TRUCKING magnate Lindsay Fox and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack were on hand (via internet) for the official launch of the Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds Foundation.
Healthy Heads is a new initiative aimed at ensure the mental health and wellbeing of those working in trucking, with Lindsay Fox the official patron.
Also attending the launch were Foundation chair Paul Graham, Labor’s Senator Glenn Sterle and chief executive of SuperFriend Margo Lydon.
Mr Fox said he had seen many ups and downs for both businesses and individuals during his 60 years in the industry.
“Mental health can mean many things to different people, but one of the Foundation’s key objectives is talking about mental health,” he said.
“Whether this is helping a mate when they are down, getting trained to see the signs of stress and the direction of help or just not being afraid to ask. ‘Are you okay?”
Healthy Heads interim CEO Lachlan Benson said the concept sought to help the entire trucking and logistics industry.
“The overarching objective of Healthy Heads will be to create a single national mental health plan for truck drivers, distribution and warehouse staff,” Mr Benson said.
Backing the concept are major supermarkets and logistics companies including Woolworths, Coles, Toll and Linfox among others.
“Healthy Heads will provide a coordination and facilitation role as an umbrella resource body in the entire road transport industry to tackle this important mental health issue in our sector,” Mr Benson said.
