Fay Fuller - Our Town

In 2019, the Wellbeing Team at Glossop High School wrote an application for funding for up to 10 years support around improving the mental health outcomes of people in Rural and Regional Communities.

Our Town project arose from the findings of the Fay Fuller Foundation which showed that mental health challenges are more prevalent in rural and remote areas. People living in non-metropolitan areas are also less likely to seek help for mental health challenges than those in the metropolitan area.

The actual amount of funding will depend on what the towns decide to do. However, the final two towns/regions will receive funding of several million dollars each, along with extensive support over the next 10 years.

Berri, and the wider Riverland community has been shortlisted and now six towns and regions have been chosen to continue working with the Fay Fuller Foundation. Berri, Ceduna, Cummins, Kangaroo Island, Kimba and the Mid Murray region will receive seed funding and support to develop long-term plans to build mental health capability in 2020.

Glossop High School is playing a major role in this application because as a school they feel that they would benefit immensely from better collaboration with external organisations and a greater plan around mental health literacy. Glossop High School would like to reach families and the wider community to improve mental health for both students and the Riverland as a whole.

Year 12 students, Jack Monaco and Deni Eleftheriadis have been chosen to work on the application as part of their Stage 2 Health Subject and because they also feel passionately about improving mental health outcomes in the Riverland.

In 2020, Glossop High School will partner with a large range of external organisations to work on developing a mental health plan for our region that is sustainable and supportive of all groups. A grant decision will be made around the final two towns in November 2020.

Should you like to learn more or participate in the program, you can contact Donna Safralidis at the Senior Campus on 08 8595 2677.

The next meeting for this program will be held on Wednesday 11 March 2020 from 9.00am until 12.00pm in the Berri Library. All welcome.