WA Country Football League awarded $855,000 grant to continue mental health program

The West Australian Country Football League – Western Australia’s governing body for country Australian Rules football with 25 senior leagues, 150 clubs, 12,500 players and 5,000 volunteers - has been awarded a three-year Healthway grant totalling $855,000 t continue its mental health promotion program.

The Western Australian Government originally supported this program for three years and will continue to support the program for another three, to build on these established foundations and extend the program to provide training and education activities for WA Country Football League (WACFL) participants and its communities.

The program is a collaboration between Healthway, the WACFL, the Department of Justice, the Mental Health Commission, and The University of Western Australia.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook notes "this Healthway funding continues to help promote and grow the program so that more Western Australians have access to mental health and wellbeing support.

"The program aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, and to promote strategies on how to maintain good mental health and access support services in regional communities."

WA Mental Health Minister Stephen Dawson adds "Regional footy clubs are really great places for community members to connect with other people and feel they belong.

"This is especially important when you consider that people from country areas - particularly men - can and do suffer from poor mental health.

"It's great news that the Think Mental Health program will continue for another three years.

"Early and targeted campaigns have proven to be effective and help people seek support sooner and where they need it."