Anglicare works with numerous community groups across the communities we serve. In conjunction with our Social and Community Services team, we partnered with the Sunshine Coast Bunyas Rugby League club to promote the importance of mateship and mental health.
Who are the Bunyas?
The Sunshine Coast Bunyas are an Indigenous rugby club that prides itself on enriching community. They do this through culture, leadership and connecting families.
Brad Beetson, who is the Club President and son of the Queensland Rugby League Great – Artie Beetson, says that “Rugby League is a great vehicle for supporting mental health and bringing our community together.”
Promoting mental health
Gavin Hazel, a Local Elder and Sunshine Coast Bunyas Player, explains, “it’s about men’s mental health, it’s about uncles, brothers, nephews all coming together and playing together.”
Hazel also discussed that the Bunya gathering used to bring people in the community together. Although it doesn’t happen like it used to, the carnivals have allowed for people to come together in a different way.
Brad Beetson explains the club also recognises those in their community who they’ve lost to mental health struggles.
Some of the Bunya’s players expressed that playing football is a healthy outlet for their mental and physical wellbeing and that the group are like a family.
Partnership with Anglicare
As a social and community services provider, Anglicare was eager to partner with the Bunyas. The Bunya’s are working to address the importance of mental health and the benefits that community involvement can have on individuals and the wider community. These factors can contribute towards improving wellbeing and a healthy state of mind.
Correlation between sport and mental health
Football can help promote mental health in various ways for individuals. Some of the benefits it has on mental health include:
- Integration of cultural elements to increase cultural identity
- Community building and social togetherness
- Increasing access to other support networks
- Providing educational opportunities, particularly for youth
- Increasing a sense of pride in identity of players
- Improving self-esteem and confidence of players.