Mental health service makes move to basketball

LOCAL mental health service Read The Play has entered new territory by forming a partnership with Geelong United Basketball Association (GUB).

GUB CEO Mark Neeld said Read The Play’s services can assist GUB in providing support to local junior basketball players around the greater Geelong region.

“With 45 Victorian Junior Basketball League teams and two Big V Youth League teams, we have close to 500 people under the age of 23 representing Geelong on a weekly basis,” Mr Neeld said.

“Read the Play is highly regarded for the work it has done and continues to do around youth mental health, and we believe that can only be of benefit to Geelong United Basketball.

“We are proud that Read the Play has chosen Geelong United Basketball to expand the reach of its program.”

Established in 2006, Read The Play is a program that engages with local sports clubs to deliver messages that improve mental health literacy and knowledge about where to get help for mental health problems.

General manager Michelle Gerdtz said the organisation was keen to include other sports on top of local football and netball clubs.

“We have been delivering our programs to football and netball clubs in the region for 17 years and this partnership represents a significant shift in our strategic thinking,” she said.

“We want Read the Play to be available to all young people in Barwon region sporting clubs in the future and our partnership with Geelong United Basketball is the first step towards reaching that goal.”

To celebrate the commencement of the partnership, last Saturday’s (June 3) Geelong United Supercats NBL1 game against Knox Raiders was designated as ‘Read the Play Round’.

One dollar from every ticket sold was donated to Read the Play to assist in delivering their programs.