Visit by the Wheatley family
Michael, Patricia and Alexandra Wheatley recently visited the MPHN offices and Wagga Wagga headspace to chat with staff and find out more about the NewAccess program.
Michael and Patricia are originally from England and spent 40 years living in Albury after moving to Australia. In 1989 they moved to Melbourne where they still reside. They set up a family trust just under two years ago with four family members on the board as they are keen to continue philanthropy into the future.
With a keen focus on supporting youth, the grandchildren provide support regarding currency of youth issues. The family are excited to contribute to the evaluation of a program that seems needed and valuable, which may contribute in further roll out of the NewAccess program.
Keen on the approach of coaches and the role they play, the Trust is supporting another young Aboriginal girls program in the Northern Territory around social media. There are some similarities with the coaching/mentor approach of NewAccess.
As NewAccess is low intensity they feel it is providing the opportunity for early intervention which flows on to better outcomes into the future.
The reason why mental health was chosen: When the family started the trust they were throwing around ideas of areas to support, mental health wasn’t originally their first thought. However, after much discussion and looking into what areas are already well supported, mental health was seen as an area with a lot of stigma, a lack of funding, and with ever increasing demand. Coupled with the fact that mental health touches everyone’s lives, impacts on all facets of a person’s life and the undisputed benefits of early intervention, the trust is therefore focused on youth and mental health.
Their granddaughter, Alexandra, is currently spending time travelling with Michael and Patricia to see firsthand how the funding is used and what it contributes to; and we thank them for their kind and valuable contribution.
NewAccess is a service designed by beyondblue that provides free and confidential support to help people tackle day-to-day pressures. A NewAccess coach, specially trained and experienced, supports people in setting practical goals to get them back on track.
This is a free service funded my MPHN. For more information about NewAccess in our region, please go to Intereach
Kathryn Arentsen (headspace NewAccess coach), Alex Weidner (headspace NewAccess coach), Patricia Wheatley, Michael Wheatley, Alexandra Wheatley, Anita McRae (MPHN), Shane Thomas (headspace).
