About us
Mental health support
For more than two years we have consulted men with lived experience and their families, as well as traditional mental health and medical service providers, to gain understanding to how best bridge the gaps in the journey to mental health wellbeing that all too often ends in suicide.
We see it as a truly community-wide service that will benefit not only the men with whom we engage, but also their families, friends and colleagues.
Research tells us that around 135 people can be affected by a single suicide (Royal Commission for Victoria’s Mental Health System, 2021). Consequently there are many, many people in our region who have suffered the loss of a loved one in this way.
It is for all these people, and especially men at risk, that we embarked on this initiative to help reduce mental health issues and suicide among men.
The BMMH difference
BMMH focusses on early mental health intervention. We provide a telephone, video or face-to-face service, delivered in a male/user friendly environment designed to minimise barriers to men seeking help.
Ours is a fully-integrated service where, following assessment by trained health professionals, men are guided step-by-step through the system and referred as necessary to other support services.
Our strong network of partners ensure that our clients receive the help and support they need quickly and effectively, providing a seamless pathway towards improved mental health.
We also believe in making the most of social connections and, over time, will engage with employers, men’s groups, tradies’ groups, sporting clubs, farmers’ groups and apprentices through TAFE.
Men benefit greatly from social and community connectedness, therefore a men’s mental health service cannot be truly effective if it doesn’t develop strong partnerships with a range of social support, employers, hobbyists and sporting groups.
Our mission
To provide counselling and support for men struggling with mental health issues in the Ballarat region, by enabling timely access to appropriate mental health care
Our vision
Meet the team
The directors of BMMH have a diverse range of skills and experience, ranging from executive level health and mental health service experience, to those with lived experience of the trauma associated with men’s mental health issues.
Maxine Troon
Andrew McPherson
Max Crawford
Mick Fryar
Rohini Joshi
Scott Morris
Scott is a Barrister at the Victorian Bar and practices in commercial dispute resolution. Scott was admitted to legal practice in 1998, he practiced in private practice until 2005, including at a large Melbourne firm. He joined the ACCC in 2005 where he became an Assistant Director in its Enforcement Division. In 2011 he joined the Australian Taxation Office as a Senior Lawyer, before joining the Victorian Bar as a Barrister in 2013. He has lived in Ballarat since 2019 and his children attend school in Ballarat.
Maciek Kiernikowski
Maciek is an accomplished executive, with an extensive career in business development, product management and professional consulting. He recently served as the CEO of an ASX listed company, TYMLEZ (ASX:TYM) specialising in carbon emissions management and trading. Maciek has consulted for a broad range of technology organisations in corporate and start-up/scale-up environments in industries including financial services, energy and utilities, legal and government. Previously Maciek served as Managing Director of an integrated account at IBM Australia, and held various executive roles at IBM in his ten year career.
Jay Mueller
Jay Mueller is an experienced member of the media. Having worked in television, radio, podcasting and digital media platforms for more than 30 years. Jay has experience in both the US and Australian media. He is a board member of the Melbourne Press Club and is the current Managing Editor for AFL Media, part of the Australian Football League’s Digital Team. Jay and his partner Astrid Edwards founded independent podcast company Bad Producer Productions in 2015 and since then have produced more than 1000 hours of audio content for partners around the world. Jay is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a current member of Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Community Leadership Program.
Ilan Werbeloff
Ilan is a strategic and innovative marketing leader with over 14 years experience. He has a passion for data-driven decision making, systems thinking and big-picture ideas to deliver customer-focused outcomes. With experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, committees, and large projects, Ilan is a motivational and focused leader with a collaborative style.
Rebecca Leon
Her primary interests revolve around work in the NFP sector including various roles in corporate social responsibility, public sector management l, youth advocacy and empowerment, pro bono consulting, homeless law, mental health law and social security law.
Pauline Gleeson
I have worked as a solicitor at Heinz Law since February 2005. I became a Principal of the firm in 2012 and retired as a Principal on the 30th of June 2022. I continue to work part time at Heinz Law (although I have retired at least twice now). I am the mother of 4 children, and we now have 4 grandchildren all of whom bring great joy to my life.
Lachlan Dodds
Thank you for your interest in Ballarat Men’s Mental Health. Our service is now operational.
Contact us at info@ballaratmmh.com.au, or leave a confidential message at BMMH Triage: 03 4310 2119
If you are seeking immediate assistance or advice regarding a Mental Health issue please contact either Life Line on 13 11 14 or Ballarat Health Services Mental Health Line on 1300 247 647. Both these services are available 24 hours a day. In an emergency please call 000.