‘Mob Run This’ Running Festival is back for another NAIDOC Week
Promotional images and videos from last years’ event for media use can be found here.
After a hosting the 600-person inaugural ‘Mob Run This’ Running Festival last year, the Youth Support Advocacy Service (YSAS) will host the 2023 NAIDOC Running Festival along the Werribee River again on July 9th, 2023. The event aims to drive better health and wellbeing outcomes and provide community engagement with local services.
With the support of Clothing the Gaps, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), Rule Prostate Cancer (formally the EJ Whitten Foundation), Wyndham City Council, IPC Health, Koling Wada-Ngal Aboriginal Corporation, Aboriginal Wellness Foundation, One Tree Community Services, The Grange Community Centre, Australian Electoral Commission and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, the free event offers community the chance to celebrate 2023 NAIDOC week and the theme For Our Elders.
This NAIDOC week will focus on delivering family-oriented events that promote health and wellbeing and will help the community connect and celebrate Aboriginal culture and its people. Scott Krakouer Minang Noongar man and YSAS Youth and Family Worker said that the life expectancy gap, over representation in the justice system and poorer health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia is still too large.
“We know physical activity is important in living a positive lifestyle, achieving and maintaining health and that exercise and nutrition play vital roles in reducing certain chronic diseases prevalent in the Aboriginal community such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.”
“This event will provide exercise, cultural and social connection to the community and will have a positive impact, connecting young people to sport and recreation, and surrounding them with positive role models and peers to help reduce thier offending.”
“Our community is over represented justice system. In Victoria Aboriginal young people aged 10-17 years old are 14 times more likely to be under justice supervision that non-Aboriginal youth” Krakouer said.
YSAS and its supporting agencies will host this event on Sunday 9 July 2023 at 10am. The course will run on the lands of the Kulin Nation along the Werribee River starting at Presidents Park. Community members that register will run or walk 1km, 3km, 5km or 10km.
The Werribee River holds significant cultural relevance with the Aboriginal Traditional Owners. After the run, all participants will receive a running medal and singlet to celebrate their achievement and NAIDOC theme. A free catered lunch, live music as well as the many other cultural and family friendly activities will be held for all community members to enjoy. This event is for everyone, from young people to Elders, Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal. Participants can run, walk or roll, come together and celebrate.
Book your ticket using the event registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/naidoc-running-festival-2023-tickets-616820485677
More Information:
2023 ‘Mob Run This’ NAIDOC Running Festival
Sunday, July 9rd @ 10:00 AM
Presidents Park, 370 McGrath Road, Wyndham Vale
Events: 1KM, 3KM, 5KM, 10KM
(The event is inclusive of all abilities and is wheelchair accessible)
The day also includes a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, traditional dancers, free lunch and free face painting. On completion of the event, every participant will receive a medal and singlet to celebrate their achievement.
Marquees on the event site will be showcasing businesses and services that work with the Aboriginal community, particularly in the western suburbs but also across larger parts of metropolitan Melbourne.
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About YSAS (Youth Support + Advocacy Service)
The Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS) is Australia’s largest, youth-specific community service organisation. Operating since 1998 as Victoria’s flagship Youth Alcohol and Other Drug service, YSAS now employs over 370 skilled staff across 19 sites in metropolitan and regional Victoria. While the prime focus of YSAS remains on effective Youth AOD treatment and sector leadership, the organisation also has extensive experience in providing young people and families with services that support improved mental health and improve meaningful community participation.