Club honoured for backing men's mental health and beneficial masculinity code

The Shellharbour Club has been recognised for its work with Healthier Illawarra Men and their Breaking the Man Code program.

The club won the mental wellbeing award at the 2026 ClubsNSW Clubs & Community Awards, beating 17 other clubs in the category while solely representing the Illawarra.

The Breaking the Man Code program, developed by Healthier Illawarra Men (HIM), redefines masculinity and challenges the stigmas surrounding mental health, creating a safe space for boys and men to share their thoughts.

“While we're overjoyed that our contribution to the community has been recognised, we’re especially proud to receive this award alongside Healthier Illawarra Men, whose work in challenging harmful stereotypes around masculinity is making a real difference in our community,” Jason Petrolo, CEO of the Shellharbour Club, says.

For Graeme Sutherland, chairman of Healthier Illawarra Men, the effects of harmful masculinity are something he can relate to personally.

“I grew up in a time when being a man was all about being masculine and strong and not showing any weakness,” Graeme says.

“There was a lot of aggressiveness around me… and domestic violence was in my family.”

The partnership between HIM and the Shellharbour Club has enabled the delivery of more than 60 workshops to schools, sport clubs and community groups in the Illawarra, reaching more than 1600 attendants. The Shellharbour Club has committed $90,000 in club grants funding to HIM over the past two years as well as ensuring access to facilities and rooms to deliver the program without barriers.

"Our vision is to enable the community to reach its highest potential, and while we're proud of the significant financial contributions we make to local organisations and initiatives, we're equally proud of the programs, partnerships and opportunities we create to strengthen our community and support those who need it most," Jason said.

“We wanted to make sure that we knew program was and how we're going to support it, and once we went through that process, we were very excited.”

The two organisations have been linked for several years, with previous members creating a strong relationship over their common goal of looking out for the community. The latest iteration of this partnership formed to realise the program.

Jason and Graeme had known each other through their respective organisations but now work closely together to power the partnership.

“It was as simple as the existing relationships that put the pieces of the jigsaw together and is growing into what it is today,” Graeme says.

One of Jason’s biggest motivations was the wellbeing of young men just like his 17-year-old son who face contemporary challenges on identity and masculinity, something that the code helps to deal with.

The focus on men’s mental health issues has been shifting from raising awareness to prevention, and Graeme believes this is how change will finally come about.

“The Shellharbour Club have shown real community leadership by investing in prevention and this is very much what Healthier Illawarra Men is about,” Graeme says.

“It's about prevention of poor mental health, prevention of domestic violence through improved behaviours and awareness and ability to talk about it.

“To have someone like the Shellharbour Club behind that and funding it, we wouldn't be able to do it without them, so we are very, very grateful.”

Healthier Illawarra Men and the Shellharbour Club have continued their partnership, raising $19,000 through the Leap For Life Program where Wollongong Skydivers donated $10 for every tandem dive in April.

Eighteen club committee members jumped out of a plane. Jason says he was keen but “I had conveniently fractured my leg beforehand”.

Jason looks forward to the growth of the partnership and is excited to assist Healthier Illawarra Men.

“Healthier Illawarra Men are all volunteers and the amount of time they spend to make a real difference is amazing,” he says.

“We're going to do bigger and better things, and we look forward to the journey we'll share with Healthier Illawarra Men.”