Mental Health First Aid Training for Outdoor Program Volunteers

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Trackwell Australia strengthens mental health connection across Queensland’s outdoor communities

Trackwell Australia is strengthening mental health awareness and connection across Queensland’s outdoor and adventure communities, with support from the AMA Queensland Foundation Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Community Grant.

The $5,400 grant will help Trackwell expand Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training across its volunteer network, giving more volunteers the knowledge and confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling, respond appropriately and help connect them with further support.

Trackwell’s approach is built around awareness, connection and empowerment within outdoor and adventure communities. Rather than waiting for conversations about mental health to occur in formal or clinical settings, Trackwell creates opportunities for those conversations to happen naturally, in the places and communities where people already connect.

Through community events, outdoor gatherings, retreats, wellbeing workshops, peer conversations and digital storytelling, Trackwell aims to reduce social isolation, strengthen connection and make conversations about mental health easier to start.

Approximately 75 per cent of Trackwell’s volunteer workforce has already completed face-to-face Mental Health First Aid training. The grant will enable the remaining volunteers, who are based in regional and remote locations, to undertake the same training through a blended online format.

Pictured above: Trackwell volunteers 

The training will build volunteers’ confidence and practical skills to recognise signs of mental health concerns, safely start conversations about wellbeing, respond appropriately when someone is experiencing distress and help connect people with professional support services where required.

The initiative will benefit outdoor enthusiasts, adventure community members, event participants and volunteers across Queensland, including communities in regional and remote locations.

Wayne Kruger, Trackwell Australia’s Founder said the grant would help strengthen the organisation’s ability to turn connection into practical action.

“Trackwell is built around a simple idea: connection matters. Outdoor and adventure communities create natural opportunities for people to talk, connect and look out for one another. This grant gives more of our volunteers the knowledge and confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling, start an appropriate conversation and help connect them with further support.”

By extending Mental Health First Aid training across its entire volunteer network, Trackwell is strengthening its broader commitment to creating outdoor and adventure communities where connection is encouraged, conversations about mental health are normalised and people feel more confident looking out for one another.