Anglo American and Moranbah District Support Services (MDSS) have announced a two-year, $216,000 partnership that will secure vital counselling resources and ensure the continued delivery of mental health and social support services to the Isaac region until late-2024.
Commencing in November 2022, the Isaac Wellbeing Project focuses on four key priority areas to build community capacity and improve mental health outcomes:
- Provision of mental health support, education, and advocacy services for individuals and families, including one full-time counselling professional to engage local high schools,
- Increased local capacity for mental health care delivery and support within communities across the Isaac region, including community education and up skilling local professionals,
- Development of new education and employment pathways within health and social support services across the Isaac region through partnerships with universities and training providers
- Development of a Regional Mental Health Network consisting of local stakeholders and Subject Matter Experts (SME) to provide insight into changes in community needs.
Moranbah District Support Services Manager, Jane Christensen, welcomed the partnership which will allow MDSS to offer mental health support to a wider demographic of clients.
“This exciting new partnership with Anglo American not only allows us to maintain and expand our existing mental health services, which primarily focused on youth mental health, it also supports the long-term development of sustainable, region-specific resources.
The Isaac Wellbeing Project has been carefully designed to build our region’s capacity to support mental wellbeing by providing the resources required to build better support networks, and equipping organisations and individuals with evidence-based tools to achieve positive mental health outcomes,” Ms Christensen said.
General Manager of Anglo American’s Grosvenor Mine, Paul Stephan, said Anglo American was pleased to support such a critical service, as a key initiative under the company’s Sustainable Mining Plan.
“As long-standing members of the Isaac community, we understand the importance of accessible mental healthcare and social support, which is why we’re taking action to provide on-the-ground care to support our people, their families and our communities.
“Through consultation with the Isaac community and local health professionals, we recognised a clear preference for face-to-face wellbeing services, so it was vital to partner with a trusted, local provider with the capacity to deliver this in-region support.
“We have seen the benefits of MDSS’ professional counselling and support services in the community through their Rural Family Support, Domestic Violence and Neighbourhood Centre programs, and are delighted to partner with an organisation that shares our goal; to improve people’s lives,” Mr Stephan said.
MDSS is a small, not-for-profit organisation which provides social support services to the communities of Moranbah, Dysart, Clermont, Coppabella, Middlemount, Nebo and Glenden.
Anglo American is a leading global mining company, with significant investments in Australia and particularly in Queensland. The company operates five steelmaking coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, and has additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese, as well as copper exploration projects underway in Queensland and Western Australia.
Isaac Wellbeing Partnership launch (left to right): Moranbah District Support Services Manager, Jane Christensen; MDSS Committee President, Trish Finney; Isaac Mayor, Anne Baker; Grosvenor Mine Safety, Health and Environment Manager, Tracey Drever; Grosvenor Mine General Manager, Paul Stephan.