As a husband, father, grandfather and father in-law to seven amazing females, the spate of violence towards women makes me not only fearful, but also embarrassed and ashamed that the safety of women in Australia is not a given right. Not all men disrespect women and not all disrespect towards women results in violence, but all violence against women starts with disrespectful behaviour. The escalating violence and murders of women shines a light directly on men's mental health, the need to understand why men act like this, and to tackle toxic masculinity in this country. It also highlights the ..read more

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people, good mental health is indicated by feeling a sense of belonging, having strong cultural identity, maintaining positive interpersonal relationships, and feeling that life has purpose and value (Dudgeon & Walker 2015; Dudgeon et al. 2014). Conversely, poor mental health can be affected by major stressors such as removal from family, incarceration, death of a close friend or family member, discrimination and unemployment, as well as stressors from everyday life (PM&C 2017; Gee et al. 2014). The legacies of colonisation ..read more

While Australia is relatively immune to mass killings like the tragedy that occurred at Bondi Junction’s Westfield Shopping Centre on Saturday, we’re not strangers to violence against women. This tragic event along with the recent death of Hannah McGuire, once again reminds us of the need for urgent action to curb the gender-based violence epidemic that is plaguing this country. In a press release and in Parliament today, Zoe Daniel Independent Member for Goldstein said, “We need to do more to change the culture among men and boys. Not all men disrespect women and not all disrespect towards wo ..read more

There is no such thing as Just A Farmer. I sat alone in a cinema and watched the ‘Just A Framer’ The word overwhelming comes to mind, not just that it resonated with my own story, but it resonated with the stories I hear in every community I have the privilege to work with across Australia. To Leila McDougall the writer, producer and star of the film, congratulations on depicting what is an all-too-common storyline in rural, regional, and remote communities across Australia. In fact, it happens every 10 days, where a farmer takes their own life. According to the National Farmer Wellbeing Repor ..read more

The impact of widespread storms across Australia will have a massive impact on the availability of fresh produce, with the crops that are salvageable facing rejection due to stringent protocols set by the major supermarket chains. Natural disasters come at enormous financial cost to the producer, with estimated losses between 40 and 100%, leaving farmers with no income. High input prices, strict policy regulation, and low farm gate prices only add to the pain. Some producers have experienced multiple events, leaving them in a precarious position. The impacts aren't only financial. Extended per ..read more

As more natural disasters unfold, flooding in Far North Queensland and regional Victoria, and bushfires in WA, stories of survival and heroic deeds see us quick to label these local communities as resilient. But what happens beyond the news cycle? Sure, resilience is born out of disaster, but is it true resilience or is it resilience like I experienced, born out of a lack of other options but to just doggedly put one foot in front of the other and soldier on? Resilience can be a dangerous space without self-care. I’ve had my fair share of tussles with mother nature, the last one saw me forced ..read more

The more I explore my own mental health and wellbeing, and by working in communities across Australia, have a greater understanding of the pressures and stress faced by many, the clearer it becomes that when it comes to our mental health, our general wellbeing and combating stress and burnout we need to take a holistic approach. Constructing your own Unbreakable Wheel of Wellbeing, aiming to make it as balanced as possible, will make you more resilient to the challenges our fast paced and ever-changing world will through at you. Each spoke in your Unbreakable Wheel of Wellbeing plays an intric ..read more

During the festive season, feelings of joy, love, happiness, kindness, giving, peace, and connectedness are amplified. But for many, it can also be an extremely difficult and stressful time. This time of year can also amplify feelings of sadness, isolation, loneliness, stress, anxiety, and conflict, and in the current economic climate, worry about what the future holds. There are those people who feel intense pressure to conform to the traditional festive cheer when they just don’t feel it, and those with no close family ties or a robust support system. Times are hard. The skyrocketing cost of ..read more

Anyone that has been to one of presentation would have heard me talk about the severe impact that bullying and harassment had on my mental health, wellbeing and education. During resent presentations that has inspired conversations with people who have expressed the real impact that bullying has on them, both in the community, at school and in the workplace. Just last week I had a discussion with a person who is completely incapacitated by the toxic culture within their workplace and has lost all sense of worth due to this behaviour being able to continue within their workplace. Workplace bull ..read more

It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn't heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore's stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore. "Hello Eeyore," said Pooh. "Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet" said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice "We just thought we'd check in on you," said Piglet, "because we hadn't heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay." Eeyore was silent for a moment. "Am I okay?" he asked, eventually. "Well, I don't know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That's what I ask myself. All I ..read more