A GRASSROOTS mental wellbeing program started in the Gulf should be a national blueprint for the delivery of services in times of advocacy across rural and regional Australia, a cattle industry leader believes.
Mustering Wellness was developed as a platform to connect with people in the region, understand the issues affecting mental wellness and provide resources for members to access.
The program started in a loose form after the 2011 fires in Etheridge Shire. It was formalised in 2013 by the Gulf Cattleman’s Assocation and Etheridge Shire Council. Centacare Cairns, the Queensland Mental Health Commission and Brandtree Creative have recently partnered with the program.
Gulf Cattleman’s Association president Barry Hughes said with the Gulf region transitioning out of drought, the right mindset was crucial.
“One of the issues we face is having the right headspace to be able to take advantage of those opportunities,” Mr Hughes said. “Mustering Wellness was born out of need to address mental health issues that emanated out of drought and financial pressures across the northern beef industry.
“There was certainly a void that wasn’t being taken care of as pressures ramped up.
“Through the work of Etheridge Shire Council and the cattleman’s association was doing we brought forward the concept of Mustering Wellness.”
Mr Hughes said the program included an interactive wellbeing website.
“It was created in partnership with Partners in Recovery to make available a whole range of articles that people can tap into in there own home and own time to make sure people are getting the right advice pathway that will suit them,” Mr Hughes said.
“We work in conjunction with other service providers in employing a psychologist to come to our area and do on-ground work in peoples homes, in paddocks, at smoko tables and on property.”
Mr Hughes said Mustering Wellness had been a “massive hit”.
“We took it out of the streets in our communities and put it in the privacy and confidence of their own homes,” he said.
“I have no doubt that it has actually saved lives.”
Mr Hughes said the program was successful because it was tailored to the needs of its clients.
“I guess the most telling factor was that it was conceived in the bush and managed from the ground up,” Mr Hughes said.
“We have taken the Mustering Wellness concept across to the Pilbara and Kimberley and to Sydney and delivered presentations to the health sector and it has been received both state and federally in terms of government recognition.
“I think with the advent of drought and financial pressures, Mustering Wellness is really serving well.”
Peta O’Neill from Partners in Recovery at Centacare Cairns said the power of the Mustering Wellness campaign lies in its origins, with the community developing the project to meet its own needs.
“To see an industry and community who work so hard on the land everyday under very harsh conditions seek support and resources for the wellness of themselves and each other, sends a strong and important message to the human services sector,” Ms O’Neill said.
“People know what they need to be well and how they want to be supported. Mustering Wellness was developed by the community, for the community.”
Anita Veivers, Executive Director of Centacare Cairns, expressed her pleasure at the opportunity to partner in such an innovative project.
“Wellness is important to every one of us and working with the Gulf Cattleman’s Association to focus particularly on our rural communities, is an important project which Centacare is thrilled to be part of,” Ms Veivers said.
