Skip to main content

Reception for the Black Dog Institute, Admiralty House

[E&OE]

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present, emerging leaders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered here today.

Good evening, all, and welcome to Admiralty House. Linda and I are delighted to have you here.

Tonight’s Reception for the Black Dog Institute serves several purposes.

It enables us to congratulate the Black Dog Institute on its 20th Anniversary and to celebrate the Women’s Giving Circle’s ongoing commitment.

It is an opportunity to recognise all involved in the Black Dog Institute and Women’s Giving Circle on the critically important work they are doing in the community.

And, this Reception provides us with an opportunity to thank the donors and volunteers for their generosity, compassion and kindness.

Linda and I have engaged with the Black Dog Institute for several years and seen the outcomes their work brings about for those with or at risk of mental illness.

The pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues. In the many discussions Linda and I have had with representatives of the health sector, including those from B-D-I, what is clear is that the impact is only just revealing itself.

One in five will experience symptoms of mental illness in any given year. In Australia, that’s around five million people. About 60 per cent won’t seek help.

The Black Dog Institute is well placed to make a difference in this space as it is the only medical research institute to investigate mental health across the life span.

It does this through ‘translational’ research. By integrating research studies, educational programs, apps, clinical services and public resources B-D-I aims to discover new solutions to mental illness.

I commend the Black Dog Institute for its commitment to ‘science, compassion and action’ to improve and save lives.

I’m particularly pleased that Linda and I are able to shine a light on the critically important work you are doing. You and many other organisations in the not-for-profit sector do an outstanding job. It gives me enormous optimism for our nation’s future.

Optimism was one of the key themes in my recent Australia Day Address. It is fuelled by what I like to call a ‘richness of spirit’ that exists in our communities, towns and cities.

Linda and I could cite examples of this ‘richness’ to you for hours on end.

One of those examples is on show right here, right now. It is you – the good people involved in the Black Dog Institute and Women’s Giving Circle – and it is manifested in the impact you have.

The Black Dog Institute has been making a positive difference for 20 years. Many of the key achievements will be well-known to this audience. 

In 2021, you successfully held the ‘Leading the way to mentally healthier schools’ online conference. More than 500 school counsellors and teachers from all states and territories participated, and a cohort of B-D-I researchers presented cutting-edge research on youth mental health and mental health in schools.

You developed the ‘Brighterside’ app – a self-guided mobile app to help users to develop strategies to manage suicidal thoughts. More than 500 Australian adults took part in the clinical trial. I’m informed that B-D-I will be reporting on the outcomes of the trial this year. I look forward to seeing the results.

In recent years, the Women’s Giving Circle has been an integral part of the Black Dog Institute family. Congratulations to Susan [Nugan, Founder, Women's Giving Circle] and the Women’s Giving Circle on its ongoing commitment to B-D-I and for raising $450,000 over the last four years.

These few examples are just the tip of the iceberg. In each, there are lives changed for the better and lives saved.

The generosity and compassion shown by the donors and volunteers involved with the Black Dog Institute and the Women’s Giving Circle is inspiring and uplifting.

You are their lifeblood. The researchers, the scientists, the GPs – they can’t do their job if not for the generosity of donors and volunteers.

So, from Linda and me, a big thank you to the donors and volunteers.

Again, congratulations to the Black Dog Institute on your 20th anniversary, and to the Women’s Giving Circle on your ongoing commitment to B-D-I.

Between you, may there be many more!

[Ends]