The Shaka Project to share life-saving insights

THE Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club is bringing mental health and wellbeing to the forefront at the first Life Saving Victoria (LSV) senior carnival for the 2024/25 season.

The November 16 state competition will be held in partnership with The Shaka Project, a support organisation committed to igniting conversations around men’s mental health.

Once healthy competition is complete in the water, founder Sean Weir will share with competitors and the wider community his own personal mental health journey and address his mission to crush the stigma on speaking up.

Mr Weir said attendees could expect a “really raw and honest approach to suicide prevention”.

“I’m really looking forward to heading to the surf club and presenting to the members and senior surf lifesavers who attend the carnival.

“Mental health and suicide prevention is such an important conversation to have, especially for youth. I’m looking forward to implementing some of our work into the Surf Coast community.

“Let’s open up vulnerable conversations which can continue to unite positive ones.”

LSV summer sports events co-ordinator and Jan Juc SLSC member Tim Watson said the cause was one close to his heart.

 

“Last year I lost my son, so our family has been touched by it firsthand.

“Archie, one of my boys, also did a fundraiser for The Shaka Project last year where he did 7km for seven days.

“Sean obviously does some amazing work on mental health and keeping the conversation going.

“Both LSV and Jan Juc have been super supportive of doing something like this, and hopefully plenty of people come along.”

The Shaka Project workshop session will be held from 3pm onwards in the Jan Juc SLSC clubrooms.

The event is free to attend and the whole community is invited.