The Stawell Gold Mines workforce has been given a powerful reminder about the importance of mental health with a fundraiser and information session held on Tuesday, March 30.
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Inspired by an idea from some of their diesel-fitters, the mine held an afternoon and an evening information session and barbeque where information about mental health awareness were shared.
Stawell Gold Mines health, safety, environment and community manager David Coe said the inspiration for the day stemmed from the initial idea to paint one of their trucks blue.
"The truck has gone through a half-life rebuild and there is a lot of work that goes into that, about four or five weeks worth of work, and so when it was presented back to the workplace there was an opportunity to celebrate that work," he said.
"One of the things that has been an issue over the last 12 months, with COVID-19 and all our lives has been mental health.
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"So this was an opportunity for us to follow this idea and paint it blue for Beyond Blue and we are doing a fundraiser here today (Tuesday, March 30) for them.
"It is an underground haul truck so it will come back up to the surface to dump a load of ore, but it has come up well and it is just to trigger some awareness and get people thinking about mental health and how they interact with their workmates."
To help the cause Steadfast Mining Maintenance donated their time to paint the truck.
As part of the day, through the Stawell Gold Mine's Converge International Employee Assistant Program workers were delivered important messages through mental health social worker Judith Parker.
"In the last 12 months people have been affected in all different ways, at work, but also outside of work as people have been limited to see family and friends," Coe said.
"We want them to understand that mental health issues do occur with people at different stages of their lives and there is no stigma attached to asking for help.
"We want people to along today to do some workshops and learn how to recognise it in yourself and how to recognise it within your workmates and how to point them in the right direction for support."
As part of the day the Stawell Lions Club volunteers stepped up to cook the barbeque as well as RSEA workwear who donated beanies, socks and glasses for the cause.
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