Wellbeing

Communities That Care Alpine (CTCA) is a community-based initiative designed to promote the healthy development of children and young people. Underpinned by the Social Development Strategy, CTCA aims to improve the lives of children, young people and families living in the Alpine Shire. There are 5 phases to CTC to guide communities towards identifying and understanding local needs, setting priorities, and implementing tested effective strategies to address those needs. Established in 2010, CTCA is a coordinated approach between Alpine Health, Alpine Shire Council, North East Local Learning and Employment Network and North East Support & Action for Youth. In order to assist with the coordinated approach of the partnership, CTCA developed the Alpine Shire Youth Strategy - Alpine Shire 2022-24 (Low Res) Youth Strategy

Key achievements of CTCA include:

• FReeZA and Engage youth events
• Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid
• Myrtleford’s #bekindtoyourmind Mental Health Week
• B4Work Program
• Development of the Youth Communications Framework
• Delivery of the Alpine Shire Youth Awards
• The launch of the Online Youth Hub
• Establishment of the Resilient Alpine Youth Squad.
• The creation of the Lighthouse Youth Space

You can read the full report of key achievements here – Final CTCA Report

This program concluded in December 2024, however partners remain committed to working for and with youth of the Alpine Shire. This partnership is now called the Alpine Shire Youth Support Network.

In partnership with Alpine Shire Council, Alpine Health remains committed to the continual upskilling of community to be able to support themselves and others with their mental health.

In 2025, a number of community members across different age groups and parts of the Shire, participated in suicide prevention training and Mental Health First Aid. Lifeline Loddon Mallee delivered suicide prevention training which was very well received. Their training options can be found on their website - Lifeline Loddon Mallee.

The Mental Health Coach has been a frequent facilitator of Mental Health First Aid training and now has a good level of understanding of the area and community - Mental Health First Aid Courses | The Mental Health Coach

The Alpine Saints Myrtleford Football Netball Club Wellbeing Team was formed in 2021 and is now considered a hub where individuals can access support and referrals to improve and maintain mental health. The aim of the team is to provide support for those who are experiencing mental health issues and need a confidential ear to listen and direct to the appropriate supports or services, before issues escalate. The club along with school and community partners, remain committed every year to the delivery of the #Bekindtoyourmind mental wellbeing week. This week lines up with the club’s home and away season and involves guest speakers and workshops at the club, Myrtleford schools and in community settings.

October 2024 saw the establishment of the Bright & surrounds mental wellbeing committee, which is made up of representatives from the health sector, sporting clubs and community groups. This committee is committed to increasing resilience and wellbeing in the area with support from Alpine Health and the Myrtleford Football Netball Club wellbeing team. Some members have already increased their skills through suicide prevention and mental health training, as well as started their journey to establishing their own wellbeing team.

If you are interested in establishing a wellbeing team at your club or organisation, please reach out to us – [email protected]

What began as activities as part of the Myrtleford mental wellbeing week, have now expanded to offer opportunities to other parts of the Shire.

Alpine Health was successful in receiving funding from Murray PHN to support cultural wellness workshops by Lee Couch - Lee Couch | Aboriginal Health & Wellness Facilitator & Educator – Lee Ann Couch. These have been delivered across Myrtleford, Bright and Mt Beauty now on multiple occasions, with the latest sessions being delivered in June 2025.

Wellbeing workshops have also been delivered by local clinicians at all the secondary schools in the Alpine Shire with students from years 7 to 10. These sessions target emotional awareness, confidence in looking after one’s wellbeing, and knowledge of services and support available to them.

#Bekindtoyourmind Myrtleford mental wellbeing week

Myrtleford schools have now participated in #Bekindtoyourmind mental wellbeing week for the 4^th year in a row, with their latest participation in June 2025. Previous activities have included:

• Motivation speaker Luke Kennedy, tailoring presentations to children, young people and adults.
• Suicide prevention leader Mitch McPherson speaking to secondary school students and teachers.
• Dr Michael Carr-Greg providing a community presentation focused on adolescent mental health.
• Guest speaker Chelsea Frawley presenting to children, young people and teachers on mental health red flags, substance use and how to seek help.
• Former AFL player Lance Picoane from the Never Alone foundation speaking to young people, teachers and parents about his lived experience of mental illness.
• Dr Jodi Lowinger providing a community presentation on anxiety, mindset and resilience.
• Primary school activities to build resilience in students
• Secondary school wellbeing workshops
• Traditional wellness workshops delivered by Lee Couch

The Last Daughter

The Last Daughter documentary was screened in October 2023 at Myrtleford and Mt Beauty, and is a true story about love, loss and reconnection through the story of Brenda Matthews. These screenings were hosted by Lee Couch, a proud Gamilaroi woman, who is currently living on Taugurong, Dhudhuroa and Waywuru Country. 125 local people attended and were able to connect through yarning following the film, facilitated by Lee. This film is now available for viewing on Netflix.

Wellbeing teams can help create an inclusive and supportive structure for all members within a club/group/organisation. These teams focus on promoting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of all its members.

The principles and values of a wellbeing team include:

• Removing mental health stigma
• Encouraging open conversations about mental health and wellbeing
• Inclusion, patience, respect and understanding

You might think about setting up a wellbeing team if you are looking at:

• Building a network and inclusive culture that maintains and supports wellbeing.
• Providing meaningful support to members experiencing mental health or emotional challenges.
• Encouraging open and respectful conversations around mental health.
• Responding to recent stress, change or trauma experienced by your organisation/club/group.

Supporting wellbeing does not just help the individual, but has benefits to the organisation. Wellbeing is strongly linked to productivity, and a positive, safe and inclusive culture increases the chance of keeping members engaged and feeling valued.

