A Simple Shirt, A Powerful Promise: We Are Here for You
The Blue Shirt Project is an early intervention mental health support which is visible and accessible - because one conversation can save a life.
Support When It Matters Most
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Ending stigma and connecting people to support
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Making skilled mental health first aiders easy to find with visual blue shirts
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Creating safe, positive, and proactive spaces
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Expanding across industries to drive real change
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Licenced Mental Health First Aid trainers providing training on site
A little about Us…
The Blue Shirt Project has been established to show that Mental Health matters to all of us. Statistics show that the number of people struggling with Mental Health is rising. What we need is an increase in early intervention opportunities which allow people to speak with trained staff members in a proactive approach, and to reassure everyone in our workplaces, our communities and our families, that it is ok not to be ok.
Yet in those brief opportunistic moments of bravado when someone reaches out for help, how is it that they know who to talk to? How do they find them right then and there when needed? Don’t waste valuable time looking for phone numbers - LOOK FOR THE BLUE SHIRT !
The Blue Shirt Project has been established to close that gap. Our promise is that no matter what we are doing, we will stop and talk with you. You can talk to us without stigma, you can talk to us in confidence, we will make time for you, and we are here to help and support you.
learn about our Packages
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Growing up in remote western New South Wales, a former Police Officer, Restaurant owner, Underground Miner including Fly in/Fly out (FIFO), Drive in/Drive out (DIDO) and residential, Technical Inspector for WorkSafe Victoria, Health and Safety Manager of an Underground Gold Mine …………. Al looks like he’s had a great life; government roles, job security, private sector, great paying jobs, and not a bad looking fella for his age :)
But there's something you can't see. And that is his depression. And at times that depression is severe. Severe enough to stand on the edge of a cliff, constantly fighting with the Black Dog, having to hide behind the smiles and laughter. But why him, when everything in his life sounded so perfect?
Al tells his story, not as a comparison to others, or to look for sympathy, he talks of a lived and relatable version of life that so many endure behind closed doors and minds. In his presentation, you will hear;
How Mental Health does not discriminate
How work and family life can have a compounding impact on Mental Health
Acknowledging one may have Mental Health struggles and how he identified them
How the Blue Shirt Project came to be and the importance of it
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What can The Blue Shirt Project offer you? The Blue Shirt Project can attend onsite for two (2) days providing training for your staff in Mental Health First Aid.
The Blue Shirt Project staff are fully licensed and registered instructors through Mental Health First Aid Australia
Accredited course through Mental Health First Aid Australia, recognised Nationally and Internationally
Mental Health First Aid Handbook is supplied
The Blue Shirt Project supplied training pack - including stationary/merchandise
The Blue Shirt Project High Visibility Workshirt or Tshirt/Top - in conjunction with the workplace uniform policy
1:1 Support throughout the training course
This course is recognized by Suicide Prevention Australia as a safe, high-quality, and effective suicide prevention program.
What is Mental Health First Aid and the importance of having skilled and accredited staff onsite? Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Recognize, understand and respond to the signs and symptoms of those experiencing mental health problems in co-workers, family members, friends and even themselves.
Use an evidence-based action plan to initiate a mental health first aid conversation until professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
Know the barriers to help-seeking and how to overcome these, as the ability to understand how to talk about mental health and help someone is an exceptionally important skill, as around 1 in 5 Australian adults experience a common mental illness each year.
Assess for a range of crisis situations and provide initial support
Understand the prevalence and impact of mental illnesses, risk factors and treatments and supports available
Apply self-care practices as a Mental Health First Aider
You will have skilled staff onsite who are trained and knowledgeable if anyone reaches out for assistance and not limited to a few.
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As the Blue Shirt Crew extends throughout the industry, a real sense of Community continues to build, not only with individual sites, but all sites that have partnered with the Blue Shirt Project.
The Blue Shirt Crew will be able to reach out to other members at other sites for support and assistance in continuing to build a sense of positivity, mental health awareness and activities.
But! Who supports the Blue Shirt Crew themselves???
By partnering on an annual basis, the Blue Shirt Project will remain in ongoing contact with the Blue Shirt Crew members, after all, they too are an important and valuable member of our team and yours.
We will provide topics that the crew will have options for raising and talking about at toolbox and safety meetings. They will be encouraged to develop activities during significant times throughout the year, including Work Safety Week, Mental Health Week, Men’s Mental Health Day and holiday periods as just an example.
In the circumstances of a serious and traumatic event, Management of the Blue Shirt Project can be contacted and attend the site as a rapid response at the request or invitation of the worksite management, to provide additional Mental Health support to the Blue Shirt crew and workplace employees.
The aim of the Blue Shirt Crew is to provide early intervention in relation to times where an employee may be experiencing or exposed to a mental health crisis. We aim to work alongside the company’s Employee Assistance Programs, or any other programs in place which address the Mental Health awareness of the site and be the conduit between employee and provider.
Got Some Doubts?
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The Blue Shirt Project is an early intervention mental health initiative that provides trained support staff who are easily identifiable and available to help those in need.
