Rebuiding lives through sport and recreation

RecLink Australia began in Melbourne in 1990. RecLink was established to assist people experiencing social and economic disadvantage access sporting and recreational opportunities as a form of social therapy.

Through funding from Sport and Recreation Victoria, RecLink is building upon its substantial relationships with member agencies, and is continuing to provide a broad range of participation opportunities to Victorians experiencing disadvantage. 

With a new network of agencies recently established in Ballarat, RecLink is starting work on further expansion into regional Victoria.

RecLink is a not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to advocating for and improving access to sporting and recreational opportunities for disadvantaged people and the benefits which flow from this, such as community connectedness and improved health and well-being. 

RecLink involves a network of agencies who work with a range of disadvantaged people including services for people experiencing homelessness, drug and alcohol issues, disability, mental health issues, juvenile justice and social and economic isolation. 

The aim of RecLink is to help people find their way back into the mainstream community through access to sporting and recreational opportunities. RecLink activities include: a football competition, swimming, squash, badminton, cultural activities, annual camp, horse-riding and come-and-try events. 

In Victoria there are currently about 100 member agencies (initially, in 1990, there were four).

Simon Creen lends a helping hand down at Vic Park

RecLink objectives

To build partnerships to enable the expansion of and continued delivery of RecLink sporting and recreational programs in metropolitan Melbourne and new regional locations.

To improve physical activity services and remove barriers to participation to include participants from a range of backgrounds and with a variety of interests.

Junction Oval 2009

It was a pleasure for me to once again be involved with a great organisation such as Reclink with Peter Cullen. I was indeed honoured to have played on Grand Final day with a newly formed club called the Multi's, A side with many indian and Sudanese people who have never played the game before. To watch them at training was a pleasure and to be a part of what was a special day in their lives will be something i'll never forget. A special mention to the kids on Reclink Grand Final day who came along to help out. And a special hello to all the wonderful people who particiapted on the day.

Thats me probably getting the only kick i got for the whole game.

Grand Final day 2008
at the Junction Oval

It rained and rained and rained!

It was Grand Final day ay Junction Oval. We had 4 games all Premiership games the day started at 10 am and went right through to about 4 pm. To help assist with the days activities the boys from Xavier College did a magnificent job.

Butters Junior!

Some of the other Xavier boys in the gold jacket

Known as Shrek and played a top game on the day

Simon wants to say a big thanks for the footy guys. These lads also helped out on the day and from memory came from the Lilydale area at the end of the day they gave Simon the footy....Simon's had the footy for well over a week now and there is not much left of it.