Headspace Albury-Wodonga will recruit a youth worker to bring group sessions to schools and support services, solely thanks to the donations of the Big Splash.
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At the launch of the 2017 splash, headspace centre manager Karina Kerr said counselling services had been boosted thanks to last year’s event.
“We would not have been able to put on a group work co-ordinator without that support,” she said.
“That will happen in schools and headspace, and we’re in discussions at the moment to offer some groups with YES Youth and Family Services.
Ms Kerr said the new initiatives followed a busy year.
“A lot of presentations were in relation to bullying, depression, anxiety and exams – we had an increase towards the end of the year around exams,” she said.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work with our youth reference group.
“That’s in its recruitment phase, so it’s very exciting we have new members.
“We’ve been looking at our systems to see how we can do things better, going into our second year.”
Big Splash committee member Annette Baker, a finalist for the 2016 Australian Mental Health Prize, said the community’s love of the event kept it going.
“Each year we turn around and try to work out whether we’ll do it again, because it is hard work,” she said.
“Stuart and I would probably have one to two people a month talking to us about someone who has died in their life by suicide.
“For me, after Mary died it was always about what is there for people left behind.
“We’re so lucky to have a headspace thanks to our community.”
Hume Bank chief executive David Marshall hoped to beat the $20,000 raised last year.
“This is our fourth year supporting the cause and youth mental health is a major challenge in the community,” he said.
“I can’t think of too many causes better than that.”
Mr Marshall wasn’t giving away any tips on his team’s costume theme this year – but the resounding advice from the event committee was “go big or go home”.
The Albury-Wodonga Big Splash event will take place at the Albury Swim Centre on Wednesday, March 1.
There will be a new invite-only event for families going head-to-head.
Registrations are now live at: alburywodongabigsplash.com.au.
