Created in partnership with Melbourne Football Club, the initiative aims to raise awareness of Zurich's flagship community program, Tackle Your Feelings.
As part of the initiative, Zurich will donate a junior Sherrin football pack valued at over $450 to a community football club for every goal kicked by the Demons during the 2022 AFL Women's season.
Tackle Your Feelings is a mental wellbeing training program offered to community AFL clubs across Australia to support early intervention and prevention in mental health.
In 2021, the Dees nearly doubled their previous year's goal kicking tally to reach 60 goals during the season, resulting in 60 junior football packs donated to community football clubs across the country, valued at over $20,000.
Linda Griffin, head of brand, marketing, and corporate affairs for Zurich and SteerCo chair of Tackle Your Feelings, said she was blown away by the initiative's success last year.
“The entire Melbourne Football Club got behind it as a genuine motivator to kick more goals and impact team results,” Griffin said. “It has proved a fantastic investment into the next generation of footy players at the community level as well as supporting women's football nationally.
“It also raises awareness of Tackle Your Feelings and the importance of early intervention when it comes to mental health. Supporting mental wellbeing at a community level is key to addressing Australia's mental health crisis. Tackle Your Feelings serves a tremendous role by equipping local footy coaches with ways to talk about mental health with their young players.”
Aside from supporting community AFL clubs, Zurich most recently strengthened its commitment to helping people with disabilities by signing up for the Valuable 500, which puts inclusion at the forefront of firms globally.
As part of the initiative, the insurance giant has created a worldwide Employee Resource Group for mental and physical wellbeing to build a company culture that attracts and retains diverse talent, creates awareness of disability-inclusiveness, and recognises dates, such as the International Day of People with Disabilities.
