Funding extended for HIPPY
AnglicareSA has welcomed a five-year funding extension for the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) recently announced by Minister for Families and Social Services Amanda Rishworth MP. HIPPY Australia is a free, two-year, home-based, early learning and parenting program for families with young children, which is improving children’s school-readiness through AnglicareSA’s Elizabeth and Christies Beach sites. Children’s earliest and most powerful learning comes from their family with parents laying the foundations for success at school by teaching literacy, numeracy and language skills that support a love of learning throughout life. Parents are supported to shape their child’s learning opportunities around their strengths and interests and to bring learning off the page and into the world. We call it ‘Everywhere Learning’ – taking HIPPY activities to everyday situations and places.
Brothers band together for mental health SPECIAL BOND: Six Brothers’ Ben and Clayton with AnglicareSA case coordinator Stuart
the scenes. Members range in age from 18 through to 70 and come from all walks of life with the club offering them a safe space and community to be open about their own mental health struggles. “You feel relief when you speak about it,” he says. “We’re all like-minded blokes and we’ve been through something similar so if we can sit down, talk about it every now and then, then it’s a bit of weight lifted off the shoulders.” The club hosted a Suicide Prevention Run last year to raise money to support the AnglicareSA program that helped Clayton change his life. AnglicareSA’s Suicide Prevention Service is a free program providing practical and emotional support to individuals and families following a suicide attempt. Individuals and families are offered three months of intensive support through home visits and telephone contact. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please contact: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 Or dial 000 if it is an emergency
Clayton tried to take his own life four times. The fifth time – in 2019 – Clayton died. Thankfully, the quick-thinking actions of a police officer brought the Adelaide man back to life. Clayton spent the next two months in hospital learning how to speak. While lying in his hospital bed, he decided it was time to turn his struggle with mental health into something positive for himself and others. Connecting with AnglicareSA’s Suicide Prevention Service, Clayton worked with case coordinator Stuart and brought together his passion for motorbikes and his new mission in life – mental health. And so, the Six Brothers Social Motorcycle Club was formed. “The name Six Brothers is significant because, on average, six Australian men die from suicide each day,” Clayton says. “I guess it just went from there. I was hoping that people would join me, and they did. It’s not something I ever thought I’d do because I’m not much of a public bloke – but I love it now.” In a short time, the club has grown to 20 riding members and another 20 auxiliary members who help behind
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