Headspace Cup

The headspace Cup is an annual charity initiative led by the Charles Sturt University Football Club (CSU FC) in partnership with Bathurst District Football. Since launching in 2016, the event has aimed to raise both funds and awareness for headspace Bathurst, a youth mental health service supporting people aged 12–25.  Built around a major weekend of football matches, the headspace Cup brings together CSU’s Stags and Vixens teams to compete against Bathurst District Football clubs, with the trophy awarded based on game results. The event has become one of the club’s biggest annual traditions, steadily growing in scale, participation, and community engagement each year.

Beyond the competition itself, CSU FC integrates multiple fundraising and community‑building activities into the headspace Cup. These include trivia nights, raffles, online campaigns, and themed “green” match days that symbolise mental health awareness.  The club often adapts creatively to challenges—such as shifting fundraising online during COVID‑19 restrictions—to ensure continuous support for headspace Bathurst and sustained visibility for mental health issues in the region.

The partnership between CSU FC and headspace Bathurst has become deeply meaningful to the local community, raising over $100,000 since its 2016 inception, with Bathurst District Football matching whatever funds are raised by CSU FC at each event. In 2025, CSU FC raised nearly $10,000 through the Headspace Cup, contributing to a total of $17,112 raised that year when combined with the club’s involvement in The Push‑Up Challenge.  For headspace Bathurst—an organisation that relies on community donations to deliver key initiatives, outreach programs, and youth mental health activities—this support has been vital. The Headspace Cup has now played a major role in raising awareness of headspace’s services in Bathurst for over a decade, reinforcing early help‑seeking behaviour and reducing stigma among young people.

Together, CSU FC and headspace Bathurst exemplify how local sport and youth mental health services can collaborate to strengthen community wellbeing. Through annual fundraising, visible advocacy, and strong student and community involvement, the Headspace Cup has become a standout example of social impact driven by Charles Sturt University’s student community and its sporting culture.