Healthy Sports Clubs

Sports clubs and associations have the power to drive positive change in our communities, becoming places where individuals and families can thrive.

Healthy Sports Clubs is a free initiative run by Monash Health supporting sports clubs and associations in the City of Greater Dandenong, City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Council to achieve change. By creating healthier, family-friendly cultures, clubs and associations become true champions of community wellbeing. 

For a quick introduction to Healthy Sports Clubs, hear from a participating club in this short Q&A video.

“Healthy Sports Club has been really great in providing health knowledge and support to the members of our club’s community. It has been great to have support to work through these areas that otherwise would not necessarily be possible as a volunteer.” – Cardinia Shire sports club.

How does it work?

The Four Steps

Healthy Sports Clubs was created in collaboration with local clubs and State sporting Associations to ensure that it is practical and achievable. We recognise that club leaders often feel overwhelmed, lacking the time or resources to drive positive change, even when they recognise the need for it. That’s why our team will work one-on-one with you, empowering you with the knowledge, skills and resources you need. You don’t need to tackle the transformation alone.

You will be guided through four simple steps:

Commit
Create
Initiate
Celebrate.

To read about each step, download the Introductory Document.

Health Areas

Our health areas have been expertly designed to optimise the mental, physical, and emotional health of everyone in your club community. By prioritising health and wellbeing at your club/association, you create a place where people can thrive both within and outside their sport.

Eighty-two percent of sports clubs/associations who have completed a health area noticed an increase in the number of people at their clubrooms or venue acting in a way that promotes health. For example, choosing healthier food or beverage options, not smoking or vaping, implementing injury prevention methods, using sun protection, or promoting inclusion.  

There are nine different health areas as part of Healthy Sports Clubs. You can choose health areas that your club/association is already focusing on, or areas that are more challenging and need improving, it is your choice. Click on the nine health areas to find out more:

health areas icons

Inclusion
Mental Wellness
Injury Prevention
Healthy Food & Beverages
Preventing Drug Harm
Smoke & Vape Free Clubs
Physical Activity & Active Recreation
Responsible Alcohol Consumption
Sun Protection

“I wholeheartedly recommend Healthy Sports Clubs to any club or association seeking to prioritise the health and wellbeing of their members. Their expertise, community support, innovative programs, resourceful tools, and positive impact make them an indispensable partner in promoting a culture of health and excellence in sports. Above all, the Healthy Sports Clubs initiative has had a profound positive impact on our club’s culture and ethos. By prioritising health and wellbeing, we have seen improvements in performance, morale, and overall satisfaction among our members. This holistic approach not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the fabric of our entire club.” – Cardinia Shire sports club.

Why Healthy Sports Clubs?

Our unique initiative will help your club or association stand out. Using our free marketing materials, you can convey a vibrant, safe, and welcoming atmosphere and appeal to new members who are looking for a healthier, family-friendly club.

Importantly, Healthy Sports Clubs is also aligned with other initiatives you may have already completed, such as Good Sports, Vic Kids Eat Well, Fair Access Principles, and sporting-code specific programs like the AFL Women & Girls Community Football Charter and Thriving Tennis Communities. Your previous work will be acknowledged and recognised, avoiding duplicate efforts.

Other benefits of being involved in Healthy Sports Clubs include:

Qualified Health Promotion Practitioner assigned to your club/association.

Official recognition for becoming a Healthy Sports Club/Association and promotion of your club/association by Monash Health.

Exclusive access to the Healthy Sports Clubs Health and Wellbeing Fund to support you to implement your Healthy Sports Clubs actions.

Access to free health and wellbeing workshops and resources.

Opportunity to enter our competitions with the potential to win prizes.

Monthly newsletter with all the latest grants and information.

Support with grant applications (including Monash Health letter of support).

Opportunities to meet and network with other participating clubs/associations.

Potential to be recognised at our annual Health Promotion Awards.

“Users believe in us because we are going above and beyond. It adds to our credibility.”  – City of Casey sports association.

Registered Clubs/Associations

One-hundred percent of clubs and associations who have participated in Healthy Sports Clubs rated it as valuable or very valuable, and would recommend it to another club/association.

Click on the local council area below to see registered clubs and associations.

