The mental health of our Aussie kids has never been so important!
In partnership with The Sebastian Foundation, Hand in Hand Ballarat donations will assist in funding the roll-out of the 'Open Parachute' program in local and regional Victorian schools, and costs just $15 per student.
Let’s be clear: mental health is real and should not be a taboo topic. Regardless of culture, age, gender, social and financial status, mental health knows no bias. It can impact anyone, so never assume that you, your friends or your loved ones are immune.
Let’s stop the stigma | Help us, help our kids!
A pro-active, peer led program that will help save lives! Help us, help our kids.
A pro-active, peer led program that will help save lives! Help us, help our kids.
Who is Hand in Hand Ballarat?
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PilatesFit Plus - Leah
In the whirlwind of this modern life, our young people face unprecedented challenges. From academic pressures to social media comparisons, the burden can be overwhelming. Too often, they suffer in silence, afraid to speak out or seek help due to the stigma surrounding mental health. The outdated notions of "toughen up" or "just get over it" are not helpful. Understanding mental health can be a struggle, but the noise is deafening for those who suffer, and it's something as uncomfortable as it is, we must learn about and help however we can.
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Tennis Ballarat - Geoff
Not so long ago I spoke to a close friend who is a local school vice principal. The conversation we had was confronting and extremely emotional for me. It made me aware of how big of an issue mental health is for the whole school communities. We need to suport the youth of today with this very real problem and help them deal with the challenges they face. Awareness of mental health issues is the first step, it is time we overcome the mental health stigma and deal with it in a positive way.
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The Playground Gym - Dustyn
We are a pasionate gym and strive to make a positive and healthy impact on our community. Hand in Hand ties in with everything we are about. We believe that the youth of today are the future and we are extremely passionate about helping to provide a mental health program in schools so that each child is equipped with the tools to understand and problem solve issues that arise in their lives.
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Mental Health Advocate - Melissa
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Mental Health Advocate - Jodie
Our Ambassadors
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Josh Hose - Wheelchair Rugby Gold Medalist
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Tim Bone - Ballarat's very own Masterchef and owner of Tim's Toasties
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Lara (LJ) - Ballarat’s 103.1 PowerFM
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Shayne Reese - Two time Olympian Swimmer, Owner of Shayne Reese Swim School Ballarat
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Tahlia Stanton - Artist, Educator and Director
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Dr Fiona Noble & Dr Hock Tan - Paediatrician & Anaesthetist
Hand in Hand
Ballarat - a program
that will save lives!
This program provides proactive resources for our kids and helps set them up with tools to assist their mental health for life. The peer-led initiative, built from Macquarie University research, aims to reduce mental health stigma and provide practical, relevant support for our kids. It costs only $15 per year to put one child through the Open Parachute Program....... only $15!
Get in touch with Hand in Hand Ballarat:
IN-KIND SUPPORT: We have a number of operational needs during our fundraising events so we are seeking 'in-kind' support. If you think your organisation can help us in any way, we would love to hear from you.
AUCTION SUPPORT: We welcome donations of auction items, silent auction items and raffl prizes that can assist us in raising funds. These items will be auctioned at our annual Black-Tie Gala or used for various raffles throughout the year.
SCHOOLS SUPPORT: We would like to partner with schools today who would like to get involved in our campaign, and explore implementing The Sebastian Foundation's Open Parachute program which will be funded by us. Interested schools are encouraged to reach out to us immediately.
LOCAL BUSINESSES: If you think that we could collaborate in any way as a win/win, we would love to hear from you. We would love to enter discussions and explore opportunites with any local business that are interested.
We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact in our local community!