MATES Program

MATES Program

The MATES Program is a workplace mental health and suicide prevention initiative focused on creating supportive, connected and mentally healthy mining workplaces. It raises awareness of suicide as preventable, strengthens workers’ ability to recognise when someone may be struggling and encourages help-seeking and help-offering behaviours. The program promotes a culture in which workers look out for one another and know how to access support when needed.

The program delivers on-site training through a structured pathway that includes General Awareness Training, Connector training and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. These components equip workers with practical skills to recognise signs of distress, start supportive conversations and safely connect colleagues with appropriate professional help. The program also develops networks of trained volunteers who serve as key points of contact within workplaces, strengthening peer support and helping create mentally healthier work environments.

The MATES Program combines training with broader support services, including a 24/7 support line, case management and ongoing engagement from field staff who work directly with mine sites. The initiative also draws on research and evidence to continually improve its approach and ensure it responds effectively to the needs of workers and workplaces. By integrating awareness, peer support, professional assistance and continuous learning, the MATES Program helps build resilience, strengthen mental health outcomes across the mining industry and create safer, more connected workplaces.

MATES in Mining

MATES in Mining is an industry-based mental health and suicide prevention organisation supporting workers across Australia’s mining sector. As part of the broader MATES model, it raises awareness, builds capability, provides support and promotes evidence-based approaches that help prevent suicide and improve mental health outcomes in mining workplaces. Guided by a community-development approach, MATES in Mining encourages workers to look out for one another and make support a normal part of everyday work life.

The organisation delivers a comprehensive program combining workplace training, peer support, case management and access to professional assistance. Its training pathway includes General Awareness Training, Connector training and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, equipping workers to recognise when a colleague may be struggling, start supportive conversations and connect people with appropriate help. MATES in Mining also provides a 24/7 support line, case management services and on-site engagement through dedicated field staff who understand the realities of the mining industry.

MATES in Mining focuses on creating mentally healthy workplaces through connection, early intervention and practical support. The organisation complements its workplace programs with digital resources, FIFO-specific support tools, research partnerships and site accreditation processes that help organisations demonstrate their commitment to mental health and suicide prevention. Through its proactive and evidence-informed approach, MATES in Mining helps build safer, more supportive and more resilient mining communities.