, and be able to give back to our community that supports As players we are in a unique position of privilege in our community. I know I us in so many ways. certainly don’t take this position for granted and I am certain my team mates don’t either. We all try to give back when we can and we all encourage each I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with many other to be better both on and off the field, even when sometimes we fall short. of our community programs over the past few years, and the feeling it gives me to be able to do my bit for If there is one thing all our fans, members and supporters should all be proud of, the place that has done so much for me, and help out it’s that you are a part of a football club that takes their position in the community with grassroots sports that have been a part of my life so seriously. Be proud of every single player listed in this group who genuinely growing up is very touching. tries to use their position to better our community. I’m extremely honoured to be awarded this year’s May we all commit to helping the community and long may that be our culture. AFLW Community Club Champion, it’s an award that means so much to me and I see as something really important for this community and club partnership to continue to be so strong. Thank you so much and I can only hope I’ve been able to positively imapct some people in our community as much as many of them have impacted me.” The Why Our programs respond directly to community needs in a meaningful and purposeful way. Our Cats in the Community programs have one central purpose, to build a better and healthier community with a special focus on children and youth. We work with experts in the field, community service organisations and academics to ensure our programs are evidence informed and best practice. FACT: 96% of all Australians do not eat the recommended FACT: Racial tolerance, immigration and settlement are daily intake of vegetables critical issues confronting Australia How we respond: Healthy Food, Healthy Mood How we respond: NGA & Welcome to Geelong FACT: Almost one in three Victorian children are FACT: Accessible and free community spaces are overweight or obese essential to the viability of community organisations How we respond: Healthy Heroes How we respond: Deakin Cats Community Centre FACT: There is a need to engage and inspire the next FACT: Growing participation and engagement in the generation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering game of AFL provides a sense of community connection and Maths) and to further focus on increasing and belonging physical activity in young people How we respond: Footy Cats How we respond: BioCATS FACT: Engaging with the community is central to our FACT: Over 80% of students surveyed in our region mission and we have the unique opportunity to give indicate that they have been exposed to bullying and back to the community that gives so much to us abusive behaviour online How we respond: Cats Care How we respond: Cyber Cats FACT: One in four young people between the ages of FACT: Alcohol is the largest contributor to 15-24 will experience a mental health problem in any adolescent accident and injury 12-month period How we respond: Just Think How we respond: Supporting Read the Play FACT: Strong cultural identity is fundamental to FACT: One in five people have a sensory need indigenous health, social and emotional wellbeing How we respond: By becoming Australia’s first sensory How we respond: Djilang inclusive stadium with our Sensory Zone project In its pilot year, Healthy Food, Healthy Mood was delivered to over 6,000 foundation to year two students in 54 schools in the Geelong region. Students developed skills in learning how to prepare healthy snacks, make positive food choices, plus experience activities and breathing techniques to help regulate emotions. Post program, 92% of students reported that they tried a new food with 69% of students stating that they tried a new food they didn’t think they would like. A family night provided an opportunity for parents and children to learn about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, just like the Geelong Cats players! This project has been developed with the Pick My Project grant received from the Victorian State Government. Sponsor Partner 2019 saw another successful year in the Healthy Heroes program with over 7,000 year three and four students participating in the program. Our players took part in delivering this engaging program which focuses on positive behaviour change across five key areas; physical activity, healthy eating, hydration, screen time and sleep. The program was complimented by a teacher professional development session which educated teachers on how to incorporate more physical activity and healthy eating practices into the classroom. Pre and post surveys are completed by the students and teachers and has resulted in increased overall knowledge in all areas. 96 percent of teachers agreed that the Healthy Heroes program taught their class valuable information. “I learnt the appropriate amount of time to have both physical activity and screen time. I also learnt how many serves of vegetables and fruits I should have. Finally, I learnt I have NOT been drinking enough water every day and I will try to improve” - Student quote Sponsor Partner A partnership program by Partnering with BioLAB, the Victorian Bioscience Education Centre, SEDA and with help from our first-year players and support from Bisinella, over 1,600 years five and six students took part in the full day BioCATS program.