The Perth Football League is proud to announce an official partnership with Tackle Your Feelings, further strengthening our focus on wellbeing across the League.

Mental health continues to impact communities across Australia. In the past month alone, one in five Australians has experienced mental ill health. Among young people aged 16 to 24, that number rises to two in five, and suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44. At the same time, three in five Australians report taking action to manage their own mental health, demonstrating a growing awareness and willingness to seek support.

With more than 75 clubs and thousands of players, coaches, volunteers and umpires involved in the PFL, community football plays an important role in providing connection, purpose and belonging. This partnership reflects a proactive step in ensuring clubs are supported with the right tools, knowledge and networks to respond when it matters most.

Through this collaboration, clubs will have access to dedicated Tackle Your Feelings sessions delivered at their own venues, creating opportunities for open dialogue within familiar surroundings. By removing financial barriers and supporting clubs to host these sessions, the PFL aims to make participation accessible and straightforward.

Tackle Your Feelings is a free mental health training program designed for community AFL clubs. Established in 2018 by the AFL Coaches Association, the AFL Players’ Association and Zurich Insurance, the program has reached more than 20,000 participants nationwide.

PFL CEO Andrew Dawe said the partnership aligns strongly with the League’s values and its broader wellbeing initiatives.

“We’re incredibly excited to announce our official partnership with Tackle Your Feelings, an organisation that aligns strongly with our values and our ongoing commitment to supporting the well-being of our clubs. This partnership allows us to deliver practical, evidence-based mental health education, led by qualified psychologists, in environments our clubs know and trust. By bringing people together in a safe and supportive setting, these sessions create meaningful conversations around mental health. Alongside our Member Assistance Program, this partnership ensures our players, volunteers, umpires and club leaders have access to genuine support both on and off the field.”

The initiative complements the PFL’s Member Assistance Program, which provides members with access to three free, fully confidential counselling sessions and 24/7 support. Together, these offerings form part of a broader commitment to supporting the whole person, not just the player.

PFL Club Development and Wellbeing Officer Henry Beus said expanding access to the program has been a rewarding step for the League.

“Delivering the Tackle Your Feelings program out at clubs is one of my favourite parts of my role. Being able to partner directly with Tackle Your Feelings allows us to expand our delivery and deepen our engagement in this space, ensuring more players, coaches, volunteers and umpires have access to meaningful, practical mental health support in environments they trust.”

The partnership has also been welcomed by the AFL Coaches Association, with CEO Alistair Nicholson highlighting its significance at community level.

“We’re delighted to partner with the Perth Football League to expand the reach of Tackle Your Feelings, a program designed to help community clubs better understand, recognise and respond to mental ill health. This partnership builds on the PFL’s existing Member Assistance Program and further strengthens the support available to all clubs.”

Many PFL clubs already lead the way through mental health rounds and awareness initiatives across the season. This partnership builds on that momentum, helping to embed practical education and genuine support within everyday club environments.

Clubs interested in hosting a Tackle Your Feelings session are encouraged to contact Henry via henry@perthfootball.com.au to learn more about how to get involved.