Presentation by Gemma Davis, Mentally Health WA, Capacity Building in the Pilbara. Presnted at the Western Australian Mental Health Conference 2019.

1. Capacity Building in
the Pilbara
Gemma Davis
Health Promotion Coordinator, Mentally Healthy WA

2. Keeping active, maintaining good social
connections, engaging in community
activities and having meaning and purpose
in life protect and promote mental
wellbeing.

3. “We all can, and should do things everyday to
keep mentally healthy”

4. Do something

5. Do something with someone

6. Do something meaningful

7. Partnership Model

9. Stronger, more cohesive
community, people feel valued and
are more likely to participate

10. Chevron Partnership
Chevron Australia partnered with Mentally Healthy
WA to improve mental health in Western Australia,
with a focus on Karratha and Onslow, Aboriginal
communities in Roebourne, and schools
throughout the state.

11. The Pilbara

12. Karratha

13. Onslow

14. The role
Building community
capacity in the Pilbara,
with a focus on Karratha
and Onslow
Gemma Davis
2014 ‐ 2017
Shelley Heelan
2017 ‐ 2018
Pilbara Health Promotion Coordinator

15. Working in partnership…
• Increase attendance, participation, membership and
volunteerism
• Promote local events as conducive to good mental health
• Drive new events/activities
• Form and foster partnerships

16. Outcomes
1. Increase awareness and understanding
2. Increase participation
3. Decrease stigma
4. Increase capacity to deal with issues

17. Year 1
• Awareness raising
• Mapping & gapping
• Formation of steering
committee
• Partnership & rapport
building

18. Karratha & Onslow Community Forums

19. Action Planning
• Volunteering: better acknowledgement and celebration of
volunteers
• Male orientated spaces and activities
• Better promotion of existing events and activities
• Better collaboration and networking
• Activities for mums with children
• Arts events

20. Better promotion of existing events &
activities

21. Onslow Have A Go Day

22. Male-orientated events & activities
• Partnered with OzHelp Foundation and the
Clontarf Academy
• Toolbox talks at mining sites
• Men’s Health Week event in Karratha

23. ‘Blokes, Breakkie and Banter’

24. Better celebration of volunteers

25. Onslow Volunteer Week event

26. Activities for mums with young children
“MHWA provide an opportunity
for mums, dads and their
children to meet, create
networks and establish positive
relationships in Onslow. This
has proven to be invaluable due
to the isolation that can be felt
in small communities in regional
WA. This support is critical and
works towards families in
Onslow living happier and
healthier lives.”
– Onslow Early Years Group
Representative

27. Karratha Mother’s Day Classic
2015 2016 2017

28. Arts events

29. Partner video

30. At the end of Year 4….
• 25 partnerships
• 16,600 community members directly involved in project
activities
• Delivered/supported 68 events and activities
• Ran 22 information displays
• Published 40 news items (newspaper and radio)
• Delivered 117 presentations, trainings and workshops.

31. But how do we know if this all
made a difference?

32. CATI Surveys
• Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)
surveys
• Karratha survey respondents = 200

33. 2017 CATI Survey Data
State-wide vs Karratha

34. Campaign reach
75%
72%
80%
66%
83% 81%
68%
81%
Total Metro Country Males Females 18‐39 years 40+ years Karratha
Total Metro Country Males Females 18‐39 years 40+ years Karratha

35. What impact did we have?
27%
19%
10% 10%
15%
24%
28%
16%
13%
20%
Changed Thinking
(Mental Health)
Changed Thinking
(Mental Illness)
Changed Behaviour Talked about Campaign Campaign Involvement
Metro/Country Karratha

36. Behaviour Change
27% 27%
6%
37%
4%
21%
36%
4%
32%
7%
I was generally happy but
wanted to enjoy life more
I wanted more meaning
and purpose in my life
I felt lonely and wanted to
meet people
I was a bit depressed and
felt this could help
None of these
Metro/Country Karratha

37. Behaviour Change Impact
55%
29%
10%
4%
0%
2%
61%
32%
7%
0% 0% 0%
A great deal Somewhat A little Not at all Made things worse Can't say
Metro/Country Karratha

38. How have things changed in Karratha?
(2014 – 2017)
Proposed outcomes:
1. Increase awareness and understanding
2. Increase participation
3. Decrease stigma
4. Increase capacity to deal with issues

39. Increased awareness and understanding
74%
75%
76%
81%
76%
80%
83%
86%
2014 2015 2016 2017
Campaign Reach (Karratha)
Statewide Karratha

40. Increased participation
In 2014, 7.3% of Karratha respondents
participated in an Act-Belong-Commit event or
activity, compared to the state average of 8%.
In 2017, 20% of Karratha respondents
participated in an Act-Belong-Commit event or
activity, compared to the state average of 15%.

41. Decreased stigma
64%
68% 67%
70%
62%
66%
74% 76%
2014 2015 2016 2017
Openness to Mental Health Issues
Statewide Karratha

42. Decreased stigma
66%
65%
68%
69%
62%
61%
72%
67%
2014 2015 2016 2017
Reducing Mental Illness Stigma
Statewide Karratha

43. Intercept surveys: 2014 vs 2017
Among those reached by the campaign in 2017:
• 33% reported that they had tried to do something for their mental health
as a result of the campaign vs 16% reported in 2014
• 22% reported that they had discussed the campaign and mental health
with members of their family or friends vs 8% reported in 2014
• 26% indicated they had taken part in events or activities sponsored by the
campaign vs 7% reported in 2014

44. Learnings
• Get to know your community
• Identify key champions
• Use a strengths-based approach

45. Where to from here?

46. Contact details
Gemma Davis
Act-Belong-Commit Campaign
Curtin University
Ph: (08) 9266 4648
Email: gemma.davis@curtin.edu.au
www.actbelongcommit.org.au