Therapy an adventure with northern suburbs sport program

Family members had noticed marked improvements in participants of Adventure Play, Northern Suburbs Community Centre general manager Denise Delphin said.

"You can see the young people flourishing and growing and developing, and gaining confidence, and channelling some of their emotions in positive ways," she said.

"It's increased attendance at school - parents and carers are saying they've noticed [the young people] managing things a lot better."

Adventure Play connects young people with constructive activities like mountain biking, archery, horse riding, and team sports.

Its aim is to help them overcome trauma and mental health issues through the benefits of sport, including physical activity, goal-setting, teamwork, confidence, and having fun.

Young people are referred in through the centre or the neighbourhood house, through schools, or through the Migrant Resource Centre.

"It was something that was needed in our community," Ms Delphin said.

"It offers experience in a wide range of activities."

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She said sport, alongside other recreational activities like music and art, could help young people to grow and develop in healthy ways.

"There are things like rock climbing, abseiling ... these are things that not everyone gets an opportunity to experience, and this funding will allow that to happen," Ms Delphin said.

The pilot program of Adventure Play, a collaboration between the community centre and Starting Point Neighbourhood House, ran for 18 months.

The grant to continue Adventure Play was one of 57 nationwide, through the $19 million Driving Social Inclusion Through Sport and Physical Activity grant program.

Bass Liberal MHR Bridget Archer said Adventure Play was a deserving recipient.

"This evidence-based adventure therapy program has had significant success," she said.