Holyoake is proud to share that “Turn Up In Blue” has been awarded the Auspire Shire of Northam Australia Day Community Citizen of the Year 2023 – Group/Event category announced on Thursday 26th January at Bilya Koort Boodja, Northam.
Now in its 6th Year, Turn Up In Blue (TUIB), a multi agency collaborative community event hosted for Mental Health Week, attracted over 800 people last year. The TUIB community event is completely free, providing individuals with an opportunity to connect with local service providers in a fun and safe environment. With over 30 interactive activities to promote positive mental health and wellbeing, individual and family safety, and harm minimisation strategies, TUIB aims to address mental health issues by empowering everyone to take action and create lasting change.
Proudly supported by the Department of Communities, the Auspire Shire of Northam Community Citizen of the Year awards acknowledge and celebrate contributions to community life and active citizenship in the region. Recipients are selected from people and groups who have given outstanding service to the community, acknowledging leading citizens and role models who inspire the Community with their achievements and challenge them to make their own contribution to creating a better community.
Accepting the Award on behalf of the TUIB Organising Committee, Holyoake WCADS Prevention Officer and TUIB Chair Jo Drayton commented,
“The TUIB event is an opportunity to understand the importance of good mental health in our everyday lives and encourages help seeking behaviours. Event success is due to the collective drive and determination of the organising committee. This Award acknowledges their contribution, passion, leadership and dedication. We are fortunate to have so many advocates supporting the event and this recognises the importance of the work they do to better the community of Northam and surrounds. TUIB has a positive impact in the community, promoting mindfulness and the enhancement of community life, with other Wheatbelt communities keen to replicate a similar event in their towns”.
“Without the generosity of our financial sponsors; Holyoake, WA Primary Health Alliance, WA Country Health Service, AVIVO and Amity Health – TUIB wouldn’t have had the success that it did. To be recognised as a true role model for the local community is an honourable reflection of the 2022 Mental Health week theme ‘Where we live. How we live. What we’ve lived”.
“TUIB event is an excellent opportunity to engage with the community, provide information and a great day for collaboration with other services towards improving services in the community.”
Anne Fletcher, Wanslea, Manager
“Working with the service providers already present in the community is very important as they understand the needs of community members and other service providers.
We loved visiting Northam to support the TUIB Initiative. It was extremely valuable, meeting and connecting with the community, with many opportunities to discuss two injury priorities:
• Road Trauma support and,
• Falls Prevention.
A highlight – young people taking falls prevention information for grandparents. They came to us in large numbers and we very much enjoyed meeting and connecting with them.”
Sam Menezes, Injury Matters, General Manager Injury Prevention
Rural Aid
“TUIB event is very effective in showcasing the many organisations in the community and the focus on interactive activities to facilitate conversations and highlight the various mental health organisations and respective services, particularly with young people.”
Gome Simfukwe, Rural Aid, Team Leader – Mental Health and Wellbeing
