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Katie Woolf spoke with 'Chris's Voice of Change' fundraiser event organisers Katrina Athanasiou and Carol Cain · 360 with Katie Woolf

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  Speaker 1: Now joining me in the studio this morning is Katrina Athanasiu.
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  Speaker 2: How are you good? How are you very well? And
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  Speaker 2: I've also got Carol Kaine. How are you, Carol good?
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  Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you both so very much for joining
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  Speaker 1: us this morning. And you've organized a fundraiser for this
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  Speaker 1: week this weekends Nash.
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  Speaker 2: That's correct.
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  Speaker 1: Now, Katrina, can you tell me a little bit what
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  Speaker 1: about why you've organized this fundraiser?
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  Speaker 3: Sure, Katie, let me start off by saying thank you
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  Speaker 3: to Mix one and four point nine for giving us
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  Speaker 3: this opportunity.
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  Speaker 2: Yes, tomorrow night's a sold out event. It's Friday night.
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  Speaker 3: It's hosted at Peewee's at seven pm. YEP, this was
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  Speaker 3: brought along I. I tragically lost my brother at forty
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  Speaker 3: six years old to workplace suicide.
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  Speaker 2: And look, I know his death, it could have been prevented.
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  Speaker 3: I think it's I think it's a pledge to do
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  Speaker 3: this for my brother and just to make suicide awareness,
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  Speaker 3: you know, and we focus more on suicide workplace suicide.
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  Speaker 3: A lot of people focus on the physical aspect, and
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  Speaker 3: I think it's important that employees or employers understand the
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  Speaker 3: mental aspect of this.
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  Speaker 1: I think this is such an important thing to do. Look,
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  Speaker 1: I've got brothers who are in their forties as well,
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  Speaker 1: and you know, it is so important that our men
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  Speaker 1: out there realize that, you know that there is support
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  Speaker 1: mechanisms available for them, but also those employers and employees
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  Speaker 1: that we all sort of try our best to work
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  Speaker 1: together and think about mental health.
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  Speaker 2: Absolutely, absolutely, and I think this.
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  Speaker 3: Event fundraise that we're committed by growing public awareness of
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  Speaker 3: the impact of mental health.
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  Speaker 2: Yep.
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  Speaker 4: So yeah, it's been a real privilege to come alongside
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  Speaker 4: Caterina to get this event happening tomorrow night.
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  Speaker 5: We're very excited about it.
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  Speaker 4: And look, whilst the pledge for Katerina started with her brother,
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  Speaker 4: it really has become so much more than that, and
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  Speaker 4: I just want to reiterate that, you know, we are
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  Speaker 4: committed to growing public awareness of the impact of mental illness.
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  Speaker 4: You know, a safe workplace environment is right that we
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  Speaker 4: should all experience, but unfortunately it isn't.
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  Speaker 5: Always the case. As kat has touched.
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  Speaker 4: On, you know, we do often focus on the physical
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  Speaker 4: safety of employees and yes, this is important, but we
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  Speaker 4: also need to focus on their mental health. And this
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  Speaker 4: starts with a conversation. It's about having open communication between
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  Speaker 4: employers and employees and ensuring that you know their overall
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  Speaker 4: wellbeing is being dafter.
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  Speaker 5: You know, statistics are alarming.
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  Speaker 4: We know that on average, nine people in Australia take
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  Speaker 4: their own lives every day.
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  Speaker 5: Suicide is largely preventable.
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  Speaker 4: Almost half of Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetime.
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  Speaker 5: These statistics are.
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  Speaker 3: Just alarming, and it's actually yeah, it's actually grown by
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  Speaker 3: forty five percent with this pandemic.
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  Speaker 2: So we also need to make sure that we can.
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  Speaker 3: Access appropriate services when coping with these difficult times in
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  Speaker 3: our lives.
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  Speaker 2: That's important, Katie.
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  Speaker 1: It is, It's so very important, and you know, I
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  Speaker 1: think as women quite often we do actually talk to
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  Speaker 1: each other pretty openly about some of our concerns and
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  Speaker 1: issues at different times, but men aren't as open with
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  Speaker 1: this stuff.
