The National Mental Health Commission’s Connections project tour was successfully completed recently after visiting 26 towns and cities around the country from June – September 2019.
Beginning on Thursday Island and travelling across all states and territories, strong connections were made with each community including the diversity of professionals and volunteers involved in mental health and suicide prevention, and most significantly with those with a living experience, together with carers, families and supporters. Each community had an opportunity to share their experiences and ideas for change during a town hall meeting.
CEO, Christine Morgan, and Chair, Lucy Brogden were keen to learn about the realities and experiences of mental ill health and suicide from Australians to help inform the development of a national 2030 Vision for mental health, suicide prevention and wellbeing for the Australian Government to affect system change.

“This is about ensuring that the voices of those with a living experience of mental health and suicidality are involved in Australia’s 2030 Vision for mental health, and are contributing to the design of an improved approach,” said Ms Morgan.
For those not able to attend meetings, a consultation portal was open to all wanting to share their story.
The Connections project insights will significantly inform the recommendations and proposed system changes included in the 2030 Vision report to be delivered to the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, before Christmas.
Primary is proud to have designed and delivered the Connections project alongside the project team at the Commission, and to work with the National Mental Health Commission on their priority projects.

National peak industry body Large Format Retail Association (LFRA) launched Unwrap, a dedicated and reliable source of information for Large Format Retailers across the country.

Large Format Retail is the fastest growing sector of the Australian retail industry and is facing major changes in policy, regulation, economic conditions and social issues. LFRA worked with Primary to develop an industry news website which could act as a one-stop shop and knowledge hub for retailers.

Primary is responsible for Unwrap’s content development and editing. This involves writing and collating the most interesting industry-related stories and research, economic updates, legal advice and relevant government announcements.

The publication’s audience includes CEOs and Directors from some of the largest local and international retail brands, as well as property developers and investors, planners and architects, real estate companies and other professional services.

The Large Format Retail sector includes a range of specialty retail including lighting, automotive parts, hardware, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, pet supplies and outdoor recreational equipment. Notable LFRA members include household brands Beacon Lighting, Bunnings Warehouse, Chemist Warehouse, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi and Spotlight.

Primary Communication is proud to assist LFRA in developing a new knowledge hub and voice for the Large Format Retail industry.

Firefighters made a special visit to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead on Tuesday to bring a touch of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Open Day to children who are unable to attend a fire station on Saturday 18 May.

Children at the hospital had the chance to see fire trucks and firefighting and rescue equipment up close and chat to firefighters about the critical work they do to keep communities safe.

The visit was also an opportunity for firefighters to meet children and their families at the hospital’s Burns Unit, who have been injured or impacted by fire, heat or other incidents.

FRNSW Commissioner, Paul Baxter said the Burns Unit – which is affectionately known as FRNSW Station No. 2 – was a place very close to the hearts of all firefighters.

“Children are especially vulnerable to fire injuries and burns due to their natural curiosity and lack of knowledge about fire safety,” said Commissioner Baxter.

“We work hard to reduce the incidence of those injuries and our firefighters readily give up their time to support the Burns Unit, because they see the children at the scene of fires and want to ensure they get the best possible care.”

The Burns Unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead admits approximately 200-220 children with burns injuries each year, ranging from birth to 16 years old.

Firefighters from 400in4 Charity Ride, who cycled from Huskisson to Mt Kosciusko over four days in April, presented a cheque of the money raised to the Burns Unit during today’s visit.

“We are so grateful to Fire and Rescue NSW for their generous support over the years, and for their commitment to helping ensure we can continue providing the best treatment and rehabilitation to our patients,” Kerry Bolwell, Acting Nurse Unit Manager of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead’s Burns Unit said.

FRNSW will also open the doors to hundreds of fire stations across NSW on Saturday 18 May from 10am to 2pm for its annual Open Day, inviting people to learn more about Australia’s largest urban fire and rescue service.

Since launching in 2016 the MAYDAYS campaign has played a crucial role in providing advocacy for treatment and health system reform and raising awareness of the serious consequences that people with a lived experience of an eating disorder are experiencing every day.

This year the focus, Carers Need Care Too, is on the desperate needs of many carers and the need to expand Butterfly’s Carers Support Groups to reach more Australians in crisis.

Carers play a crucial role in the care, support, and recovery of people with eating disorders. There are an increasing number of cases where Australians caring for people with an eating disorder are overlooking their basic needs of care and wellbeing.

