GO Soccer Mums Program: empowering women through football

In an innovative collaboration, the Monash Health – Health Promotion Team, City of Greater Dandenong, Football Victoria, and Reclink have joined forces to promote gender inclusivity in sports through the “GO Soccer Mums” program. This initiative is tailored to encourage women and gender-diverse individuals in the Greater Dandenong region to engage in football. 

The program is designed to promote physical activity and social connections. Participants are welcomed into a judgment-free environment to have fun, meet new people, and learn basic football skills.

Initially launched as an 8-week program in the spring and summer of 2023, the GO Soccer Mums Program attracted ten enthusiastic participants. A subsequent 6-week program was offered in the summer and autumn of 2024, with six individuals participating. These sessions held once a week, emphasised unstructured physical activity and basic skill development without the pressure of competition. 

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the friendly atmosphere and the joy of learning a new sport. One participant expressed, “Good coaching and a lot of fun,” encapsulating the spirit of the sessions. The program has effectively provided a platform for participants to break away from their daily routines and engage in physical activity. 

As the program gears up for another run in the upcoming spring and summer of 2024, potential participants and supporters are encouraged to look out for promotional activities. The continued effort of the collaborating organisations underscores a shared commitment to enhancing community health and wellbeing through inclusive sports initiatives. The success of the GO Soccer Mums Program serves as an inspiring model for similar initiatives aiming to empower underrepresented groups in sports.