http://www.theblueshirtproject.com/

The Blue Shirt Project, Ballarat (2026)

25/12/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from The Blue Shirt Project! ✨🎄
From all of us here, we wish you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues the most amazing holiday season! 💙
We’re truly thankful for the incredible support from our Blue Shirt Crews, clients, partners, and everyone who helped get this off the ground. 🙏
💡 A gentle reminder: The holidays can be a tough time for mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. You’re not alone. 💙  📞 Call us or any of the numbers below – help is always available. most importantly, you are NOT alone!
We’ll be taking a few days of downtime, but don’t worry – you can still email, call, or message us, and we’ll get back to you ASAP!
🎅 Merry Christmas & Happy last week of 2025! 🎁

23/12/2025

💙 Bluestone Mine, Tasmania, is setting the standard extremely high for mental health in the workplace - but also the mining industry! 💙
Over the past two weeks, the Blue Shirt Project has been embraced with open arms by every single person at Bluestone Mine:
✅ 9 “Just a Guy” presentations across multiple shifts, swing change and departments
✅ 18 new Mental Health First Aiders trained and ready to support their mates - every single person put their hand up for it to volunteer their time
✅ Two additional MHFA sessions coming in January as the response has been overwhelming. The first session last week, booked out and had a waitlist. The second session in January is almost booked out, so Bluestone Mine are implementing another third session to ensure no employee misses out on the opportunity and something important to them.
This is more than training—it’s a culture shift. Bluestone Mine is proving that when leadership and employees work together, amazing things happen. 👏
Management and the leadership team deserve huge credit for backing this initiative and creating an environment where mental health matters and it doesn’t discriminate.
📣 Special shout-out to Matt for coordinating nine presentations and organising the first MHFA training session - leading to further training in January. It was a massive task to navigate and it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. Absolute legend! 🙌
Bluestone Mine is leading the way, showing that you are not alone and that one conversation can change everything. 🌟

17/12/2025

🌟 We’re back at Bluestone Mine in Tassie! 🌟�Thrilled to kick off Mental Health First Aid training for the first group of 20 amazing employees tomorrow – with more sessions to come in the new year! 💪
It’s inspiring to see so many team members put their hands up for this training 🙌, and even better, the momentum doesn’t stop there - conversations and early intervention supports are happening. Huge credit to Bluestone Mine’s leadership for championing mental health and creating a culture where supporting each other matters 💙.
All it takes is one conversation to make a difference 💬. Well done Bluestone Mine – we’re honoured to be part of your journey! 👏

12/12/2025

💙Sharing the Love at Bluestone Mines Tasmania Joint Venture – Renison Mine 💙

🛥️ This week has been HUGE! We crossed Bass Strait to join our colleagues – now friends – at Bluestone, and the response has been nothing short of incredible.

🫂The Blue Shirt Project has delivered 9 “Just a Guy” presentations to over 400+ employees in 5 days. The feedback? Overwhelmingly positive. Real stories, real conversations, hugs, tears – and most importantly, breaking down barriers around mental health.

🧠Bluestone has taken a bold, proactive approach to mental health, and Matt and the leadership team should be immensely proud. Employees aren’t just listening – they’re embracing this initiative, standing up for their mates and for their own wellbeing.

📚Next week, we kick off Mental Health First Aid training onsite. The first course is already booked out, and we’ve promised to return in the new year so no one misses out. This shows the commitment and determination from all levels of the business to support each other.

📣Massive shout-out to Matt for navigating every shift, swing, and department to make this happen. The planning behind the scenes was HUGE – and it doesn’t go unnoticed!

🗣️Together, we’re proving that conversations do save lives and you are not alone. 💬

07/12/2025

Just like that - we are back in Tassie! 🌊🚤
We’re excited to be welcomed back for the next two weeks to deliver 10 “Just a Guy” presentations and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.
This beautiful place has become our second home, and the support for mental health change is incredible. It’s only fitting that we finish the year where The Blue Shirt Project first began! 💙
If you’d like to book a presentation or training session while we’re here, get in touch today – spots are limited, but we can always have a chat whilst we are here and arrange a time to comeback!
Let’s keep the conversation going and make mental health a priority, especially coming into Christmas!
📩 Message us or call to have a chat!

06/12/2025

ALL the feels Friday 💙 | Inver Engineering
Yesterday we spent an incredible day in Altona with the amazing team at Inver Engineering. In a male-dominated industry where mental health stigma is still strong, this team is breaking barriers and leading the way.
Al delivered two powerful presentations, with a BBQ in between, and the response was overwhelming. We saw big, tough men of all ages opening up, sharing stories, tears, hugs – and most importantly, hope. It reminded everyone that mental health struggles don’t need to be hidden.
A huge shout-out to Nathan and Anthony for driving this change, not for a tick-the-box exercise, but because they genuinely care about creating a stronger, supportive environment for their people. You have lit that fuse and we can see great things happening! This is what leadership looks like.
To everyone at Inver Engineering – thank you for trusting us and for showing that vulnerability is strength. We’re excited to see what’s next. Remember: you are not alone, and our phones are always on.

