Kick Off the Conversation

Education is an integral part of developing a greater understanding around mental health and wellbeing practices that clubs can implement to better support members. Throughout the program, clubs will be offered opportunities to be involved in or host workshops and seminars that provide these educational opportunities.

Attend courses/sessions designed for Weelbeing Officers, Coaches, Club Administrators and/or club volunteers:

• Football West may host free mental health sessions throughout the year. To view upcoming events and register, HERE.
• True Sport eLearning – Mental Health & Wellbeing Club & Community Awareness – This FREE 60–75 minute module helps club members, coaches, volunteers, and parents build mental health literacy, create supportive club environments, and learn how to respond to issues and have supportive conversations. Access eLearning HERE.
• Online learning – LivingWorks Start: In just 90 minutes online, LivingWorks Start teaches trainees to recognise when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support.LivingWorks. Cost: $39 per person. Enroll HERE.
• Accidental Counsellor Workshop by Helping Minds – In this FREE 2 day workshop you will learn practical skills to talk to someone going through a difficult time, having relationship issues or not coping with life. Reserve a sport HERE.
• Club to host a mental health session for club members using facilitator
  • Helping Minds have available free and interactive presentations focusing on raising awareness about mental health and reducing stigma assocaited with mental health challenges. Download the Helping Minds flyer to find out more and book a session at your club.
  • Bouncing Back Program, Richmind WA – Bouncing Back is a unique, trauma-informed course designed to provide sporting clubs with tailored insights. It aims to open conversations about mental health, helping to identify, understand, support and destigmatise the challenges that may exist within your club. Additionally, it covers bullying and conflict resolution relating to the various cohorts (players, spectators) within your club to  help align club culture with your code of conduct.
  • The Regional Men’s Health – Working with Warriors is a series of educational sessions that aim to equip everyone with knowledge to better understand some of the logic that underpins masculine behaviour and how it relates to blokes physical, mental and social / spiritual wellbeing. Check their available funding HERE.

Resource:

Mental Health and Wellbeing Event Communication Template

To ensure the integration of mental health and wellbeing practices, the adoption of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy will assist the club to set clear intentions and ensure these strategies are continually implemented.

Actionable items:

• Either adopt the ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy’ provided by FW or develop your own policy
• Review existing policies to ensure they all support positive mental health and wellbeing.
  • Reviewing policies that reference the provision of or inclusion of alcohol, to ensure that practices support good health.
  • Review player, official and spectator codes of conduct to outline the values of the club in supporting mental health and wellbeing of all people involved in the game.
• Ensure the policies are readily available for club members to access in times of need (both physical documents and soft copies online.) Upload the policy to the club’s website and email the link to all your members
• Announce and promote the policies to club members

Resources:

Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy Template

Think Mental Mental Round – 25 & 26 July 2026

As clubs become more equipped with the tools and resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of their members, they should host events to give members the opportunity to connect and support one another.

How your club can get involved:

• Host a Club BBQ or Event
  Create a relaxed environment where members can socialise and check in with one another.
• Share the Purpose
  Take a moment during your event to speak about the importance of mental health and encourage members to look out for each other.
  – Download Mental Health Event – Script Guide
• Spread the Word
  Share key messages across your digital platforms to reduce stigma and promote positive mental health practices.
  • Download social media assets and posters or customise your tiles using the Canva templates.
  • Display Think Mental Health branding. Clubs that didn’t receive a branding kit in 2024, can email partnerships@footballwest.com.au to request a kit, which includes one mesh banner and two aprons.
• Invite a Facilitator
  Consider hosting a mental health awareness session at your club. These organisations can assist:
  • Helping Minds
  • Regional Men’s Health Initiative

• Implement a Wellbeing Policy
  Formalise your club’s commitment to mental health and make it available to members.
  • Download policy template

• Mental Health Education
  Complete the True Sport eLearning – Mental Health & Wellbeing Club & Community Awareness

Register for the Think Mental Health Round HERE.

Other Resources:

Leading a successful Mental and Wellbeing session
Mental Health and Wellbeing Events Suggestions – Tipsheet
Mental Health Event – Script Guide
How to check in on someone – Poster

Promoting key messages from the Think Mental Health campaign can assist clubs to reinforce the healthy behaviours they are encouraging club members to adopt.

Actionable items:

• Promote key mental health messages on club’s digital channels regularly
• Display mental health posters at the club

Resources:

Social media tiles
Kick off the Conversation posters

Having a clear plan in place is essential for clubs to effectively manage a critical incident. The Critical Incident Response Plan provides the Critical Response Team with a structured guide to respond decisively, efficiently and compassionately. Its purpose is to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of your club in the aftermath of a critical incident.

This plan is activated when your club experiences an extraordinary and unpredictable event within your community—one that has the potential to cause trauma and significantly impact the mental health and wellbeing of your members.

Actionable Items:

• Assign a Critical Response Team
• Critical Response Team reviews the Critical Incident Resources

Resources:

Critical Incident Response Plan
Critical Incident Response Overview 
Critical Incident Communication

Good nutrition fuels both body and mind. Healthway’s Fuel to Go & Play® and Think Mental Health campaigns promote the link between healthy food choices and mental wellbeing—helping us feel and perform our best, on and off the field.

Fuel to Go & Play® works with community venues and sporting clubs to create healthier food environments.

What’s included:

• 2 hours of online training

• Assistance to develop a healthy eating pledge or policy

• Guidance on building a healthier menu

• Promotional materials for healthy food and drink options

• Tools, fact sheets and ongoing support

Creating a healthier club environment is easy—start with Fuel to Go & Play®. 

Find out more HERE

Healthy Sports Program

Sporting clubs can apply for funding of up to $4,000 to support simple healthy eating initiatives.

• Up to $2,000 is available even if you don’t have a canteen or kiosk facility
• Up to $4,000 is available if your club has a canteen/kiosk

By providing clubs with funding and on-the-ground support, the grant hepls clubs create environments that support their members to fuel up with healthy food and drinks when playing sports.

Find out more HERE

Good Sports supports sporting clubs to reduce harms from alcohol and other drugs – fostering a healthier, safer and more family friendly environment for all. The program will strengthen your club policies and practices around alcohol consumption, sales and management, illegal drug use, safe transport, safe celebrations and mental health support.

Objectives of the Good Sports program

• Guide clubs to develop, commit to and maintain policies and practices that prevent alcohol and other drug (AOD) harm.
• Build knowledge and confidence to prevent or reduce risk of AOD harm and how to access help.
• Prevent or reduce risky alcohol consumption and behaviours.
• Increase awareness of mental health supports and how to access help.
• Prevent or reduce children’s exposure to alcohol use in sport.
• Contribute to the creation of a safer and inclusive environment for members.
• Build diversified and sustainable funding to prevent reliance on alcohol sponsorship. 

Find out more HERE