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Look for the Blue Shirt Crew—trained Mental Health First Aid staff who are ready to listen, support, and connect you with further help.
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No, while it started in Mining, Quarrying, and Earthmoving, the goal is to expand across all industries to support mental health everywhere.
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We offer a safe space to talk, confidential support, and connections to professional mental health services when needed.
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You can support by spreading awareness, joining as a trained Blue Shirt Crew member, or bringing the initiative to your workplace or industry.
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Without having to guesss, without having to wonder, without hesitation, you know right when you need it, that the Blue Shirt is your go to person straight away
Ready to talk?
Please reach out to us and we will be back in touch with you as soon as possible, because one conversation can save a life.
Whats been happening ????
Whats been happening ????
September 24th and 25th
Connect Staffing Group
Perth, Western Australia
Victorian Sports Group
Doreen, Victoria
September 16th and 17th
Wudinna Community,
Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
September 2nd
AUgust 21st
Mundi Mundi Bash 2025
Broken Hill, New South Wales
AUgust 20th to 21st
Deepcore Drilling
Bendigo, Victoria
JUly 1st to 14th
Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Wudinna, Kimba and Cummins
JUNE 29th
Australian Institute of Geoscientists, Victorian Minerals Round-Up
Ballarat, Victoria
JUNE 19th and 20th
TMERC Captains Seminar
Burnie, Tasmanaia
JUNE 19th and 20th
Viridian Glass
Clayton, Melbourne
May 21st and 22nd
This week saw us extremely busy as we took The Blue Shirt Project to its first workplace health and safety show, at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. We were definitely the little fish in a big ocean and have certainly invested absolutely everything we have, have been independent and self-funded, to get to that point. The Blue Shirt Project has never been a “business” to us, for us, it has always been personal. We have lived, breathed and experienced mental health/illness firsthand and we know how early intervention has a better recovery rate for individuals, families, but also businesses. We need to get mental health first aiders into workplaces and communities to help our fellow mates when they have that split second of bravado knowing they need to talk, and, act as that conduit to getting the services they need. The training provides those skills and conversations to enable this to happen in a productive and constructive way, but also by having those conversations with our colleagues that already know you. Whilst training is vital and will certainly help with the new Worksafe regulations, we need to use it constructively and by doing your training through us and receiving that blue shirt, you become that visual first hand respondent in the workplace! As we say, a simple shirt, but a powerful promise and commitment that you drop everything to assist your mates.
Attending the show, we hope we have raised awareness and conversations around mental health and for businesses to be proactive in this space. We had plenty of opportunities to spread the word, including doing a podcast and by having the blue shirts there showing the visual representation first hand.
Heartfelt thanks to the thousands of people who attended, to those who know us and support us personally on our journey thank you for coming along and making time to see us, Michael and Harry from Hip Pocket Ballarat for getting all of our merchandise completed in time and also Sam who was helpful and supportive throughout the whole event process.
Over the next week, we will reach out personally to over 100 organisations who scanned their QR codes for further information, and we hope, that we can see a change in the mental health space very soon in businesses!
hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#earlyintervention hashtag#mhfa hashtag#asimpleshirtbutapowerfulpromise hashtag#mentalhealthfirstaid hashtag#licensedinstructors hashtag#itonlytakesoneconversation hashtag#endthestigma
Workplace Health and Safety Show
Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Kimba, Cummins and Wudinna -South Australia’s beautiful Eyre Peninsula - you didn’t disappoint! After dropping everything and volunteering our time for two weeks on the Eyre Peninsula - it made made such an impact on us! Our first stop on the road with INGHAM & CO sharing farm safety and mental health awareness. Here on the Eyre Peninsula, the towns are doing it tough. From drought, to wind, to livestock, to everything in between - our farmers are amazing! From paddock to plate, from paddock to grain, it is pretty amazing to see where everything comes from and the processes involved. Resourcefulness is key and they do it well!
Oh what a night! The Blue Shirt Project was officially launched and at no better place than at the 2025 Mine Rescue Competition by Minerals Council of Australia. Allan spoke to all of the mine teams and sponsors about his struggles and triggers with Mental Illness and the importance of reaching out to people. This followed on with the question to all, and, how do they identify, or do they know their accredited Mental Health First Aiders - the room was quiet. Asking the same question, but with blue shirt project accredited staff in the room, the answers of overwhelmingly obvious - that being the visual blue shirt. The outcome was very overwhelming, emotional and supportive. The industry is screaming out to make a change in mental health/illness and the statistics show this with the rates of mental health and suicide, being the highest industry in Australia. Let’s get Mental Health First Aid training and early intervention happening and get Blue Shirts onto any site or business - contact us!
Victorian Mines Rescue
Competition 2025
Costerfield Gold Mine
March 28th, 29th and 30th
Last week, Al travelled over to SA and delivered the MHFA training to this very community. Again - not a business venture for us, but to stand with the Wudinna community who acknowledged and worked so hard to make it happen. We couldn’t be prouder of the community and this community should be proud of those who put their hand up filled with initiative and movement they have made! It all starts with one conversation and just shows how important and passionate we are to go absolutely anywhere to make this possible! hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#endthestigma hashtag#mentalhealth hashtag#mhfa hashtag#wudinna hashtag#wudinnamensshed hashtag#secondhandrose hashtag#determination hashtag#changedacommunity!
