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Liistro wins Tackle Your Feelings Community Champion

12 September 2023

Senior Colac Imperials Football Netball Coach Paul Liistro has been selected as the Victorian Winner Tackle Your Feelings Community Champion.

In 2022 Paul was approached to run a Tackle Your Feelings Session for coaches, with a number of COVID interruptions the session was postponed. Paul then approached Leisure Networks at the commencement of the 2023 season to re-engage the conversation in running a session. The session went ahead on Monday April 17 and was attended by 17 football and netball coaches. It was at this session that Paul’s true leadership stood out.

Leisure Networks then approached the club to run a “Player” session. Something again that Paul accepted with arms wide open. The session went ahead on Tuesday August 1st with 31 players in attendance. Again at this session Paul led his players from the front and initiated a number of conversations around mental health that the players embraced and shared their own vulnerabilities.

“The Colac Imperials Football Netball Club have never seen our club so strong off the field. The is solely due to the appointment that was made 4 years ago, Paul Liistro as our Senior Coach. Paul’s strengths are in the way he develops and maintains close relationships from our youngest members of our club to our oldest and he actually cares. Our clubs on field success this year has been due to the care he shows every individual at our club.” Carl Winchcomb – Colac Imperials Football Netball Club President

Paul will be presented with a plaque along with a number of Tackle Your Feelings footballs for winning the state award.

We congratulate Paul on winning the state award and wish him well as he goes up against the other states for the national award and 2 Grand Final tickets.

A further thank you to Leisure Networks and Tackle Your Feelings for their coordination of the program in the Barwon region.

The TYF Community Champion Award are based on the following criteria:

  • Driven engagement with Tackle Your Feelings at club level 
  • Supported the mental health of a person or group of people 
  • Promoted a culture of safety and inclusion 
  • Implemented initiatives to develop mental health infrastructure within the club (eg. Mental health committee) 
  • Shared their own experiences in a safe way to help others 
  • Completed additional mental health education 
  • Led a mental health promotion activity 

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