05/12/2025

Costerfield Mine - you have done it – and it’s only the beginning! 💪
Over the past four Thursdays, we have visited Costerfield Mine to deliver eight “Just a Guy” presentations – ensuring every employee, across all shifts and at both sites, heard the message loud and clear:
You are not alone. Mental health is common, and it’s okay to talk about it.
The response?
✅ People are ready to stand up for their mates.
✅ Some bravely shared their own struggles.
✅ A strong commitment to supporting each other is growing.
A huge well done to everyone at Costerfield Mine for creating a welcoming, proactive environment and driving real change. Your momentum to support mental health is inspiring – keep it going! 🌟
It’s been an absolute pleasure to be part of this journey. Let’s keep talking, keep listening, and keep supporting. 💬

01/12/2025

🌟 Celebrating Mental Health Leadership at Krueger Transport 🌟
💙 Over the past 7 months, we’ve worked with to support and deliver tailored mental health support strategies. They created a strong blueprint 📝 which saw The Blue Shirt Project hosting impactful and real life presentations 🎤 across multiple locations, this collaboration has shown that you’re never alone – support is here! 🙌
✅ Milestone achieved: Last week, 12 incredible team members stepped forward to become Mental Health First Aiders! 👏 Their commitment reflects a workplace culture built on care, inclusiveness, and proactive wellbeing.
🙏 A huge THANK YOU to Heather, Jim & Karen for your leadership and dedication – you’ve set the bar high for mental health advocacy! 🚀
You are creating workplaces where conversations flow 💬, support is visible 🤝, and mental health matters every day. 🌍 👕 we can’t wait to see you all again and in Blue Shirts! Krueger Transport Equipment Pty Ltd

20/11/2025

✨ Not just talking about it - Costerfield Mine - ARE DOING IT! ✨

Over the past two Thursdays, we’ve had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Costerfield Mine – Augusta and Brunswick sites - to deliver the “Just a Guy” presentation.

Why? Because these sessions aren’t just about talking mental health – they’re about DOING something. Standing up. Standing out. Making change happen and being proactive!

The best part? Feedback doesn’t lie - People aren’t just listening… they’re engaging, sharing, and proving that one conversation really can make a difference and you’re not alone. 💬

✅ 4 presentations down

✅ 4 more to go

✅ Every shift, every team – everyone included!

Next stop: more conversations, more action, and more impact. Let’s keep the momentum going!

12/11/2025

Mental health is a universal challenge across all industries. The Blue Shirt Project recently visited Krueger Transport Equipment Pty Ltd in Derrimut and Truganina, where Al shared his raw, inspiring, and relatable mental health journey with well over 100 employees across four sessions. His presentation sparked meaningful conversations and encouraged employees to support colleagues, friends, and family. To ensure inclusivity, the presentation was also provided digitally and translated into two languages. This presentation highlights how one story can make a life-changing impact. From these presentations, employees have come forward, and Krueger will host Mental Health First Aid training with at the end of November. Great to see another proactive business supporting their staff, but also encouraging change! 🚛 🫂

06/11/2025

🎉 Guess what? We’ve been quiet… but for the BEST reason! 🎉  We just got back from stunning Tasmania after hanging out at the Tasmania Mines Rescue Competition at Bluestone Mines – Renison Bell!
Al was pumped to be lead adjudicator for underground search and rescue—throwing teams into real-life scenarios. And wow, the teamwork was next level! 💪 Everyone was sharing tips, learning together, and making mining safer for all.
Our awesome “Blue Shirters” were there too, having real mental health chats and connecting folks to support. 💙 Because safety isn’t just physical—it’s mental too!
Massive shoutout to TMEC, TMERC, and every legend who made this happen—Jason, Ally, Igor, Amanda, Ben, the Clarke fam, volunteers, Vanessa, mine sites, ER teams, catering, sponsors… you rock! 🪨
Thanks for welcoming us with open arms and showing what community looks like underground AND above. 🚀 Here are the results from this year’s competition:
🛠️ Main Event Winners
🩺 First Aid: MMG Rosebery
🧯Overall Team Safety Award: Cornwall Coal
🔥 Fire Fighting: Bluestone
🧗 Rope Rescue: Cornwall Coal
🤝 Team Skills: Bluestone
📘 Theory: Grange Resources
🪏 Search & Rescue
Underground: Cornwall Coal,
Surface: TMERC Mutual Aid Team

🏆 Other Trophies
👨‍✈️ Best Captain: Anthony Woods from Cornwall Coal
⛑️Best First Aider Award: Josh Baldwin from Bluestone

🥇Competition Overall Winner: Bluestone
🥈Competition Runner Up: Cornwall Coal.

21/10/2025

👕 JUST A GUY PRESENTATION 👕 It was an early start to Melbourne this morning as Al delivered his “Just a guy” presentation to employees from all different roles and experiences of an operations team! This presentation is not a “story looking for sympathy”, but is a presentation to raise awareness surrounding mental health and the fact that it can happen to any one. Al may be the director of The Blue Shirt Project, but as it says on his business card - he is “just a guy”. From Al’s highs, lows, to the lowest of lows and feeling like he has no way out, this presentation highlights it doesn’t discriminate. It shows the importance of Mental Health First Aid, early intervention, why immediate visual aid/support is vital in someone’s 5 seconds of help seeking, the acknowledgment of needing supports, to having that one conversation! Al shares his story and his vulnerability, to not only show it’s ok and it can be powerful to be vulnerable, but that it opens up conversations that you are not alone! In a room mainly full of orange, the Blue Shirt certainly stands out as a MHFAer!

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