Two days in Clayton with @viridianglassau delivering Mental Health First Aid! We couldn’t be prouder of the six men who put their hands up to do this course, but, now skilled to be there for their fellow coworkers and friends/family when they may need it most. Early intervention starts here and congratulations to Viridian Glass for taking that step forward to support their staff. It has been an absolute pleasure to deliver this course and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with! We will be back in a few weeks to give them all a blue shirt so everyone knows who the trained mental health first aiders are onsite and ready to assist - stay tuned! hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#virdianglassau hashtag#mhfa hashtag#mhfainstructor hashtag#earlyintervention hashtag#endthestigma hashtag#changestartshere hashtag#worksafecompliance Mental Health First Aid International
This week we flew to the other side of Australia to WA, to deliver Mental Health First Aid to Connect Staffing Group - what absolute legends to complete the two day training and to send 10 new skilled and trained MHFAers out into the world! They are all super excited to wear their very own “blue shirt”, and to be that stand out visual aid for anyone who may need a bit of support! We look forward to our partnership with all of the participants at Connect Staffing Group across the west and east coast and can’t wait to see you all in blue shirts having those tough conversations. We are very passionate about not only the MHFA training and being there for your mates, but normalising mental health from and with lived experience - https://lnkd.in/gb9D6Upe hashtag#endthestigma hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#connectstaffinggroup hashtag#mhfa hashtag#proactive hashtag#earlyintervention hashtag#oneconversation hashtag#wetraveleverywhere hashtag#mentalhealth hashtag#doesntdiscriminate
We had the great opportunity to meet with Chris and the wonderful team at Victorian Sports Group (previously Joslyn Group) and wow are they doing amazing and exciting things! They listened to the “Just a Guy” presentation and we had such touching and heartwarming conversations with their employees afterwards. VSG are extremely proactive in the mental health space, BUT, everyone was so caring for each other! It really is one big family - yes even the puppies came to the presentation - and we look forward to working with you and supporting each other in the very near future!
💙 MUNDI MUNDI BASH 2025 💙
When two wonderful and passionate Blue Shirt Project ambassadors call for a “Blue Shirt” to take to Mundi Mundi - how can we say no!? Whilst we a very jealous we couldn’t make it ourselves, we know The Blue Shirt Project was in great hands with two people who have lived and breathed this with us from day 1 and know the importance of one conversation! We decked them out with lots of blue and even helped shade the caravan for them! We could not be prouder and honoured to have been asked, but also to have The Blue Shirt Project shirts being worn at Mundi Mundi on Big Blue Day - raising funds for Beyond Blue - is a very big moment for Mental Health Awareness! Huge thanks to M & B and we look forward to hearing all about it soon! hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#mhfa hashtag#endthestigma hashtag#mundimundibash hashtag#earlyintervention hashtag#beyondblue hashtag#bigblueday hashtag#oneconversation
It was an absolute pleasure to deliver Mental Health First Aid to these 11 strong men at Deepcore Drilling! Two days of tough conversations, education, laughs and yes, some tears, but all 11 men walked out of training, proud and ready, to be there for the colleagues, friends and family! Deepcore Drilling now have 20, yes 20, trained MHFA’s in the business and this is truely remarkable. They are leading the way to having a more inclusive, safer, supportive and caring workplace by being proactive and reminding all, that we are human! That, in itself is something to be proud of!
hashtag#deepcoredrilling hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#endthestigma hashtag#mhfa hashtag#earlyintervention hashtag#veryproud hashtag#openthedoortoconversations
On Thursday, Al was invited to speak at the - @aig.org.au @augeoscicouncil - Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) Victorian Minerals Round-up. The round-up showcases technical updates on Victorian projects, best practices, research, and technology related to the minerals sector. Al presented his mental health journey in a public forum of a few hundred geo-scientists, industry leaders, exploration teams and professionals, and how The Blue Shirt Project came about, but showcasing the importance of the visual aid enabling a rapid response approach by trained staff, when it’s need most. It was an extremely overwhelming experience with not many dry eyes in the auditorium, but also after the presentation, many people reaching out, acknowledging their own mental health and support for The Blue Shirt Project. This is why in Al’s moments of vulnerability, conversations are still occurring to normalise mental health. Many thanks to the AIG and Bill for inviting us along, please keep the conversations going and get training into place. hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#endthestigma hashtag#mhfa hashtag#mentalhealthfirstaid hashtag#licensedinstructors hashtag#aig hashtag#oneconversation
From Clayton last week to Burnie in Tassie this week. Morning started early at 4am, meetings and conversations as soon as we landed and the captains seminar with TMERC on Wednesday! Mental Health presentations and the importance of having skilled visual mental health first aiders onsite! hashtag#theblueshirtproject hashtag#earlyintervention hashtag#mhfa