House debates Statements by Members

Mental Health

Wednesday, 28 October 2026 House of Representatives

Dan Repacholi

Dan Repacholi Hunter, Australian Labor Party

1:53 pm

We often hear that blokes don't talk about their mental health, but what if we're simply not making it easy enough for them? TIACS, which stands for This Is A Conversation Starter, is proving what happens when we actually get this right. Founded by two former chippies, Dan Allen and Ed Ross, TIACS provides free mental health support for blue-collar workers and their families. These are the same blokes behind TradeMutt, the colourful workwear brand that gets people talking about their mental health. Importantly, 50 per cent of TradeMutt's profits go directly towards funding TIACS. As a former tradie and coalminer and, now, as Special Envoy for Men's Health, I know how important this actually is. The numbers speak for themselves. In 2025 26, TIACS delivered over 4,000 counselling engagements, up by 21 per cent. They supported 1,330 clients, of which 81 per cent were men and 61 per cent were from rural and remote Australia. They also supported 160 people experiencing suicidal thoughts. The stats show that three in four Australians who die by suicide are, unfortunately, men. TIACS shows that when support is accessible, blokes will use it—no referrals, no waitlists and no out-of-pocket costs. Congratulations to Ed, Dan, Sue, Matt and the entire TIACS team. Keep doing what you're doing, because you're saving people's lives right around this country. Thank you.