Building on the success of their visit last year, the Reach Foundation has once again brought their transformative workshops to Mount Gambier, aiming to create meaningful and lasting impacts on local youth.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s visit, at the end of last month, has been proudly funded by the Will Norman Foundation, a cause deeply rooted in community spirit and love. The foundation was established in memory of Will Norman, a 14-year-old boy tragically lost in 2021. In his honour, Will\u2019s family and the community have united to raise invaluable funds, which are now being directed toward initiatives that nurture and uplift the young people of Mount Gambier.<\/p>\n
Reach is an independent, for-purpose organisation that has been improving the wellbeing of young people across Australia for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n
Through a promotion, prevention, and early intervention approach to building social and emotional skills, Reach supports young people to build known protective factors for good mental health. Reach workshops equip young people to navigate life\u2019s challenges and in turn reduce the development and\/or severity of mental ill health in the future.<\/p>\n
The safe, inclusive, and interactive workshops Reach delivers in schools are 100% peer lead. Reach gives young people the chance to talk about what\u2019s going on in their lives, equipping them with the essential social skills, emotional intelligence, and overall sense of well-being to effectively navigate relationships and life’s challenges.<\/p>\n
Will\u2019s mother Renae McQuade said these workshops were powerful and delivered in such a unique way, that\u2019s able to resonate deeply with students – addressing real challenges in relatable ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s our hope that each student takes away something meaningful\u2014an insight or shift in perception\u2014that stays with them and inspires positive change,\u201d Renae said. \u201cThis is Will\u2019s legacy and it\u2019s heartwarming to see it making a tangible difference\u201d.<\/p>\n
A dedicated team of five facilitators from Reach spent the week delivering workshops at Mount Gambier High School and Grant High School. Each session was tailored to the age and unique challenges of the students, addressing issues relevant to their stage of life while fostering personal growth and resilience.<\/p>\n
Reach Foundation\u2019s Jack Heenan said the team at Reach are so grateful and proud to be able to work with the young people in Mount Gambier \u2013 returning this year for some more workshops has been such a highlight for the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that being a young person in the world is not easy and in our workshops we are often hearing this from young people,\u201d Jack said. \u201cWe hear that young people feel misunderstood or judged and we know that trying to find your place at school and online is not easy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to listen and support young people to talk about what is really going on for them is such a huge deal for young people and we believe that having preventative honest conversations can really make a difference in young people\u2019s lives today and help set them up for their future.\u201d<\/p>\n
In these workshops Reach challenges young people to answer questions they may not have answered before \u2013 asking students to reflect on their lives and their day-to-day experiences. In doing so, Reach is able to help students see that they are not alone in their experiences and that they have much more in common with their peers than they may have previously thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the Reach Foundation\u2019s programs and the Will Norman Foundation\u2019s support, this initiative continues to leave a significant impact on the lives of Mount Gambier\u2019s youth, empowering them to navigate their world with confidence, compassion, and strength,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n