Butterfly Foundation CEO, Kevin Barrow, said the launch of MAYDAYS – Carers Need Care Too is a crucial step in providing improved and effective support for the carers of people with an eating disorder.

“When an eating disorder enters a home, it impacts every aspect of a carer’s life whether it be financial, social or emotional – it consumes their every waking moment,” Mr Barrow said.

Not surprisingly, Butterfly’s Raising the Alarm: Carers Need Care Too survey report found that more than 40% of carers have never sought support, despite a staggering 83% of respondents highlighting the impact on their mental health.

Other key report findings include:

• 64% of carers acknowledged that they would benefit from psychological support
• 78% lost work or their ability to study to be able to provide the support needed
• Others said it impacted on sleep (76%), relationships (76%) and social life (71%)
• 100% of carers reported that they thought their support in caring for someone with an eating disorder was more important than most of the other things they would like to achieve
• 81% of carers reported they were confident about their learned skills to support a loved one.

The full report can be downloaded here.

Primary is proud to work alongside the Butterfly Foundation on their MAYDAYS campaign to build awareness of the need for carers support, the people who are often overlooked. This year MAYDAYS is running 5 – 30 May.

When BOC and transport company Nortrans celebrated 50 years of partnership last month in Townsville, two special guests almost stole the show.

Arthur Battle and Ted Behrendoff, both in their 90s, joined the celebration with Member for Herbert Cathy O’Toole MP and staff from both organisations.

In 1969, Arthur who founded Nortrans, signed the first contract with BOC to provide one truck to transport gas across North Queensland and the Northern Territory. Ted was also there in those early days, driving trucks that looked very different to what we see today.

Five decades later and Nortrans has 36 gas-qualified drivers who now cover one million square kilometres for BOC. They deliver to some of the most remote locations in Australia – enduring the toughest of conditions.

And while Nortrans is now run by Arthur’s son Rodney Battle, and his grandsons Kent and Seeton – his legacy is evident in the strong safety culture they have built together with BOC.

A very big congratulations to the team at BOC and Nortrans on this special milestone. Check out more here.

International Cave Rescuers and 2019 Australians of the Year, Dr. Craig Challen SC OAM (Craig) and Dr. Richard Harris SC OAM (Harry), took time out to go diving with Youth Members of Scouts Australia off the Western Australian coast on Saturday 30th March.

As part of their roles as Australians of the Year, Dr Challen and Dr Harris wish to promote outdoor adventure and resilience in young Australians. With children and teens glued to their screens, it is important to take a break and appreciate the outdoors.

“The risk [of outdoor activity] are actually very very small but the opportunities to develop as a person are massive,” said Dr Harris.

“And so many times, the only thing you’ve got to fear is fear itself,” added Dr Challen.

The connection between Craig and Harry’s message and Scouting was a natural fit.

As National Youth Scouts spokesperson and Venturer Scout Kalita Tomlinson reported “I could tell that Dr Challen and Dr Harris understood what Scouts do and the importance we play in developing today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.”

“They had many important messages for young people who might be afraid to try things in case they fail, or feel bad because they have failed in the past”.

“After hearing them explain how we can develop their resilience, I hope young people everywhere will try something new that pushes their boundaries”.

This was the first time Craig and Harry dived together since rescuing the Wild Boars Thai soccer team in July last year.

Primary Communication is proud to have worked closely with Scouts Australia on this incredible opportunity and adventure. The campaign included a special mini-documentary produced by Primary and released worldwide, an exclusive story opportunity with ABC 7.30, and media interviews to promote Scouts commitment to adventure, resilience, inclusion and outdoor activities for all young people.

Check out the incredible adventure video below!

On Wednesday 15th June, Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, stood beside Lexi Crouch and Butterfly Foundation CEO, Christine Morgan, at a Ministerial media conference on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Lexi’s brave personal account at the event provided the necessary lived experience focus of the Minister’s announcement and ensured that the audience was given a clear appreciation of the significance of Australia’s first trial of multi-disciplinary treatment in the community for eating disorders.

“This really does instil hope for the future of eating disorders treatment and the lives of so many Australians. It will take away an element of stress that is so real and prevalent for many accessing care.”

Lexi Crouch, 30, Brisbane

For the past 15 years Lexi has battled an eating disorder, including numerous life-saving emergency hospital admissions, in between attempting to access adequate treatment. Through sheer will-power and no shortage of heartache, Lexi has won her battle and is dedicated to sharing her experience with others.

