Maroondah City Council is proud to be recognised as a Mental Health First Aid Champion Community with Mental health First Aid Australia.
Council is committed to improving the mental wellbeing of our community and one method has been to consistently provide Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to various cohorts across the municipality.
Being part of the MHFA Champion Community program has enabled us to connect with other like-minded groups and work with them to empower our community to be mentally healthy while supporting the mental health of others. It has enabled us to help de-stigmatise mental health through opportunities for honest and meaningful conversations on mental illness.
Recognition by MHFA Australia through this program shows Council’s and supporting partners dedication to improving the mental health and wellbeing of our members as we work together to build an empowered, supported, and mentally healthy community.
More information on the MHFA Champion Communities program can be found on
Council is committed to continually working to improve the mental wellbeing of our community as noted in our health and wellbeing strategic plan - Maroondah Liveability Wellbeing and Resilience Strategy 2021-2031. This Strategy was developed through considerable and comprehensive engagement with Maroondah community members, local partners and community agencies and has six key focus areas:
- healthy lifestyles
- liveable neighbourhoods
- safe communities
- social inclusion
- embracing diversity
- social harms.
Mental Health First Aid training is one of Council's core mental health and suicide prevention initiatives and therefore a priority of Council.
This training has been run within Maroondah for the past 10 years with Council first offering this training in 2015. We have been running free MHFA training programs for community members with a focus on volunteers and carers ever since.
Since Council started providing training, we have received an increase in the number of requests for training for local service providers. Therefore in 2019 we commenced MHFA training at a subsidised rate for service providers and organisational representatives.
What participants have said about the training
"I never realised how common a lot of mental illnesses are, and I’m glad that I now know how to assist people who may be suffering from them. "
"I can help others by just speaking up and showing concern, helping link others to the appropriate information."
"That it is okay to raise difficult subjects and have the conversation! That with a little further information and resources, as provided in the course material, we can help support others without having to be the "fixer" of the issue or situation."
"This is my second day and I have already used the first day’s information many times with scout leaders and family."
For more information
To learn more about MHFA Champion Community Program or the training sessions, please contact Fiona Burridge on 1300 88 22 33 or email Fiona.burridge@maroondah.vic.gov.au