Mind Australia and the Southern Suburbs Rugby League Club are proud to announce the start of a new game-changing partnership that will help strengthen mental health and wellbeing awareness in the Cairns and Hinterland region.
Mind and Southern Suburbs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see Mind sponsor Southern Suburbs for the next three years, kicking-off at the start of the 2026 season.
As part of the sponsorship, Mind will deliver player wellbeing education sessions for the club’s players, coaches and volunteers.
Mind and Southern Suburbs will also co-design wellbeing packs tailored specifically for the club’s community. These wellbeing packs will include resources and tools to help people overcome barriers to accessing mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) support services, and promote physical and mental wellbeing.
Mind CEO Gill Callister says Mind will work closely with Southern Suburbs Rugby League Club to open pathways for people to access local mental health and wellbeing support.
“Mind is an active member of the Cairns and Hinterland community having operated in the region since the state’s very first Step Up Step Down service opened here in 2015,” Ms Callister said.
“This ground-breaking partnership with Southern Suburbs Rugby League Club is an opportunity to connect with the community on a deeper level – we strive to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and the support services available in the region.”
Mind has provided a wide range of support services in Cairns for more than 10 years now, including community based residential recovery care, the Crisis Support Space, and individual and group based recovery support programs. It will also deliver the Medicare Mental Health Centre when it opens in Cairns later this year.
Southern Suburbs Rugby League Club president Danny Maher says Southern Suburbs is a family club who want to be the best in the business when it comes to player welfare and wellbeing.
“We are really excited to welcome Mind Australia to our club community. We strive to provide our players and their families with a positive and nurturing environment on and off the field, particularly when life throws us challenges as it inevitably does. Mind is a perfect addition to our player and community wellbeing.”
For more information on Mind services near you, contact us via Mind Connect or phone: 1300 286 463.