Cardinia Shire Council

Beaconsfield Tennis Club – working on Smoke & Vape Free Clubs.
Catani Netball Club – recognised for Mental Wellness and Injury Prevention. Working on Sun Protection.
Cardinia Tigers Junior Football Club – working on Inclusion (Women & Girls).
Heat Sports Clubs – recognised for Healthy Food and Beverages (Level 1). Working on Injury Prevention.
Koo Wee Rup Netball Club – recognised for Mental Wellness and Injury Prevention.
Maryknoll Tennis Club – Working on Physical Activity & Active Recreation.
Nar Nar Goon Junior Football Club – Working on Inclusion (People with Disability).
Nar Nar Goon Netball Club – recognised for Mental Wellness, Smoke & Vape Free Clubs and Injury Prevention. Working on Inclusion (People with Disability).
Officer City Soccer Club – recognised for Healthy Food & Beverages (Level 1), Smoke & Vape Free Clubs, Mental Wellness, Injury Prevention, Sun Protection, Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Preventing Drug Harm. Working on Vic Kids Eat Well and Inclusion (Women & Girls).
Officer Tennis Club – recognised for Mental Wellness, Inclusion (Culturally & Linguistically Diverse), Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Preventing Drug Harm. Working on Smoke & Vape Free Clubs.
Pakenham Eels Rugby League Club – recognised for Inclusion (General). Working on Mental Wellness.
Pakenham Lions Netball Club – recognised for Mental Wellness, Injury Prevention and Inclusion (Women & Girls). Working on Sun Protection.
Pakenham Pumas Baseball Club – working on Inclusion (Women & Girls).
Reach Gymnastics – recognised for Inclusion (LGBTI+). Working on Injury Prevention.
Upper Beaconsfield Cricket Club – recognised for Injury Prevention and Mental Wellness.

City of Casey

Carlisle Park Vikings Cricket Club – recognised for Sun Protection. Working on Mental Wellness.
Casey Netball Association – recognised for Sun Protection and Injury Prevention.
Clyde Cricket Club – Working on Inclusion (Women & Girls).
Clyde Junior Football Club – Working on Inclusion (Women & Girls). Recognised for Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Preventing Drug Harm.
Devon Meadows Tennis Club – recognised for Vic Kids Eat Well.
Doveton Tennis Club – recognised for Inclusion (Culturally & Linguistically Diverse), Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Preventing Drug Harm.
Hampton Park Football Netball Club – recognised for Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Preventing Drug Harm.
Hampton Park United Sparrows Football Club – recognised for Healthy Food & Beverages (Level 3).
Lyndhurst Football Netball Club – Working on Healthy Food & Beverages.
Narre Warren Football Netball Club – recognised for Responsible Alcohol Consumption, Preventing Drug Harm and Smoke & Vape Free Clubs. Working on Healthy Food & Beverages.

City of Greater Dandenong

Dandenong West Cricket Club – recognised for Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Preventing Drug Harm. Working on Healthy Food & Beverages.
Noble Park Tennis Club – recognised for Physical Activity & Active Recreation. Working on Injury Prevention.
Oasis Otters Swimming Club – working on Inclusion (Women & Girls).
Springvale Dandenong Masters Athletics Club – recognised for Healthy Food and Beverages (Level 3), Injury Prevention, Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Preventing Drug Harm. Working on Mental Wellness.

News and Events

In the spotlight

Health Promotion Award winner, Claudio, is featured in the Star Journal
Cardinia Shire wins Victorian Sport Award
Quit Victoria features the Smoke Free Campaign Project case study
The Prevention Health Blog is Supporting Healthier Sports Clubs
Cardinia Shire Council and Healthy Sports Clubs ‘Mental Health Project’ a Finalist for the Vicsport Awards
Upper Beaconsfield Cricket Club in the spotlight in the local paper
The Prevention Health blog celebrates Creating Healthy Sports Clubs in the South East
The National Tribune Jumps into Healthy Sports Clubs in Casey

For more Monash Health health promotion news stories, read our latest blogs.

Hannah Smith, winner of 2023 Sports Clubs Award

Latest monthly club newsletter

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Healthy Sports Clubs is expanding

Monash Health are currently scaling Healthy Sports Clubs and sharing the framework and resourcing with other community health services in Victoria for free. Better Health Network, Holstep Health, Sunraysia Community Health Services and Eastern Health are currently rolling Healthy Sports Clubs out in their respective LGAs. You can find out more about how the initiative was developed and piloted in the Healthy Sports Clubs Pilot Evaluation Report. If you are interested in accessing and using the Healthy Sports Clubs framework in your LGA, please email Cassandra.crothers-swensson@monashhealth.org.

Collaborate with us

Our team can collaborate with your organisation to engage local community clubs in health and wellbeing initiatives.

We work with local and state-level organisations from the sport and health sectors, such as State Sporting Associations, local leagues and associations, elite sporting teams, community health organisations and peak bodies. Some of our past partners include Tennis Victoria, CMSport, the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, and Women’s Health in the South East.

Opportunities we can collaborate with you on include:

Joint workshops, forums and presentations.
Policy reviews.
Grant projects.
Research projects.
And more.

For more information on Healthy Sports Clubs and collaboration ideas, you can watch the recording of our recent Connection Event here.

Resource Library

Health and wellbeing resources for your club

Visit our resource library to help achieve your targets

Contact Us

“I felt very supported since the very beginning, I think it is a great initiative and something that all clubs can benefit from.” – Cardinia Shire sports club.

Express your sports club’s or association’s interest here

General enquiries

Cassandra Crothers-Swensson, Healthy Sports Clubs Lead
e: Cassandra.Crothers-Swensson@monashhealth.org

Help contacting us

For people who need help with English or an interpreter: : TIS: 131 450

For people with hearing or speech loss: TTY: 1800 555 677

Speak and Listen: 1800 555 727

Internet relay: National Relay Service: www.relayservice.gov.au