Camp Hero, Schools Program and Hero Events Programs, There Are More Than 30 Leaders, Volunteers and Mentors Driving the Zero2hero Mission Forward
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1 PAGE PAGE 4 OUR STORY 18 OUR PROGRAMS 6 MISSION 30 FUNDRAISING 8 VISION 32 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT 10 STRATEGIC APPROACH 34 FINANCIALS 12 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN 36 CAMP STORIES 14 MESSAGE FROM ASHLEE 42 SUPPORT SERVICES After losing her stepfather to suicide, Ashlee Harrison was immediately compelled to do something about an issue that affects and devastates so many. Driven to make a meaningful and tangible difference, Ashlee harnessed her conviction and focused on bringing people together to run events and fundraisers that spread the message of suicide prevention, and in 2009, zero2hero was born. Although the initial events were successful, when Ashlee saw the statistics on when mental health issues are formed, she knew that the team’s focus needed to be at the source of the issues – it needed to be on educating young people. The conversation around youth mental health was one that couldn’t be ignored, and in 2012, zero2hero moved into the youth sector, starting a school’s program, launching a camp for students, partnering with other organisations to deliver support, and creating youth focused fundraiser and awareness events. Since then, the reach and impact of zero2hero has grown, and so too has the team. Today, zero2hero is reaching more than 70,000 young people each year, and through the Camp Hero, Schools Program and Hero Events programs, there are more than 30 leaders, volunteers and mentors driving the zero2hero mission forward. 4 5 We provide innovative school- based programs for children and young people that develop their understanding of mental health issues and awareness of mental health services. 6 7 Our Vision is that every child and young person is educated and empowered to effectively deal with mental health issues. 8 9 1 young people about mental health, mental illness and suicide. young people in open conversations about mental health with the aim to eliminate stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide, and increase help-seeking behaviour. young leaders to become mental health ambassadors. 10 11 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN 2017 saw the finalisation and first Australia. We are very fortunate stages of implementation of the to have a number of corporate two very clear strategies to delivery partners who despite the economic on our vision to not only raise challenges have stuck with us and community awareness of mental continued to believe in the work illness and suicide but to also reduce that is undertaken. To all of those the stigma unfortunately associated supporters you are enabling our staff with mental illness. and volunteers to make a very real difference to the lives of so many Our focus is to: people - our sincere thanks! 1. To be in every WA high school 2018 will see us continue to develop 2. Be the leading mental health our strategic focus but at the same camp provider in Australia time we will seek to improve our operations. This will necessarily force The implementation of the two us to ensure our time and efforts are strategies has delivered some being best utilised. excellent first year results and it is with great enthusiasm that we To all the volunteers and families collectively continue to support that have supported the team, not the vision of our inspirational only have you made the programs CEO Ashlee Harrison and her very possible but provided an inspirational committed staff. Not only were environment that has supported so we able to increase the number of many. camps provided during the year but we invested in the important Youth Mental Health Forum; In Your Head. I would also like to acknowledge Our Schools Program has again the contribution of our small but created significant interest and committed Board - Kat, Marco and further work will be needed to refine Chris. Finally to Ashlee, a huge thank the course to allow us to provide you for the time and passion you well qualified facilitators to meet the have to ensuring that the community growing demand. fully supports and embraces the challenges of mental health. 2017 has not been an easy year MARK SINDERBERRY for the charity sector in Western 12 13 What a year it has been! firsthand the difference we make to the mental wellbeing of our young I would like to begin by people and I am inspired to continue acknowledging the amazing work to grow our programs to impact more carried out by our Board, staff and young lives, schools and families. volunteers in 2017. I would also like Everything we do at zero2hero aims to thank our sponsors, partners to Educate, Engage and Empower and supporters for their generous young people in the area of mental contribution this year. This support health and suicide prevention. Last has allowed us to expand greatly in year the zero2hero Board created a the last twelve months. new Strategic Plan and this included two very clear Strategic Objectives: This year we have experienced incredible growth and as a result 1. To be in every WA high school have impacted more young lives. As I reflect on 2017, I am incredibly proud 2. Be the leading mental health of our team and the work we do. I see camp provider in Australia The first strategic objective was chosen to support us in reaching our vision ‘Every child and young person is educated and empowered to effectively deal with mental health issues’. Having presence in all WA high schools would allow us to educate, engage and empower all young people to be mental health heroes. The second objective was chosen as a result of the impact we are creating through our camp programs and the ever-increasing demand for these. We see Camp Hero as a real opportunity to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide and increase the knowledge of mental health and wellbeing. Stigma prevents many Australian’s accessing help and a lack of knowledge increases the chances of developing mental illness, therefore achieving these two objectives through the Camp Hero program means we really have an 14 opportunity to decrease suicide in our State. 15 Aligning our team and activities with I thank these partners and the entire our new Strategic Plan has created zero2hero family for making 2017 an extremely busy but productive our best yet. This year did not come year for our organisation. To give you without its challenges but as a team some insight into what we’ve been we grew and developed, allowing the up to, below are some of this these REGENT MOTOR GROUP space for the young people we serve activities and outcomes. to do the same. I look forward to COMMONWEALTH BANK more learning, growth and adventure This year we saw the launch of with zero2hero in 2018. several new programs including SMARTLINE PERSONAL MORTGAGE ADVISERS a corporate trek, Tough Stuff - a To end I will leave you with a story Primary School resiliency program, COLES of one of our Camp Hero Alumni new camps and new school and the difference he is making in workshop topics. RIO TINTO the community. This young camper; Brodie, participated in our Mental FREMANTLE FOUNDATION We grew across the board. Our Health Leadership camp in April 2015. schools program and workshops Camp Hero made such a difference CHRIST CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL delivered grew by 30%. We increased in Brodie’s life that he returned as a our Camp Hero offerings from two NETWORK TEN Youth Volunteer six months later. In to five per year, including; Mental between his camp and volunteering Health Leadership, Sports, Business & THE MILLER FAMILY he had supported eight people Entrepreneurship, Retreat and Treks. showing suicidal warning signs in We also facilitated two Camp Hero EAGLE BAY RESIDENCES accessing the right help. He also Retreat programs for headspace and decided to step up as leader at his have been contracted to facilitate KISSCHASEY WEDDING FLOWERS Catholic College and was selected as a camp for The Shire of Waroona in Head Boy in year 12. This is a positon 2018. he wouldn’t have applied for before Camp Hero. Now that he has finished We also saw the launch of our I know it is cliché to say, High School he has returned as a Parenting Seminar; Parental Guidance but without the support Camp Mentor and one of our youth Recommended. This seminar falls from these businesses advisors. Brodie is an exceptional on the evening of our Youth Mental and families we would example of what is possible when you Health Forum; In Your Head. empower young people to be mental not have been able to health heroes in our community. This is just some of what we have make the difference been up to and personally I am that we have made to We hope to train many more young extremely proud of the big results Western Australian leaders in 2018! that such a small team can achieve. young people this year. However, these results would not Health & happiness, be possible without an increased amount of support this year. I have to ASHLEE make a special mention to some of these supporters for what they have contributed to zero2hero in 2017: 16 17 OUR PROGRAMS 18 19 KRISTY BUMBAK – CAMP MANAGER CAMP HERO – MHL Our Camp Program has experienced exponential growth over the past 12 months with an increase of three Nanga Bush Camp - times the program offering. Two new programs, Camp Hero – Retreat and Camp Hero – Sports were both 17th – 21st April 2017 included in the calendar. We also successfully negotiated our first paid for service camp for the Shire of We received a record number of 115 Waroona.