Growing up in remote western New South Wales, a former Police Officer, Restaurant owner, Underground Miner including Fly in/Fly out (FIFO), Drive in/Drive out (DIDO) and residential, Technical Inspector for WorkSafe Victoria, Health and Safety Manager of an Underground Gold Mine …………. Al looks like he’s had a great life; government roles, job security, private sector, great paying jobs, and not a bad looking fella for his age :) 

But there's something you can't see. And that is his depression.  And at times that depression is severe. Severe enough to stand on the edge of a cliff, constantly fighting with the Black Dog, having to hide behind the smiles and laughter.  But why him, when everything in his life sounded so perfect?

Al tells his story, not as a comparison to others, or to look for sympathy, he talks of a lived and relatable version of life that so many endure behind closed doors and minds. In his presentation, you will hear;

• How Mental Health does not discriminate

• How work and family life can have a compounding impact on Mental Health

• Acknowledging one may have Mental Health struggles and how he identified them

• How the Blue Shirt Project came to be and the importance of it

What can The Blue Shirt Project offer you? The Blue Shirt Project can attend onsite for two (2) days providing training for your staff in Mental Health First Aid.

• The Blue Shirt Project staff are fully licensed and registered instructors through Mental Health First Aid Australia

• Accredited course through Mental Health First Aid Australia, recognised Nationally and Internationally

• Mental Health First Aid Handbook is supplied

• The Blue Shirt Project supplied training pack - including stationary/merchandise

• The Blue Shirt Project High Visibility Workshirt or Tshirt/Top - in conjunction with the workplace uniform policy

• 1:1 Support throughout the training course

• This course is recognized by Suicide Prevention Australia as a safe, high-quality, and effective suicide prevention program.

What is Mental Health First Aid and the importance of having skilled and accredited staff onsite? Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Recognize, understand and respond to the signs and symptoms of those experiencing mental health problems in co-workers, family members, friends and even themselves.

• Use an evidence-based action plan to initiate a mental health first aid conversation until professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

• Know the barriers to help-seeking and how to overcome these, as the ability to understand how to talk about mental health and help someone is an exceptionally important skill, as around 1 in 5 Australian adults experience a common mental illness each year.

• Assess for a range of crisis situations and provide initial support 

• Understand the prevalence and impact of mental illnesses, risk factors and treatments and supports available 

• Apply self-care practices as a Mental Health First Aider 

• You will have skilled staff onsite who are trained and knowledgeable if anyone reaches out for assistance and not limited to a few.

As the Blue Shirt Crew extends throughout the industry, a real sense of Community continues to build, not only with individual sites, but all sites that have partnered with the Blue Shirt Project.

The Blue Shirt Crew will be able to reach out to other members at other sites for support and assistance in continuing to build a sense of positivity, mental health awareness and activities.

But! Who supports the Blue Shirt Crew themselves???

By partnering on an annual basis, the Blue Shirt Project will remain in ongoing contact with the Blue Shirt Crew members, after all, they too are an important and valuable member of our team and yours.

We will provide topics that the crew will have options for raising and talking about at toolbox and safety meetings.  They will be encouraged to develop activities during significant times throughout the year, including Work Safety Week, Mental Health Week, Men’s Mental Health Day and holiday periods as just an example.

In the circumstances of a serious and traumatic event, Management of the Blue Shirt Project can be contacted and attend the site as a rapid response at the request or invitation of the worksite management, to provide additional Mental Health support to the Blue Shirt crew and workplace employees.

The aim of the Blue Shirt Crew is to provide early intervention in relation to times where an employee may be experiencing or exposed to a mental health crisis.  We aim to work alongside the company’s Employee Assistance Programs, or any other programs in place which address the Mental Health awareness of the site and be the conduit between employee and provider.