This guide is for anyone looking at setting up a wellbeing team but doesn’t know where to start. It is also useful for anyone who might be looking for additional resources to help with progressing a wellbeing team.

The steps to take

Creating a Wellbeing Team doesn't start with a perfect plan...it starts with small, intentional steps. That might mean having a conversation with a supportive person, bringing up ‘wellbeing’ at your next team meeting, or jotting down a few ideas. Go at a pace that feels right for your situation and trust that smalls steps can lead to meaningful change. 

Below are some steps to help, but the process is flexible and may not be linear. Use below what is useful rather than feeling like you have to go through it step-by-step. If you are a sporting club, you may also find Appendix 1 helpful.

Appendix 1 - Sporting clubs

You are not alone—others have walked this path! Reach out to groups that have already created wellbeing teams. Sharing ideas and experiences can reduce the workload and build a sense of community around this work. For example, the Myrtleford Football and Netball Club and the Bright and Surrounds Mental Wellbeing Committee have generously contributed to this guide and may be valuable contacts. The Bright and surrounds mental wellbeing committee started in October 2024 and meets regularly. It is a great platform for sharing resources and delivering activities together.

There is no ‘i’ in team, but your team could start off as small as 2 people and grow over time. Members of your team will likely change in size and people as time goes on, however it is important to have some initial drivers so that work can start. Prioritise creating a team that values inclusion, lived experience, and diverse perspectives. Work with those who are passionate about wellbeing and have a shared interest. Commit the time to meet with the team so that you can bring your ideas to life and make plans. People may join or step back from the team as it evolves; this is a natural process.

For a wellbeing team to be successful, it needs the support of leadership. Depending on your structure, you may start with leadership buy-in, or you may build a small team first to help show the value. Use the “What is a wellbeing team?” section to help communicate your vision to leadership. You might also like to make a start on a Terms of Reference (Step 4 below) before approaching leadership. Provide regular updates to leadership about the activities of the wellbeing team to keep them engaged and supportive.

A Terms of Reference helps clarify your team’s purpose and direction. It outlines shared goals, responsibilities and values guiding your work. The SMART framework can be a helpful tool when creating your goals.

See the template below for suggestions for your Terms of Reference.

• Click to download Template Terms of Reference.

Once your goals are clear, you can plan how to move towards them. Developing an action plan will guide your team in delivering tasks.

Click to download a Template Action Plan.

It is important to decide on a timeframe for your action plan and set one that makes the most sense for your organisation, but that is also realistic for where your team is at. Your plan does not have to be perfect. Keep it flexible enough to adapt as you learn or as your team changes. Allow for diverse working styles. Some members may prefer structured roles, others may contribute more fluidly. The work involved in setting up a team will be resource-heavy, but as the team gets established, resourcing should become more stable.

Policies and procedures can be an effective way to support culture where wellbeing and mental health is valued. Consider starting with a wellbeing policy and code of conduct.

These documents should emphasise safety, inclusion, and respect for all members.

Click to download a template for a Wellbeing Policy.

You can visit Policy Templates for Sport - Play by the Rules - Making Sport inclusive, safe and fair to find templates for the following:

• Member Protection Policy
• Code of Behaviour
• Social Media Policy
• Interacting with Children guidelines
• Alcohol Policy
• Chaperone Policy
• Communications Policy
• Disability Inclusion Policy
• Spectator Behaviour Policy

Other policies and procedures you should consider include:

• Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment Procedure
• Illegal Drug Policy
• Social Media Procedure

Creating lasting change means planning for long-term support, learning, and resourcing. This includes building the capacity of your wellbeing champions and all members of your club/group/organisation, planning for regular communications amongst your members and community, and securing funding for ongoing wellbeing projects.

In order for organisations to be equipped with the skills to support wellbeing, you will need a budget for training and capacity building supports. There are a range of mental health training options which you

may consider for your members. Provide opportunities for learning while considering the different needs or desires when it comes to training and capacity building. Respect diverse lived experiences and knowledge. A list of training courses and organisations can be found in Appendix 5.

Wellbeing leaders may need support themselves, especially if they are navigating vicarious trauma or personal challenges. Consider offering access to reflective practice, peer supervision, or external supports. You might like to consider a budget for a Member Assistance Program and/or make them aware of where else they can go for information and support.

Some examples of helpful organisations include Beyond Blue, Lifeline and Black Dog Institute.

You can also refer to Appendix 6 for a list of mental health services/support. Mental Health First Aid Australia has also launched a resource hub to support mental health first aiders - MHF Aider Resource Hub | Mental Health First Aid Australia.

In order to ensure a positive wellbeing culture, it’s important that your communication, internally and externally, reflects inclusive and consistent messages. There are a range of organisations as mentioned above and in Appendix 5 that you can draw on for positive messaging. Your organisation may also want to consider:

• Unique branding and taglines.  
• Participating in events and campaigns which have a mental health focus eg. RUOK? Day
• Considering your own wellbeing activities. Appendix 7 is an example of what the Myrtleford Football and Netball Club do on an annual basis. 
• Incorporating wellbeing into your already existing activities. Appendix 8 is an example of something that Bright Uniting Church already offers to community and aligns well with supporting wellbeing.
• Education about mental health in an effort to reduce stigma.
• Promoting wellbeing activities that are sensory-friendly and accessible.

Explore grants, sponsorship, or community partnerships to support your team’s activities. Having a budget helps build consistent support without over-reliance on unpaid or emotional labour. Ongoing funding for wellbeing activities is something worth exploring as part of sustaining the work of the wellbeing team.

For more information

• Alpine Health Health Promotion team at [email protected] | 03 5751 9373
• For sporting clubs looking for support, you can contact your regional sports assembly SportNorthEast at [email protected] or 03 5721 0200