It’s well known regional towns lack some vital services, specifically health and wellbeing services. Despite a lot of focus on men’s mental health in recent years, sufficient resources have not been directed toward effective approaches and there is an obvious need to place greater emphasis on targeted programs and preventative measures.

Kalgoorlie has a successful Women’s Health Centre to support local women. However, there is no such service specific to men. Local Buying Program Supplier, Sheppard Mining Contractors (who were the first suppliers registered on the Local Buying Program for Nickel West), are actively working together with community services in town to see how they can support and implement local men’s health strategies.

SMC are driven to improve men’s health services in the community after a tragic loss of a team member to suicide. They are working towards a charity for men’s health and investigating opportunities to bring several support professionals to town. Their forward thinking and initiative is an outstanding example of a small local business committed to their community and to their own workforce. Their culture and progressive thinking is reinforcing BHP’s social value priority, especially when Local Buying Program Suppliers are also investing in the communities in which they live and work.

“This week I’ve had the chance to learn a little bit more about helping myself and others through the tricky rollercoaster ride of mental health… the good, the bad and the ugly. I did this through attending a couple of workshops with Ben from Beyond all Bounds. The first workshop was with our special SMC crew, and it was next level. I thank each of our guys for their honesty, openness and willingness to look at things from a different point of view.” Tamara Sheppard – Owner, Sheppard Mining Contractors.