INDUSTRY WITH HEART | MATES in Construction

On Friday, we attended the MATES STRONGER TOGETHER Charity Lunch hosted by MATES in Construction, a powerful event raising awareness and funding for mental health and suicide prevention across construction, mining, energy, and manufacturing.

In our industry, nearly 200 workers die by suicide every year. That’s one every two days, six times more than site-related fatalities.

Mental health challenges don’t just exist on construction sites they affect professionals across every part of our industry. From architects and engineers to consultants and project managers, pressure, isolation, and burnout are more common than many realise. Whether you're on-site or behind a screen, we all share a responsibility to look out for one another, speak openly, and make space for support. It starts with awareness and continues with action.

MATES continues to make a real difference by providing on-site training, peer support, and crisis intervention, meeting workers where they are, when they need it most.

We were honoured to meet the Sophie Cotsis MP, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety. Her presence reinforced the importance of prioritising mental wellbeing at every level of our industry.

The afternoon included heartfelt tributes, including one from Brad Parker, CEO of MATES in Construction NSW, recognising the legacy of the late Brian Seidler, a long-standing champion for mental health in construction.

We’re proud to stand alongside so many others working toward real change, because the more of us that show up, the stronger the message we send: that people matter, and that this industry can and should be a place of support.

Thank you to Brad Parker and Rita Chami Salameh for your leadership and continued dedication to this cause.

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