Tuesday, 7 June 2022

 Mr HODGETT (Croydon) (12:32): I rise today to speak about the wonderful work that Sport & Life Training, SALT, has been providing over the past seven years delivering mental health, culture and leadership education into sporting clubs. Since 2015 this not-for-profit organisation has worked for 21 different sporting codes and has won the trust of sporting clubs, leagues and peak bodies. It also partners with leaders in health education, such as Beyond Blue and Our Watch. I meet often with Dave Burt, the founder of SALT, to discuss the successes of the programs being delivered and the future and ongoing need for more support so that these programs can be expanded. SALT aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness, to increase help-seeking and peer-support behaviours and to reduce suicide. Additionally, they aim to empower people so they can thrive and achieve their best in life. Their allied courses around positive coaching, positive parenting, drugs and alcohol, respect and equality, healthy masculinity and empowerment of women help contribute to the development of community within the club. The sessions are interactive, enjoyable, non-judgemental and are based on the principles of sport and positive psychology. SALT have a specifically designed live quiz, which enables them to obtain confidential, real-time information about what the groups are experiencing or thinking. This changes the nature of the conversations they have with the clubs by answering questions such as: ‘What kind of club do you want to be?’, ‘What is your major purpose?’, ‘What kind of influence do you want to have on the kids coming through?’ and ‘What kind of reputation do you want in the community?’. Clubs develop conviction that sport is not really about sport, it is about people. As we navigate life post COVID, the importance of investing into these club communities has never been more vital.