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  Speaker 2: And I find it.
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  Speaker 1: Fascinating that it's us three girls in here talking about it.
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  Speaker 1: But I think it's so important that we also, as women,
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  Speaker 1: you know, try our best to make sure that we
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  Speaker 1: let our blokes know that it's okay to not be okay,
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  Speaker 1: and it's okay to actually reach out for help no
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  Speaker 1: matter who you feel comfortable getting that help from.
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  Speaker 5: That's exactly right, exactly right.
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  Speaker 4: And the more that we do these types of events
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  Speaker 4: and promotions, we're reducing the stigma around around mental illness
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  Speaker 4: and mental health, which we know is alive out there
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  Speaker 4: and with the statistics that we know, you know, as Australians,
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  Speaker 4: we all have a role to play in supporting each other.
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  Speaker 5: Caterina, really simple.
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  Speaker 1: What's it been like for you seeing the support of
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  Speaker 1: the community come through, you know for this fundraiser for
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  Speaker 1: mental health, but in your brother's memory.
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  Speaker 3: It's been overwhelming response, Katie, it's been fantastic.
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  Speaker 2: We'd like to thank actually our main.
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  Speaker 3: Supporters, which this event would not be possible with Adam
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  Speaker 3: So even our sponsors which is Air North Oh yeah yeah,
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  Speaker 3: Harvey Norman, Yeah, Anti major events past Parley, Pearls, Yep,
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  Speaker 3: Eye Fitness, the twenty four hour gyms on them and
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  Speaker 3: we actually got AFL Club Brisbane Lions on board as well,
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  Speaker 3: all good stuff.
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  Speaker 2: It's it's been overwhelming.
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  Speaker 1: Now, what are you hoping for at the fundraiser? You know,
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  Speaker 1: I guess it's probably a matter of fund you know,
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  Speaker 1: obviously raising money, but I'm assuming as well it's about
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  Speaker 1: getting the whole room, getting everybody talking about mental health, and.
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  Speaker 3: Absolutely good mental health is as good as a good
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  Speaker 3: physical health.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, that's that's how it is.
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  Speaker 5: So it really is.
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  Speaker 1: How do you reckon? Do you reckon? Your brother would
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  Speaker 1: be pretty proud of how the communities come together.
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  Speaker 3: I think Chris will be extremely proud because he actually
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  Speaker 3: wanted this, like just to create a safer and happy
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  Speaker 3: and healthy environment, not just for a workplace but in general.
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  Speaker 1: So reckon, we talk about it, very bloody proud of
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  Speaker 1: you as well. Thank you and what you guys have organized.
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  Speaker 1: So obviously people can't they're not going to be able
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  Speaker 1: to buy tickets now because it has already sold out,
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  Speaker 1: But if they want it, like, are they able to
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  Speaker 1: beat on anything or are they able to kind of
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  Speaker 1: you know, make a donation maybe if they're.
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  Speaker 5: Keen, Yes, absolutely, and we're glad you are.
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  Speaker 4: So it's as simple as going on too the Beyond
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  Speaker 4: Blue website, just looking up or you know, punching in
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  Speaker 4: Chris's Voice of change.
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  Speaker 5: We'll come up there and make your donation.
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  Speaker 1: Well, thank you both so much for coming in this.
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  Speaker 2: Morning, thank you for having us no.
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  Speaker 1: Worries, and I'll be really keen to find out how
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  Speaker 1: it's all gone. I'm really passionate about men's health. I
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  Speaker 1: think it's so incredibly important that we have these conversations,
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  Speaker 1: that we look after our blokes the best that we can,
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  Speaker 1: and that you know, we really honor those that we
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  Speaker 1: lose as well. And I think it's really wonderful what
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  Speaker 1: you're doing.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you.
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  Speaker 3: And it's going to a great cause like Beyond Blue
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  Speaker 3: yep so, and they'll be able to provide more assistance
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  Speaker 3: to people and struggling with anxiety and depression in these
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  Speaker 3: pandemic times.
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  Speaker 1: Well, thank you guys so very much for your time
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  Speaker 1: Arena and have you in here.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you