Lexi’s story underscored the serious reality of what its like to live with an eating disorder.

Lexi provided the final chapter for Butterfly Foundation’s MAYDAYs campaign. She joined a group of Australians with diverse lived experience of an eating disorder, as they gave voice to the realities of the financial and life costs of battling an eating disorder in Australia’s current health system. Their bravery and willingness to tell their story to media and directly to the Government has illuminated the significant challenges needing to be addressed and underscored the Government’s recognition of the need for the Trial.

The Trial was a direct response to the need to have real world testing of the in-community treatment model being proposed by Butterfly Foundation, which is based on extensive consultation with Australia’s best clinical experts and Australians with a lived experience of eating disorders.

The key to inspiring change was to ensure that all communication and advocacy for this project had a heart and head strategy.

The heart of this matter was delivered in inspiring fashion by carefully supported storytelling from courageous Australians with a lived experience. Their daily realities inspired and informed the tone and attitude of all communication. Their stories and their real-world experience of the health system gave voice to the voiceless and created a community of shared lived experiences.

The head was in the form of Butterfly Foundation’s focus on its overall strategy, one of over-all health system reform for eating disorders based on up-to-date clinical and lived experience research, collaboration across the sector, and a carefully supported program of collaboration and consultation.

The treatment trial begins late in 2018 and it is hoped that with its success a national rollout of similar treatment and support in the community will be supported by the Federal Government over the coming years. The Trial is one step in the many changes needed across Australia’s health system to achieve the levels of treatment and support required.

Last night Scott Morrison unveiled the tax cuts he hopes will provide him an electoral bounce. His plan, he hopes to legislate, will mean 73% of Australians, earning between $41,000 and $200,000 will pay no more than 32.5% tax by 2024-25. A little context might go a long way to understanding what these tax cuts actually mean.

In the current financial year 53% of tax payers earning between $37,000 and $87,000 pay 32.5% tax on their income. A trip down memory lane to June 2000, just a week before the introduction of the GST the then Prime Minister, John Howard, said “Four in every five taxpayers will be on a top rate of 30 cents in the dollar or less.” So even if ScoMo’s plan is followed through in six years, and possibly three elections time, it appears that more taxpayers are still paying more tax than in 2000. But why let history get in the way of selling it?

This is clearly a Budget to take the election. Just a quick look at census data in some of the Government’s most marginal seats shows the demographic they are targeting. The median annual salary in Capricornia ($73,736), Forde ($76,076), Gilmore ($53,976), Flynn ($67,808) and Robertson ($67,808) are all squarely in the Government’s tax cuts income brackets. People in this income bracket can easily creep into the next tax bracket through income rises or through working overtime for more money.

ScoMo’s last budget was a shock to those who voted for him, dubbed a Labor Lite budget. This one appeals to his conservative base and middle Australia. No doubt he hopes that working Australians with a few more dollars in their pocket return him to his job on election day.

Primary Communication Account Director Elaine Banoub shares her insights on cyber security detailing the top three threats to Australian businesses with the Code Red Security Network.

These include;

1. Security is a moving target with the adoption of IoT
2. Ransomware will continue as a growing threat
3. Bring your own device (BYOD) is an issue that needs to be controlled

Read more here on the Code Red Security Network.

It was a big week for Primary as Mel and Michelle from our team celebrated the winners and finalists of the ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2017 at an official awards event held at the IMAX Theatre Melbourne Museum on Monday 16 October.

This year marked the tenth anniversary of the awards, which are Victoria’s largest sustainability awards for schools. For Primary, this was our sixth year delivering the school’s outreach and event support for this highly successful program.

Primary’s Account Director Mel Bairstow says it is always rewarding to see hundreds of entries come from all over Victoria, showcasing many inspiring sustainability projects and school communities.

“We were thrilled to see teachers and students from all over the state gathered together to celebrate the occasion – some even came from as far afield as Kaniva and Warracknabeal!

“And while over the six years we have managed more than 970 entries, we are continually impressed year on year by the commitment schools have to sustainability and climate change.”

This year’s event was hosted by gardening guru Costa Georgiadis of ABC’s Gardening Australia. Bringing his signature high-energy style and a genuine passion for the environment, he was a tremendous hit with both students and adults.

The ResourceSmart Schools Awards are part of the ResourceSmart Schools program to help recognise schools that embed sustainability into everything they do, and acknowledge the steps taken to minimise waste, save energy and water, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To see the full list of finalists and winners, click here.