Souths Cares teamed up with John Holland to support a Men’s Health Week event on Friday at the construction site for the new Sydney Football Stadium.
Souths Cares Ambassador Yileen Gordon participated in three Q&A sessions, with Gordon candidly discussing his Rugby League career, overcoming adversity, addressing stigma in mental health and strategies to promote mental health and wellbeing. The sessions were well received by the 800+ construction workers and support staff in attendance, with the event also accompanied by a catered lunch and fundraising for charitable causes.
Souths Cares were presented with a generous $5,000 donation from the Sydney Football Stadium Foundation. The Foundation has already gifted around $35,000 to charitable causes to date, with the ambitious goal of raising $100,000 by the time new stadium is complete.
Steve Maclaren is the Health and Safety Manager at the Sydney Football Stadium Redevelopment site and explained the event was part of a broader Caring in Construction initiative John Holland was facilitating to support site-based workers.
“The Caring in Construction program aims to generate awareness around mental wellbeing on John Holland building sites, and it was great to have Yileen Gordon join us today for this special event for Men’s Health Week, to help us promote health and wellbeing for men” Steve said.
Yileen Gordon explained the event was a great opportunity to help normalise conversations about mental health within the construction industry.
“It was great to speak at the event and address the stigma associated with mental health – particularly in the construction industry which can at times, have a macho workplace culture.
Being able to have a conversation with a colleague or mental health first aider on-site could be an important first-step for workers seeking help”.
Souths Cares has continued to expand its focus on mental health in 2021, with the charity developing a mental health employment induction video earlier this year with the support of the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority. This free resource is available to be used by any organisation or business.
