Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Recently I had the pleasure of welcoming the new Special Envoy for Men's Health and member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, to the Central Coast to discuss men's health in the region. Dan and I visited the Black Wolf Collective, an awesome local business offering barber, tattoo, piercing and tattoo removal services in Erina. The Black Wolf Collective has partnered with two amazing organisations, the Black Dog Institute and RizeUp, to help bring awareness to men's health and to support other services.

The Black Dog Institute is a proudly independent, not-for-profit, globally renowned mental health research institute connected to the University of New South Wales in Sydney. It is the only medical research institute in Australia that investigates mental health across the lifespan, from childhood through to adulthood. The Black Dog Institute believes in creating hope for those experiencing mental illness by improving mental health outcomes for all Australians.

RizeUp is a community-driven organisation of passionate men and women dedicated to supporting the many families affected by family and domestic violence. The Black Wolf Collective also helps raise funds for both organisations through its businesses. By having deep and meaningful conversations with its clients, the business promotes a welcoming and safe space. Clients are supported through their visit and provided with the opportunity to donate any sum, great or small, to either organisation. To date the business has raised over $5,000, and it has said it will continue to support both the Black Dog Institute and RizeUp into the future.

The owner of the Black Wolf Collective, Alex Molloy, says that they have seen firsthand how mental health affects people of all ages, including teenagers, and that's why part of their mission is to break the stigma early, starting in high school. Through their space, their podcast and their fundraising for the Black Dog Institute and by starting conversations, the Black Wolf Collective are showing that it's okay to speak up no matter what your age. The Black Wolf Collective wanted to make giving back feel easy and accessible to everyone who walks through the door. Whether it's a dollar or more, every donation counts, and its clients get the choice to support either the Black Dog Institute for mental health or RizeUp to help those affected by domestic violence. Both causes are close to their hearts, and it means a lot to the staff of the Black Wolf Collective to offer their community a way of making a real difference.

I would like to take this opportunity to formally commend the Black Wolf Collective, owner Alex Molloy and its staff, including Jackson Quinell and Norma-Rose Bell, on their support for these two organisations. Thank you for also creating a positive space in your business to share and speak up. Many thanks go to my good friend the Special Envoy for Men's Health, Daniel Repacholi, for making every effort to visit Robertson and the Central Coast and for supporting businesses that are supporting men's health.

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