On The Ball

On The Ball is a school-based health promotion program - run by the Bill Hutchison Foundation in conjunction with the Essendon Football Club - that uses elite athletes as role models in the delivery of a resiliency program.

On the Ball Objectives:

The objectives are built upon those factors that contribute to achieving the ultimate health goal described above and are:

• To develop the coping strategies, problems-solving and decision making skills of participants
• To develop greater awareness amongst participants of the support networks available to them
• To broaden knowledge of the options available to participants in their local community to join sporting and other groups
• To increase the understanding and awareness of families, schools and communities about the nature of health morbidities, especially depression, obesity and substance use

"For a whole host of reasons, participation in sport provides significant benefits for the mental health of our adolescent community. We can now add to the list of benefits, its potential life-saving role in the prevention of obesity and substance abuse,"Associate Professor Michael Carr-Gregg.

On the Ball uses the following elite athletes to run the program:

Essendon Footballers

• Ricky Dyson
• Scott Gumbleton
• Heath Hocking
• Cale Hooker
• Angus Monfries
• Sam Lonergan
• Jay Nash
• Brent Prismall
• John Williams

Australian Netballers

• Bianca Chatfield
• Shelley O'Donnell
• Caitlin Thwaites
• Ashlee Howard

If you have already been through one of our On The Ball programs we have a number of sections designed especially with you in mind.

• About the Program
• Kids Help Line
• Get Involved
• Links

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