Beyond the Pitch: Melbourne Victory and LifeChanger Foundation Drive Youth Mental Health Initiative

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Image credit: FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com

In an announcement made on Wednesday, Melbourne Victory and LifeChanger Foundation revealed this month’s Stand Together Mental Health Round in support of youth mental wellbeing.

Uniting and supporting the community

Ahead of Victory’s Isuzu UTE A-League game against Macarthur FC on Sunday 15 March, the club will host various match-day activations as part of the Stand Together Mental Health Round. These will include giveaways, an obstacle course by Tyrepower (partner of both Victory and LifeChanger) and a LifeChanger Scavenger Hunt.

All such activities will unite the community in the name of promoting youth mental health and wellbeing.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined the club’s pride at joining forces with LifeChanger.

“As a Club, we understand the influence we have on young people across our community. Through our longstanding partnership with LifeChanger, we are committed to supporting young people to build confidence, resilience and a strong sense of self,” Carnegie explained.

“The Stand Together Round brings that commitment to life and helps us live our vision to lead, unite, connect and inspire through football.”

Where football and education cross paths

The partnership closes the distance between sport, education and mental wellbeing. By using football’s popularity and following among young people, Victory and LifeChanger can reach a huge audience to promote unity, community and mental health

Furthermore, CEO and Founder of LifeChanger Foundation, Scott Waters, affirmed the partnership’s value for young people.

“Sport has an incredible ability to bring people together, and that connection can be life-changing. Our partnership with Melbourne Victory allows us to reach young people in powerful and relatable ways,” Waters explained.

“The Stand Together Round is about reinforcing that mental wellbeing matters, and that no young person should feel alone in their challenges.”

Although football is a sport with firece rivalries and competitivity at its core, it can nevertheless unite people, communities and fans of all ages through their shared passion for the game.

How do LifeChanger help?

As part of the Stand Together Round, LifeChanger Foundation will team with Melbourne Victory to deliver interactive workshops to the A-League Men’s team, as well as the U15 and U16 Academy teams. The sessions will seek to inspire new advocates for mental health within the club via open and honest conversations.

LifeChanger Foundation is non-profit organisation striving to empower young people with foundational skills, whether emotional, social or resilience.

Moreover, in 2024, LifeChanger helped more than 140,000 young people across 600+ schools in Australia and New Zealand. The team aims to positively impact over 1 million young people annually.

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Inside GIS’ New Executive Edge Program Driving Sport’s Future Leaders

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

A new executive education program designed to shape the next generation of sports industry leaders is set to launch in June 2026, offering participants a rare blend of academic insight and real-world application at the highest level of global sport.

The Executive Edge in Sport, delivered by Global Institute of Sport (GIS) in partnership with Rotman School of Management Executive Programs, will provide current and aspiring leaders with the tools needed to navigate an increasingly complex and fast-evolving sports landscape.

The seven-week program, Sports Leadership Essentials, is delivered primarily online, offering a flexible and immersive learning experience for professionals worldwide. It is tailored for individuals seeking to strengthen their leadership capabilities within sport, as well as those aiming to transition into senior roles. This includes athletes navigating their post-playing careers.

Led by Sharona Friedman, President and CEO of GIS, and Walid Hejazi, Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at Rotman, the course combines academic rigour with industry relevance. Participants will engage with key topics shaping modern sport, including leadership and strategy, governance and ethics, finance and revenue models, marketing and fan engagement, event operations, and the growing influence of AI and emerging technologies.

The program also features exclusive masterclasses with senior figures from across the global sports industry, alongside sessions led by leading academics and practitioners from the Rotman School.

For those seeking a more hands-on experience, participants can opt into the Sports Leadership Lab. This is a four-day, in-person summit held at BMO Field in Toronto. Delivered in collaboration with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the lab provides behind-the-scenes access to elite sport operations, bridging theory with practice in a live stadium environment.

As the global sports industry continues to expand and evolve, The Executive Edge in Sport positions itself as a critical pathway for leaders looking to stay ahead. It provides students with the knowledge, network, and perspective required to lead with impact.

Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

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