Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) has announced the local organisations selected to receive funding through its Change Makers: Pitching for Prevention initiative, supporting community-driven projects aimed at reducing suicide risk and strengthening mental wellbeing. The program funds three projects in the Hunter region, three in the Central Coast, and five in New England, each designed to meet the unique needs of its community. Projects were chosen through a competitive grant process, with an emphasis on local responsiveness rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Live pitch night events will be held in October in Newcastle and Toukley, where program representatives will present their initiatives to an audience, who will pledge PHN-provided funding to the projects they believe will make the greatest impact. Projects were assessed based on equity of access, evidence of need, focus on priority groups such as men, First Nations people, youth, and people with psychosocial needs, and their capacity for community connection and sustainability.
Leah Morgan, Senior Manager Mental Health and Wellbeing at HNECC PHN, highlighted that the initiative ensures suicide prevention programs are informed by and responsive to local communities. “By investing in grassroots organisations with strong community connections, we are supporting approaches that address immediate needs while building long-term resilience and wellbeing across our regions,” she said.
In the Hunter region, Hunter Primary Care and Soul Hub’s “Real Talk, Real Support” program provides trauma-informed peer support for men experiencing homelessness, while LIVEFree Project’s Side by Side program delivers school-based suicide prevention targeting young people. Anglicare’s initiative equips aged care staff and community workers with suicide prevention training tailored to older Australians.
On the Central Coast, Equi Energy Youth’s Coach2Cope workshops and digital tools help adults respond to youth psychological distress. RISE Community Foundation’s King’s Club offers mental health programs for men through boxing, peer connection, and routine, while Toukley Neighbourhood Centre’s Reclaim Your Power workshops provide resilience and mental health skills training using trauma-informed techniques.
In New England, New England Family Support Service engages rural families through Tailgate Barbecue events to reduce isolation, STARTTS supports refugee women with culturally safe, trauma-informed programs, and GLENRAC delivers community-based events to build awareness and connection. Lifeline Direct provides SafeTALK suicide prevention workshops for young men, including First Nations youth, while Ten4 Australia uses bouldering and mentoring to build resilience and mental fitness in regional men.
These funded projects demonstrate the power of local initiatives to respond to community-specific mental health needs, promote early intervention, and create lasting impact across Hunter, Central Coast, and New England. The upcoming pitch nights will further showcase these innovative programs and provide the opportunity for the public to support their implementation.
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