UPPER Hunter not-for-profit Where there's a Will (WTAW) has been named the winner of the NSW Mental Health Matters Community Initiative Award announced during a special online ceremony today.
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The local foundation was up against some other great organisations including the NSW SES who were named second, and the award is recognition of the community's ongoing commitment to improving wellbeing and mental health across schools, businesses, sporting organisations and community groups.
WTAW co-founder Pauline Carrigan said the Upper Hunter community are the real winners of the award.
"The judges particularly liked the fact that the Upper Hunter community had taken the initiative to own, take responsibility for and develop a plan," she said.
"They loved our plan and that we had trained teachers and that it was sustainable and it wasn't just a quick fix."
WTAW will now host an online live event on October 14 from the WayAhead - Mental Health Association NSW Facebook Page, where they will share their insights into how this community-led charity works for the Upper Hunter and answer questions from people across the country.
Pauline said she hopes this will give other communities the confidence to look at their model and follow it.
"Just at the moment for me personally, I'm just feeling so overwhelmed with pride in a community that backed an idea," Pauline said.
"I'm just so proud of them. It would have went nowhere unless the community said yes."