Rally Together.
Make a Difference.

Join us on Friday 23 October 2026 at RMIT Bundoora for Pickleball for Purpose – a one-day charity pickleball event bringing teams together for friendly competition, connection and a cause that matters. 

 
Register my teamBecome an event sponsor

More than just a game

Pickleball for Purpose brings teams together on Friday 23 October for an unforgettable day of friendly competition, connection, and giving back.

Whether you're playing to win, building stronger connections with your team, or simply looking for a fantastic day out, you can help provide practical support to local children experiencing financial hardship.

No experience required.
Just bring your team.

Register now

Your rally creates real impact

Every dollar you raise, helps Big Group Hug continue supporting vulnerable children and families across Melbourne.

$500

Provides a teen with clothing, toiletries, sheets, and sanitary supplies for a whole year.

$1,000

Provides a fresh start pack to a mum and kids starting over after fleeing family violence.

$2,000

Provides a full new mum pack, including pram, cot, car seat, and all the essentials.

A day of fun, connection & purpose

Register your team(s)

Gather your colleagues and friends for some friendly competition on Friday 23 October. Teams consist of two people, and you can register multiple teams.

Share your page

Share your fundraising page with your network and friends to start collecting donations to help children and families in hardship. Prizes available.

Play pickleball

Enjoy a day of friendly competition, connection and fun. No experience is required. Social Pickleball Australia provide the paddles, balls, nets, instructions on how to play and time to learn the game.  

Register now

Top fundraisers

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What you need to know

Date

Friday 23 October 2026

Venue

RMIT Sports Centre, Bundoora

Time

Pick a session:

Morning 9am–12pm

Afternoon 1pm–4pm

(2 hours of competition)

Teams

2-3 players per team

Registration

Early Bird: $300 per team

Standard Registration from 7 October: $500 per team

Experience

No previous pickleball experience required

Early bird pricing ends in
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Register by 11:59pm, 6 October 2026 to lock in $300 per team — save $200 on standard registration.
Early bird pricing has ended. Standard registration is now $500 per team.
Regsiter now

What to expect on the day

On the court

Pickleball tournament

A fun and friendly competition format suitable for new and experienced players. Join the fastest growing game worldwide.

All included

Food, music & giveaways

Food and drinks, music and entertainment, plus prizes and giveaways running throughout the day.

Off the court

Networking & team building

Connect with other community-minded businesses and organisations while building stronger bonds with your own team.

🏆

Win amazing prices

Incredible prizes for highest fundraising teams, best dressed and more, including luxury accommodation, dining experiences, sporting tickets and more.

 

Why businesses love Pickleball for Purpose

 
 

Strengthen Team Culture

Bring your team together through a shared experience outside the workplace.

Employee Wellbeing

Enjoy a fun and inclusive workplace experience while supporting a great cause.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to making a difference locally.

Networking

Connect with other businesses and community-minded organisations.

Community Impact

Help provide practical support to children and families experiencing hardship.

 
 
 

“

I loved how the vibe was so positive and laid back, made me and my friends feel welcomed to try our hardest despite never playing pickleball before!!

 

Proudly supported by

Thank you to the businesses and community partners who help make Pickleball for Purpose possible.

 
 

Become a sponsor

Position your business alongside one of Melbourne's fastest-growing corporate fundraising events while demonstrating your commitment to local children and families.

From headline partnerships through to court sponsorships and in-kind support, we offer opportunities for businesses to connect with participants, showcase their brand and create meaningful community impact.

Become an event sponsor

About Big Group Hug

Big Group Hug provides free, personalised packs of urgently needed essentials for babies and children, helping keep them safe, warm and cared for when their families are in crisis. 

Working alongside 1,500 health and welfare professionals and powered by 400 volunteers, we support 8,600+ children each year whose families are experiencing hardship, family violence, homelessness, health challenges or other crises. 

By taking part in Pickleball for Purpose, you’ll help ensure no local child goes without support when they need it most. 

View fullsize A huge thank you to Community Bank East Ivanhoe for helping us put a brand-new van on the road for Big Group Hug. This will be one of our most vital resources for getting essential material aid where it’s needed. With demand continuing to grow
View fullsize A huge thank you to Community Bank East Ivanhoe for helping us put a brand-new van on the road for Big Group Hug. This will be one of our most vital resources for getting essential material aid where it’s needed. With demand continuing to grow
View fullsize We’re so excited to welcome @staydrykids @staydryofficial as the first official sponsor of our Pickleball for Purpose event! As an Australian brand with more than 40 years behind them, Staydry has built a reputation for care, inclusion, sustain
View fullsize
View fullsize After more than five years of dedicated service, we'd like to extend our sincere thanks to Melinda Whitehouse as she steps down from the Big Group Hug Board of Directors. Melinda has generously shared her time, expertise and thoughtful leadership to
View fullsize A huge thank you to Kiara from Westbourne Grammar School, who recently organised a clothing drive with her friends and collected a generous bundle of winter warmers for the children we support! Kiara also donated $50 and shared that she looks forward
View fullsize A huge thank you to the students, staff and families at Davis Creek Primary School for their incredible support of Big Group Hug. Last term, the school rallied behind our Winter Warmers Appeal, collecting much-needed winter essentials to help keep l
View fullsize A big thank you to FIA for the opportunity for our Head of Partnerships, Natalie Jones, to join the panel at the FIA For Purpose Partnership Program. It was a great opportunity to hear from others working in corporate partnerships and to share ideas
View fullsize We urgently need clothes for older kids. We’re running extremely short of good-condition boys’ and girls’ clothing in sizes 8–16. For a child growing up in a family under financial pressure, having clothes that fit can make a
View fullsize Two incredible Big Group Hug volunteers have been announced today as Westfield Local Heroes finalists. And we need your votes for both! We are so proud to share that Jeremy from our Plenty Valley Hub and Ann from our Airport West Hub have both been
Orange hand-held sign for Big Group Hug Children's Charity with white text.

Serve up fun, smash poverty

Create a memorable team experience while supporting a meaningful cause.

Three people standing together, smiling, holding a large sign that reads "BIG GROUP HUG CHILDREN'S CHARITY." The person on the left is a man wearing a black shirt and a black baseball cap. The middle person is a woman with short brown hair wearing a green shirt. The person on the right is a woman with gray hair, glasses, wearing a colorful patterned jacket.
Register my team