20 August 2024

Whitehaven and the Goanna Academy support local community mental health

As part of its ongoing commitment to community health and wellbeing, and empowering local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Whitehaven was pleased to recently donate $10,000 to the Goanna Academy.

The Goanna Academy is Australia’s first accredited and Indigenous-owned mental health education provider. Its mission is to help end the stigma surrounding mental health and improve social capacity to identify, talk about, and manage mental health for all Australians, particularly at-risk groups such as regional males, youth, and First Nations communities.

The donation from Whitehaven was used towards an event held recently in Gunnedah. The one-day event, organised by Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service- Aboriginal Corporation (TAMS-AC), a leading healthcare provider in the Tamworth region, brought together around 300 young people aged 6-18, and community members. It was a day focused on mental health awareness and social engagement to reduce the stigma associated with mental health.

Several local organisations, including Whitehaven, Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council, Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation, Gunnedah PCYC, NSW Police, Headspace and others supported the Goanna Academy event.

Former Indigenous NRL stars Greg Inglis and Joel Thompson were also among those who participated in a range of activities with the local kids. The collaborative effort contributed to the day’s success.

“We are thrilled with how the event turned out,” said Cindy Paull, TAMS-AC’s Gunnedah Community Recovery & Resilience Program Facilitator.

“The support from Whitehaven was instrumental in making this day possible, and we’ve seen firsthand the impact it has had on our youth and community.”

Bob Sutherland, Whitehaven’s Senior Manager of Aboriginal Community Relations, also praised the day’s success.

“We are proud to have sponsored the Goanna Academy event. It was a fantastic day for the local community, filled with meaningful engagement.

“Whitehaven Coal is committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen our local communities, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with TAMS-AC in future community projects.”

For more information about Whitehaven’s commitment to community health and wellbeing, refer to our 2023 Community Investment Report.

 

Back to News