Driving mental health awareness for truckies and tradies

In December 2022, refrigerated transport service provider, Scully RSV, added a special two-pallet truck to its extensive hire fleet. It is no ordinary truck. It features a special TIACS Alliance vehicle livery in TradeMutt branding. The purpose of this truck is to spread the message of mental health awareness wherever it goes. It is just one of the ways Scully RSV is working as a TIACS Alliance partner to drive awareness, spread the message and start the conversation on mental health.

TIACS is a free and confidential chat, text and call-back service, providing early-intervention mental health support for Australia’s truckies and tradies, and those who care about them. With help from financial partners like Scully RSV, a member of the TIACS Alliance, the group has so far supported over 13,000 clients with over 10,000-plus hours of conversations about mental health, since June 2020.

“As Scully RSV continues to grow and is able to expand its reach commercially, it allows us to give back more broadly and systemically to the community,” says Scully RSV CEO, Andrew McKenzie. “Be it to organisations like OzHarvest who provide a means to those who would otherwise go without or to organisations like TIACS, that are heavily focused on our people and the welfare of their families. It’s projects like these that are critically important to Scully RSV.”

Founded by Dan Allen and Ed Ross, the co-founders of social impact workwear brand TradeMutt, TIACS aims to remove the physical and financial barriers that prevent blue collar Australian workers from accessing the help they need and deserve. The initiative was launched after Dan and Ed admittedly realised how many people mustered the courage to ask for mental health support but were left unheard and abandoned.

“TIACS is a not-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to the industry and funded by the industry,” says Jason Banks, Head of Partnerships, TIACS. “Our Alliance partners make a direct social impact in the community through their contribution. Funds from our partners provide free mental health counselling support to Australian blue-collar workers and those that care about them. We are excited that Scully RSV have joined our Alliance to make our service available to those that need it most.”

The TIACS Alliance currently includes 40plus financial partners.

“Scully RSV is an Alliance Partner, investing money directly to TIACS,” Andrew says. “The financial contribution from an organisation is key because it keeps the doors open and the support service at the ready for those who need it. And we are proud that we can assist with this, but what’s even more important now is that we start to create awareness about the service to ensure that people are ringing and utilising services. If we can

– then this is the conversation we want to be having in the market, across all of our channels. We thought what better way than a moving billboard in the TIACS Truck.”

The TIACS Truck will spread the message that sometimes it can help just to have someone to talk to, and that there is free counselling support for those in need. Based on the customers who hire this truck, the vehicle branding will be seen driving around South East Queensland and beyond.

Scully RSV supplier ColorCorp kindly donated their staff, time and materials to ensure the TIACS Truck was possible. A long-standing partner of Scully RSV, ColorCorp jumped at the chance to become involved in supporting this cause that will directly make a difference to the industry. Staff working at ColorCorp were excited to see the finished truck following the briefing and proofing process –showcasing some pretty bold colours.

Scully also honoured the partnership by giving all its staff members their very own TradeMutt shirt proudly displaying its support for TIACS. Throughout the year and at every opportunity Scully RSV aims to have the conversation about TIACS and raise awareness of the partnership and the support out there for those in need.

“The best way to get involved is to start a conversation and ask someone if they are okay,” Andrew says. “It doesn’t cost any money and it’s the simplest way. This partnership is about creating awareness mechanism to get the help that they need. What is important to the industry is the outcomes that TIACS are able to achieve and deliver. This partnership plays a role in helping TIACS to be able to go out and do that.”

One of the best things about TIACS is that you don’t need an appointment to get free mental health support. Call or text anytime Monday to Friday from 8am-10pm AEST to have a chat. For readers who want to contribute or become an Alliance partner like Scully

In the meantime, Scully RSV plans to have events, social media and other activity throughout the year with an aim to continue spreading the message of ‘starting a conversation’.

Contact

Scully RSV

Ph: 1800 728 559

Web: www.scullyrsv.com.au

TIACS

Ph: 0488 846 988

Web: www.tiacs.org