Our Community /

We support First Nations, Pasifika and All Abilities communities through social impact programs that support the health, wellbeing and education outcomes of individuals and celebrate the strengths of cultural diversity in Victoria.

The ‘our community’ pillar of the strategy focuses on delivering programs for community that focus on social impact as a measure of success. This includes improved health, employment and education outcomes for First Nations, Pasifika and All Abilities communities and program participants.

Māori & Pasifika Communities

STORM WAKA

Storm Waka - School Holidays

Melbourne Storm, in collaboration with local council youth services and community organisations, deliver Storm Waka across a two-week period during the school holidays. The program engages young people from diverse backgrounds in a structured series of sport-based, developmental, and cultural activities. These include:

• ‘Simply Your Best’ Rugby League program facilitated by NRL staff
• Personal development workshops focussing on values, empathy, teamwork and resilience delivered by Melbourne Storm & the CMY youth work team
• Engaging ice breaker activities and games facilitated by Storm and CMY staff
• Breakfast club for the young people at the start of each mornin
• Lunch each day provided by local Pacific Island catering businesses
• Cultural engagement and connection workshops facilitated by Pacific Island community organisations across Melbourne
• Students to receive a program pack which includes a Storm Waka program tee

To register your interest, email community@melbournestorm.com.au

Storm Waka - Careers

Storm Waka – Careers, is a program designed to support young people in Victoria on a journey to exploring a career in sport or rugby league. Targeted at secondary school students in years 10-12, students from 8 schools each year visit the Melbourne Storm offices at AAMI Park, and participate in a workshop that involves:

• Presentations from staff in key administration roles about their career journey
• Networking lunch with Storm staff
• Back of house tour at AAMI Park
• Storm merchandise and student program pack
• NRL player panel
• Students to receive a Storm Waka careers program pack

To register your interest, email community@melbournestorm.com.au

Storm Waka - In Schools

Storm Waka – In Schools, is a 6 week program delivered within the school setting focusing on personal development and growth, away from the rugby league field. The program is targeted at year 6-9 students, and involves 5 weeks of classroom based program delivery, and culminates in a program graduation in week 6. The program consists of:

• 5 x 1 hour workshops plus a program graduation in week 6
• Topics include leadership, identifying values, resilience, empathy, wellbeing, with a graduation that includes catering and the presentation of graduation certificates
• Practical rugby league drills and skills alongside classroom workshops
• Students to receive a program pack which includes a Storm Waka program tee

To register your interest, email community@melbournestorm.com.au

All Abilities Communities

Storm Inclusive Match Days

Melbourne Storm is proud to be the Club of choice for a broad cross-section of the Victorian community. As we develop our inaugural Disability and Inclusion Action Plan, the Club is already implementing programs to provide all members and fans with a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Partnering with The Inclusion Project, Storm is making game days at AAMI Park more inclusive and accessible for people living with hidden disabilities. The program provides:

• Casual employment opportunities at Melbourne Storm for staff living with hidden disabilities
• Supported delivery of a Sensory Room at AAMI Park by a qualified Occupational Therapist
• Community seating bay for people living with disability close to support in the Sensory Room
• Sensory program packs (inclusive of earmuffs, social stories and fidget toys) to support the match day experience for neurodiverse fans at Storm match days

First Nations Communities

Dardi Munwurro 

Melbourne Storm has partnered with leading Aboriginal family support service, Dardi Munwurro, to raise awareness for their services and will help deliver programs that assist Aboriginal men and youth to identify their emotions and personal strengths.

Healthy Relationships and Leadership

The healthy relationships and leadership program will see a partnership between Melbourne Storm and Dardi Munwurro to deliver a program that focuses on a preventative approach to educating First Nations young people about developing healthy and respectful relationships in a culturally safe manner.