Jamin Heppell...Game Changers Australia

Posted on May 24, 2016
 
That's Jamin Heppell and Kat Stevenson delivering an enthusiastic and refreshing address on the origins and drive of Game Changers Australia.
 
 
To the sporting minded the term "Game Changers Australia" usually conjures up thoughts of critical moments in some sporting contest whereby the end result is critically determined by some minute action at a given moment on the sports field.
 
This concept is correct but Jamin Heppell from "Game Changers Australia" has taken it more broadly to that of a young individuals level of personal development. Along with colleague Kat Stevenson (both pictured above) we were delighted by their energetic and passionate address embracing stories of both their personal journeys and how that lead to the Game Changers organization and its goals and processes.
 

Jamin comes from Leongatha. As a youth (not long ago) he noted how central the local football club was to the social glue for the community and connected with all age groups.   More important was the observation that lack of wholesome and skilled leadership could be detrimental to the community and the young adults. Certain behaviors of players, racist slurs,  homophobic and politically incorrect actions, heavy drinking all infected his football club and flowed through to the community.

So this important link between sport and community leadership and participation, was at the forefront of his ideas on how to help develop positive leadership skills, and these evolved further with his attendance at YMCA camps and RYLA (yes the Rotary Program). 

He decided to set up a leadership program for young leaders from many football clubs across the region and formed Captain’s Club. He visited 56 clubs, addressed the Boards and got them to nominate attendees for the camps. Getting these sporting leaders on-board was seen as an entry to the broader community'.

From this start Game Changers was founded in 2012.  One question sums up its aim:  "How do we engage young people?"

Combining sports psychology, physical conditioning, leadership studies, resilience training , nutrition and effective communication training Game Changers, a non-profit group supported by the YMCA and the Vic Government, provides the opportunity for potential sporting-community leaders to come together in camps and learn and share experiences.