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One of the unheralded aspects of campus life is its power to bring together-and ignite-idealistic minds that make good things happen. This is the story of one such idea that came to a UWA medical student who had opted for ‘the road less travelled' in his study options. Fellow graduates helped him to realise that dream-in the midst of his medical studies-and today it is bringing tangible benefits to remote communities. Fair Game has recently won a Community Service Excellence Award and national recognition for its founder.

Graduate John van Bockxmeer, this year's WA Young Australian of the Year, is determined to achieve better health outcomes for disadvantaged communities. Initially this passion was fuelled by overseas electives that took him to places as diverse as Kazakhstan and East Timor. "Australia has a really good health system compared with other countries and I think we forget that sometimes," says Dr van Bockxmeer, an intensive care resident at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

It was a placement in Port Hedland that underscored for the graduate that distance and disadvantage can dilute the benefits of that system. Watching Indigenous kids kicking a tin around a dusty oval triggered the idea of recycling sporting equipment from our affluent capital city to remote communities that needed more sport and the health benefits it brings.

It was an idea that initially came to him far from home, on exchange at Bristol University where he discussed its potential with fellow UWA exchange student Natalie Swan.

"We became good friends," recalls Natalie, "and John's idea immediately struck a chord with me. I loved the Robin Hood approach of redistributing sporting goods to where they were needed, obviously without the stealing part! When John returned home from his Pilbara placement it really brought home the need for Fair Game. He phoned me and said: ‘let's make this happen', so three of us, John, myself and another fellow graduate Fiona Stretch, began to work on it..."

Five years down the track the charity has donated over 8,000 items of recycled equipment to Indigenous and migrant communities - and is also bringing about change through fitness, capacity-building and health education.

"Watching Fair Game grow has been truly inspiring," says Natalie. "It's fantastic to see that a voluntary grass-roots initiative can really make a difference. We've grown from three people to 70 volunteers and we could not have asked for better people to join us - they're all as passionate as we are!"

Dr van Bockxmeer is Chair of Fair Game, Natalie is Secretary and a third graduate David Prout fills the role of Vice-Chair.

Fair Game's founder believes success comes from its three-pronged approach: recycling sporting equipment, mentoring and training locals and organizing community programs.

"Fair Game evolved rapidly after we appreciated that the sporting equipment inspired an improved approach to health and fitness," says Dr van Bockxmeer. "We've got a unique delivery because we integrate our messages within the program. For example, before a game of football, we'll smear the ball with sticky goo and later, when the kids see their hands under a UV light, the message is clear ‘wash your hands!' The end result is reduced communicable and respiratory illnesses."

Fair Game has morphed in a number of directions. Dr van Bockxmeer initiated an Indigenous, culturally-relevant yoga program delivered in local dialects throughout WA. He's also trained migrants involved in sporting programs in first aid and works with mental health patients at the Richmond Trust.

"I've always tried to have variety in my life," says the 27-year-old medico. "I'm heading towards a twin-pronged specialty in Emergency Medicine and General Practice which isn't a standard career pathway. I did an Arts/Medicine double degree which was a little unusual too, and then studied urban planning in the UK. But Fair Game is my main passion ..."

Natalie completed a double Arts/Commerce degree majoring in Management, Human Resource Management and Psychology. "My majors have proved invaluable in my role on the Fair Game executive committee as well as in my role as Acting Learning and Development Manager at the Department of Treasury," she says.

"The skills and knowledge I acquired at UWA, particularly through participating on the university exchange program, opened up many unexpected opportunities and introduced me to friends for life who have inspired me and enabled me to contribute to the community in ways I had never imagined."

Fair Games Vice Chair, Dave Prout completed an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Health Science before going on to complete his Grad Dip Ed. "From Phys-ed up in Broome to where I am now - an Occupational Health role within a great resource company with a leading approach to health and wellbeing - all of that's been possible through UWA, and the University and Fair Game thread runs deep," says Dave.

"I didn't initially know Nat or John at UWA, but it was going back to complete UWA's Grad Cert in Social Impact that introduced me to the work of Fair Game. It was a perfect fit - the passion and expertise behind the 100 per cent volunteer based, youth-lead team was a real inspiration. I've not looked back."

Partnerships are a key component of Dave's role with Fair Game. One such project is the initiation of Fair Game's student Service Learning arrangement with the UWA School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health. The program, inaugurated in 2013 sees 3rd year UWA students join the Fair Game team for 70 hour professional practicums.

"In truth, they end up doing far more than that," says Dave. "We're finding that they love the experience so much, they go on to complete our full two-day training, to become ‘official' Fair Gamers the following year. It's great for Fair Game, great for the community, and - importantly - it's enriching for the students."

Talk to students involved and you quickly appreciate just how enriching. The School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health's Professional Practice Director, Kerry Smith, confirms that this year many more students than could be accommodated asked for Fair Game placements. "The students are looking forward to additional opportunities to get involved during 2015, underscoring the fact that such placements provide a meaningful experience which matches students' skills, abilities and interests with their sense of social and community responsibility," says Ms Smith.

With the assistance of the UWA Centre for Social Impact, Fair Game has very recently had a Social Return on Investment (SROI) report written on the UWA Service Learning program.

"We're at a point now where the project is poised for scale. We have a vision to enrol 100 students through this opportunity within a 5-year period," says Dave.

Fair Game is hopeful the report will assist in establishing long-term financial support for the project. "SROI is a story about change. It provides information on which to base decisions, validate social return on capital and improve program logic. We hope it will lead ultimately to the creation of greater social value and the growth of robust service delivery partnerships. We're certainly inviting all enquiries related to the project".

If you'd like to know more about Fair Game, visit the website: fairgamewa.org