Imagine a world where everyone has the opportunity to build the resilience needed to overcome challenges and thrive. That's the world I'm working to create.

In Australia, and particularly in my own backyard of Western Sydney, the data on youth mental health is frightening. Almost two in five young people (aged 16-24) are struggling with their mental health, and the suicide rate has unfortunately increased by 27.8% in the past six years. Youths aren't the only ones struggling; according to the latest ABS DATA, anxiety and depression rates are also on the rise in older adults.

Despite these worrying trends, I believe there is real hope to turn these numbers around. And it starts, in my opinion, with us needing to focus on a preventative measure of building a culture of resilience.

Although we are living in an ever-increasingly difficult world for people to navigate, the one learned behavior in my opinion that has the most potential impact on reducing the mental health crisis we are facing is personal resilience.

Where do we start?

The good news is that we already have the framework in place through our culture of sport in Australia to really make a positive impact on the crisis we are facing and help foster youth resilience as Sport is one of the greatest tools to bulid individual resilience in a safe way.

Sports clubs and groups that provide a safe and facilitative environment where young people are challenged to solve problems and learn new skills, to lose and win and grow, and stay connected with others, in my opinion hold an important part of the solution to address the mental health crisis we are currently facing and need to be supported more by parents, schools, government and our leaders

This thought process has in part led to the creation of our own Step Into Action Movement, where we are looking to encompass the best of what effective sporting communities provide: community, connection, and active movement built around the walking experience that fosters challenges and personal resilience. We have choosen walking as it is accessable for nearly everyone regardless of age, health or financial status.

The vision is that all Australians, regardless of age, gender or financial status can access communities or environments that build connection, purpose, and the resilience skills needed to not only survive but thrive.

If you are interested in learning more about how sporting communities can help build resilience in young people or what I am looking to achieve with the Step Into Action Movement, I encourage you to visit website to connect and collaborate.