Community and Family Support Contract Id CON-044257 Parenting Through Sport

January - June 2026

Parenting Through Sport continued to demonstrate that simple, inclusive activities can create meaningful opportunities for children, families and services to connect. Across the program, children became more confident and engaged as sessions progressed, parents increasingly joined activities and interacted with each other, and local providers played an active role rather than simply attending. New families were reached, returning participants demonstrated an ongoing connection to the program, and strong local partnerships helped create welcoming environments where families felt comfortable participating. Importantly, the program provided a relaxed platform for community and health services to connect with families through positive shared experiences.

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Some of the strongest outcomes came through small moments that demonstrated genuine connection. A young participant proudly returned after practising his football drills at home, while another child approached a fellow participant after a session, introduced himself and simply asked if he wanted to be friends. A non-verbal child with autism participated alongside other children, much to the delight of his parents, while another hesitant participant gradually gained enough confidence to participate without the support of her teacher.

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There were also strong signs of ongoing connection, with returning children proudly wearing Footy for Fun shirts from previous programs, families exchanging contact details, children playing together before sessions and participants regularly wanting activities to continue after sessions had finished.

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