BOUNCE BACK 2026 BRINGS COMMUNITY, SPORT AND WELLBEING TOGETHER IN HEDLAND
Local kids enjoying the refreshing wellness activities. Credit: Phillip O’Donoghue and Patti Dhu.
Sport, culture, health and community connection came together in South Hedland last Friday as Bounce Back 2026 marked its third year of promoting mental health and wellbeing across the Pilbara.
Held at Wanangkura Stadium on Friday, October 2, the free family event brought community members together with health and wellbeing services, local organisations, sporting stars and Aboriginal businesses.
Presented by Nih Kaartdijin Mia as part of WA Mental Health Week, Bounce Back aims to create a safe and welcoming space where people can connect, have important conversations and learn more about support available in the region.
Founder and organiser Valerie Riley said seeing the event return for a third year was something she was incredibly proud of.
“We’ve created that positive day for everybody all over again, and I’m very, very proud of our achievements,” she said.
Riley established Bounce Back as a platform to raise awareness around mental health and encourage people to develop the skills needed to support friends, family, colleagues and community members before they reach crisis point.
She said the long-term vision was to take the model beyond Hedland and into other regional and remote communities.
“We want to take it everywhere,” Riley said.
“We’ve had other people asking, ‘Can we take it to other regional towns?’ and just spread that awareness as much as we can.”
Hockeyroos Greta Hayes, Mariah Williams and Aleisha Power speaking with the community. Credit: Phillip O’Donoghue and Patti Dhu.
HOCKEYROOS BRING SOMETHING NEW TO HEDLAND
Among this year’s visitors were Australian Hockeyroos Greta Hayes, Mariah Williams and Aleisha Power, who ran a hockey clinic and spent the day meeting local children and families.
Hayes, who also works as Hockey Australia’s Social Impact and Inclusion Coordinator, said introducing children to a sport they may never have tried before had been one of the highlights.
“Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when we were having a hockey hit with them was just amazing,” she said.
“We’ve had kids coming back for more and more.”
Wiradjuri Hockeyroo Mariah Williams said events like Bounce Back could have a lasting impact on young people, particularly those growing up in regional communities.
“When you have people and community come together for these events, how impactful it is for those kids to be able to admire what they could potentially be in the future,” she said.
“But if not, to be able to just have some fun and come together as a group, I think that’s the most important part.”
Williams also works with the Western Australian Institute of Sport as its Connection to Country Officer and said there was enormous sporting talent in regional communities.
Hockeyroos goalkeeper Aleisha Power said sport could play an important role in building connection and opening conversations about mental health.
“We all need connection, we need support,” she said.
“Events like this, bringing people together, getting them to talk to different organisations that can help them if they need, and introducing them to a new sport like hockey — it’s just really important.”
Power, who also works in regional engagement and the road trauma support space, encouraged people struggling with their mental health to reach out.
“There’s lots of people out there that are ready to help.”
Young attendees participating in the sporting wellness activities. Credit: Phillip O’Donoghue and Patti Dhu.
THREE YEARS OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Long-time event supporter Bugarrba has backed the initiative since its beginnings.
Operations Manager Jeremy Spittal said the partnership began after a conversation with Riley at the Pilbara Summit several years ago.
He said the event had grown significantly since its first year, bringing together more service providers, organisations and families.
Spittal said bringing services together in one place was particularly important in regional areas where families could have fewer opportunities to access the same range of activities and support available in Perth.
Organisers, volunteers and athletes celebrating the successful event. Credit: Phillip O’Donoghue and Patti Dhu.
Bounce Back 2026 included sport, family activities, health checks, wellbeing information, community services and a free barbecue in an alcohol and drug-free environment.
Riley thanked the many sponsors, organisations, volunteers, family members and community members who helped make the day possible, along with Uncle Alfred and Joliette for delivering the Welcome to Country.
Now three years in, Riley believes Bounce Back has found a formula capable of travelling much further than Hedland.
“I believe we can go further as well,” she said.
Bounce Back 2026 was held as part of WA Mental Health Week, this year carrying the theme “Taking Control in the Face of Change.”