Kinross Wolaroi is throwing its support behind Batyr’s One Sock, One Goal campaign, all four of the school’s major winter codes jumping on board to help promote positive conversations surrounding young people’s mental health.
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About 700 of Kinross’ rugby union, netball, football and hockey players, across six different venues, will don bright, polka-dot socks in their respective games on Saturday.
The socks are a visual promotion of the link between positive physical and mental health, and act as a reminder that it’s okay to speak up.
“It’s all about raising awareness for Batyr’s cause,” Kinross year seven coordinator Claire Goodall explained.
“By wearing the socks we’re contributing to a movement of young people who are smashing the stigma surrounding mental health issues and talking about them, and we’re helping to promote those positive conversations.
“There’s a lot of regional areas doing this kind of thing, the NSW Waratahs have been involved and Hockey NSW has a big link as well.
“Rugby and hockey are two of our major sports and all the kids identify with sport stars, so this is a way to help them have a greater understanding of what health promotion is and help raise awareness as well.”
Kinross’ involvement isn’t just on the sporting field, it’s just one half of a joint initiative between the school’s well-being and co-curricular programs.
Batyr is visiting the school next Monday to deliver workshops to the year 11 students and Goodall said this weekend’s involvement in the One Sock, One Goal campaign is the perfect way to roll into that, and combine the two initiatives in a whole-school approach to health promotion.
“So Batyr will deliver those workshops to the year 11s, while the One Sock, One Goal aspect is a way to bring all the year groups together in support and also the wider community,” Goodall said.
The students have been heavily involved in the organisation and promotion as well.
“I put it to my year 10 class and they jumped at the chance to organise it as a part of our mental health unit,” Goodall explained.
“All the kids are really excited, they came flowing in to pick up their socks on Thursday, it’s really pleasing to see them all get behind it so much.”