OzHelp WA

The OzHelp Foundation, a national early intervention suicide prevention and social capacity building program, was formed in recognition of the building and construction industry’s need to provide apprentices, trainees and other workers with additional support and education in a wide range of work and non-work related skills. The foundation originated in the ACT in 2002 and in 2009 operates in Queensland, Tasmania and now Western Australia.

OzHelp WA commenced operations in April 2009. As is the case in the other states, the overall focus of OzHelp WA is to deliver industry based preventative programs which equip apprentices with leadership, self management and life skills.  

Aims

'There is a clear mandate from the industry for the development and delivery of an industry-based early intervention, support service and capacity building program targeting apprentices, supervisors and field officers within the building and construction industry,' Gimpel says. 'My aim is to create a service that will enhance the apprentices personal resourcefulness, common sense and resilience to life’s challenges through early intervention, education and mentoring.' 

About the project coordinator

Julian Gimpel holds degrees in social work, counselling and family therapy. In April 2009 he was appointed OzHelp WA’s Chief Executive Officer.

Gimpel has 17 years experience working with children, adolescents and their families as a clinical practitioner within the public health system and in child protection. Prior to taking up the position at OzHelp WA, Gimpel worked as a business consultant in private industry.

Activities

The Life Skills Tool Box 
The Life Skills Tool Box is a nationally accredited program designed to develop the confidence and self esteem of apprentices through self-awareness, enhanced communication skills (such as dealing with conflict) and practical life skills (such as budgeting and dealing with bullying in the workplace).The Tool Box consists of 12 four hour modules which can be flexibly delivered over the course of an apprenticeship. OzHelp WA is piloting the Tool Box with a sample population of 100 apprentices receiving the first four modules. Along with the in class training the Tool Box training package will be complimented with on site field officer support visits.

Suicide Awareness Training
Aimed at field officers and supervisors, this program provides practical skills to identify and competently and confidently intervene where suicidal or other at-risk behaviours have been identified. In recognition of the need for field officer support and awareness training, OzHelp WA has recently begun working with the Apprenticeship Centre WA to provide general awareness training to its entire metro and regional field officer team.

OZ BBQ  
OZ BBQ is the core outreach and follow up platform for OzHelp WA. Field officers provide (in addition to food!) free on site health promotion and awareness raising activities.

Challenges  
The OzHelp WA project encounters many challenges. According to Gimpel these challenges shift from week to week and include:

• developing partnerships and sponsorship arrangements with industry; 
• developing supervisor and field officer training packages; 
• attracting ongoing funding; 
• communicating the value of the program to employers.

‘The ultimate vision would be to have every apprentice in WA get some training and life skills as part of their workplace training program. That to me makes the most sense,’ Gimpel says. 'What we’ve seen more and more is the people who have the capacity to get involved offer it and the people who have the desire and not the capacity we try and help. That’s our approach.’  

Evaluation

The Life Skills Tool Box pilot program will be evaluated in conjunction with Edith Cowan University Professor Brian English. OzHelp WA will also undertake self-evaluation. Evaluation methods include questionnaire-based data collection and gathering feedback from third parties such as employers.

Project partners

Pindan Construction
Housing Industry Association
Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention
Unions WA
West Australia Group Training Scheme
Group Training Australia (WA)
Life Line WA 
Electrical Group Training Ltd
Painting and Plumbing Training Company
WA Construction Industry Redundancy Fund
Apprentice & Traineeship Co Geraldton
Construction and Building Industry Super
Building and Construction Industry Training Fund
Construction Skills Training Centre
Department for Education and Training WA
Department of Health Mental Health Division
The Apprenticeship and Traineeship Company(Group Training South West ) Bunbury
Master Builders Association
CFMEU Training
MIRVAC

More information

For more information email OzHelp WA CEO Julian Gimpel.