Maroubra locals, Rise Foundation, honoured for suicide prevention work

Rise Foundation has received the ‘Community’ Award at the 2021 Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards.

Held virtually by suicide prevention organisation R U OK?, the Awards recognise efforts to create a world where we are all connected and protected from suicide across five categories; Workplace, Education, Community, Conversation Champion and Young Conversation Champion.

The judging panel took the time to celebrate Rise Foundation’s significant contribution to suicide prevention work which has opened up the conversation for many in the southern Sydney suburbs.

Rise Foundation has worked with Souths Juniors Rugby League Club, Surfing NSW, local gyms and businesses to put mental health education front of mind for the community. 

The Foundation has held mental health first aid training for businesses and community members in and around the Sydney suburb of Maroubra and in response to the sad loss of a number of young people to suicide, Rise arranged open forums to safely talk about what they, as a community, could do to support each other and care for the young people in their area. 

“The Community Award recognises a community group or organisation that’s making a difference by sharing the R U OK? message. says R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton. “Neighbours and communities play an important role in fostering connection and showcasing the difference support, love, kindness and a non-judgemental ear can make to those in need.

“We are truly inspired by the efforts of all the nominees for the Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards. Rise Foundation Australia’s work, led by Ben Higgs is having a very real and positive impact by encouraging others to have regular, meaningful conversations and invest more time in the people around them.

Rise Foundation are champions of the R U OK? message and role models, demonstrating the importance of being there for your mates and for your community.”

The Awards also celebrated the life of Barbara Hocking OAM (d. 2016), one of Australia's leading advocates for people living with mental illness. 

“These Awards honour a longtime friend of R U OK? who was a leader in the mental health and suicide prevention sector,” said R U OK? Chair Mike Connaghan of Ms Hocking’s legacy.

“These Awards honour Barbara’s lifelong commitment to peer-to-peer support, highlighting that all of us can have a meaningful conversation with someone in our world who might be strugging with the ups and downs of life. Barbara was the first person from the mental health sector who believed in the merit of the R U OK? mission to break down stigma and encourage conversations that can change lives.” 

Details of all categories, finalists and winners for The Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards can be found on the R U OK? website at www.ruok.org.au/barbara-hocking-memorial-award