Chemist Warehouse - our partner from the start, helping change and save lives
Gus Worland and Jude Bolton at Chemist Warehouse HQ luncheon
Chemist Warehouse holds a special place in the history of Gotcha4Life. They’ve been our supporter since the very beginning.
The numbers tell the story. Six years. Hundreds of thousands of people impacted through our mental fitness programs as we work to achieve the most important number of all. Zero suicides.
Our incredible partnership started back in 2017, when Chemist Warehouse got on board with our founder Gus Worland’s then small foundation with a big goal - supporting men’s mental wellbeing to end suicide.
An annual Men’s Health Month promotion sees Chemist Warehouse donate 5% of sales from selected brands, along with the proceeds from another Chemist Warehouse initiative - conversation-starting ‘Mateship’ wristbands sold at checkout counters.
This year’s fundraising effort raised enough money to power life changing - and life saving - workshops for more than 25,000 people.
As our foundation has evolved, Chemist Warehouse’s support has allowed us to make an even bigger impact in communities, delivering workshops, programs and resources - not only for men now, but for everyone.
”We can’t reach everyone we need without the support of our valued partners like Chemist Warehouse. For that, we are very grateful,” Gus says. “The main thing we’re after is zero suicides. We don’t want anyone to have that knock on the door to say that one of their loved ones has taken their own life. It’s a big goal to have, which is why we really appreciate the love from Chemist Warehouse - our greatest supporter from the start.”
Chemist Warehouse is committed to building mental fitness in its own people too, so our partnership extends to supporting their staff with presentations and workshops at HQ and sharing resources, messages and videos with staff in-store.
Chemist Warehouse Office and Events Manager Joan Spagnolo has seen staff engagement in the mental fitness message grow over the years, from the first event where Gus presented in a small boardroom to this year’s fundraising lunch that saw 120 people gather at head office to hear Gus and former Sydney Swans star Jude Bolton kick start a conversation on mental fitness.
“It brings some fun into the office. They look forward to it. For those who haven’t been before, it’s all new. Others are coming back for a second or third time. That shows they’re getting something out of it, 100%.”
Joan recalls a particularly memorable Gotcha4Life-Chemist Warehouse event at the local Italian Social Club in the early days of the partnership.
“Gus’ message resonated very much at that one. There were a lot of middle-aged men from the club who don’t usually talk - but they were crying, going up to Gus, telling their life story. So many people benefited from that event with what we did and who we reached - Gus couldn’t get out of there.”
This year’s event was no different, as Chemist Warehouse Community Engagement Coordinator Jess Beninato explains.
“It was amazing. We had an incredible turnout. The message really resonated with the group - in particular when Gus encourages you to take a minute out to tell someone you love that you love them. And it was interesting to hear the sports lens from Jude talking about the challenge of creating that mateship environment with his team.
“It made a big impact on one of our staff members in particular. He stayed back and had a chat with Gus. He was very appreciative of what Gotcha4Life does because he’d had his own struggles. He got a lot out of the workshop and was very keen to learn about some of the other offerings.”
“He ended up attending another Gotcha4Life workshop - Communicate with Care - with me in Sydney.”
That workshop proved to be another powerful experience that will help Jess help others within the organisation when they’re doing it tough.
“I have been to other mental health first aid training and it’s always been very intense, very clinical - but the Communicate with Care workshop was very accessible and engaging. It was a very safe environment to talk about some very difficult topics, including suicide. I felt really supported and what I learnt will absolutely help me support others.”
Applying mental health training at work is something Joan has experienced first hand too.
“I had done a suicide course here at work and the next day one of my staff’s nieces took their own life in WA. It’s good to know how to support your people.
“We are all behind Gotcha4Life. We love it and we will continue doing what we do and embracing our staff.”
Jess recognises the impact is a result of a whole of community effort.
