iNTRODUCTION
National Expansion
The Minister for Health, Tony Abbott, formally launched the National Expansion Program of the OzHelp Foundation Ltd at Parliament House on 22 March 2007.
The program originally commenced as a pilot initiative in partnership with the ACT branches of the Master Builders and CFMEU. It was established following persistent lobbying of one mother who lost her apprentice son (David Alan O’Bryan) to suicide.
Following the success of this local program, consistent demands have arisen both from the construction industry nationally and from other sectors to expand the OzHelp ACT program to service these needs.
With funding provided by the Department of Health and Ageing, under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, OzHelp launched Phase One of its national expansion which resulted in the formation of OzHelp Tasmania, as well as expansion into regional NSW, and involvement in the utilities industry in the ACT.
The funding has also enabled this collaborative model to be established in other states of Australia including Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. As a result of this, the vision of supporting and enhancing the resilience of workers, and strengthening the influence and support of leaders within industry and community groups, is being realised.
In more recent times, the demand for OzHelp’s services has resulted in unprecedented growth, and the move into larger office premises in Fyshwick, ACT, will facilitate the future development of its activities. Part of this expansion also sees the launch of OzHelp Community Services (formerly known as VYNE @ OzHelp) whose core business is to provide the community with best practice, evidence-based training and education related to suicide prevention, and activities designed to enhance connections, resilience and mental health promotion.
The staff and management of OzHelp work closely with industry associations, training organisations and employers to ensure that workers and managers in industry, business and the community sector are aware of its services and feel comfortable in approaching its staff for information and/or support.
The OzHelp Foundation has also formed numerous partnerships with other key organisations who deal with issues relating to stress, depression, nutrition, drug and alcohol dependence and more, and it is these partnerships together with its own team of trained and qualified staff, that gives the OzHelp Foundation the ability to be effective in its outreach.
For information on the expansion into your state/territory, please contact Keith Todd on
02 6251 4166 or 0412 507 594.
