City of Stonnington sports clubs play a vital role in our community. We have a variety of clubs for all ages and abilities. These offer connection and a sense of belonging and have a positive influence on health and wellbeing.
We encourage sports clubs to participate in the Healthy Sports Clubs program.
The program is open to Stonning-based clubs that want to:
- strengthen their reputation and culture
- attract more players, volunteers and supporters
- be seen as healthy, family-friendly and safe.
Program partner Better Health Network will support clubs as they navigate the program.
For more information, read our Healthy Sports Clubs guide(PDF, 1MB).
Expressions of interest
To get involved, download our expression of interest form(DOCX, 41KB).
If your club submits an expression of interest, Better Health Network's health promotion team will contact you about the initiative.
If you have any questions, email recreationservices@stonnington.vic.gov.au
Health areas
Inclusion
Inclusion involves providing equal opportunity to people from diverse backgrounds to participate in physical, recreational and social activities. The program takes steps to ensure that people from diverse backgrounds feel safe and valued to access, join or visit sports clubs.
Mental wellness
Mental wellness includes emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It is an important part of overall wellbeing for both individuals and communities.
Feeling connected, being productive and involved, coping with life stresses, and being able to contribute to the community are critical to mental wellness.
It is about providing opportunities to ensure clubs are friendly, inviting and engaging for the whole community, with zero tolerance for bullying or discrimination.
Smoke and vape-free clubs
This involves using resources from QUIT Victoria to protect club members and the community from the harms of smoking, vaping and secondhand smoke.
The program supports clubs to create a physical environment that supports and promotes smoke- and vape-free behaviour. This includes implementing signage, policies and other legislative requirements. It also includes support to connect members with relevant information and skills.
Healthy food and beverages
In settings like sports clubs, the food environment supports people to make healthy food and beverage choices. The food environment includes club canteens, vending machines, and food and drink provided at club events and training. Clubs can make small changes to support members and visitors to access nutritious food and drink options, fuelling performance and enhancing wellbeing.
Responsible alcohol consumption
This area supports clubs to comply with legislative requirements around alcohol, prevent risky behaviour, promote a family-friendly environment, improve club culture and role modelling, and ensure safety.
Drug use prevention
The prevention of drug use (recreational, performance enhancing, illicit and prescription) and associated harmful impacts on the sporting club community.
Physical activity and active recreation
Physical activity and active recreation refers to unstructured or less competitive activities outside competition sport.
Examples include ‘come and try’ sessions, social or modified sport offerings, active transport options and fundraising challenges. Activities such as these can support the community, not just the players, to get involved in enjoyable and accessible forms of movement.
This area draws on and aligns with the VicHealth Doing Sport Differently principles.
Injury prevention
This area involves reviewing and improving injury prevention and management practices and systems. This helps supports everyone return to play safely.
The program will support clubs to create a physical environment that supports and promotes injury prevention. Clubs will form partnerships with injury prevention organisations and create a supportive culture that role models injury prevention behaviours.
Sun protection
Sports clubs have a duty of care and legal responsibility to ensure a safe environment for all involved. This includes protecting club members from UV radiation and ensuring they are aware of the need to protect their skin.
This area aims to limit sun exposure at clubs through practical strategies and resources from SunSmart Victoria.
Healthy Sports Clubs participants
Read our case study(PDF, 3MB) to learn how the East Malvern Junior Football Club promoted a smoke- and vape-free environment.