The Australian forest products industry is turning its attention to mental health – with the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) partnering with Trademutt, a social enterprise workwear company to create a range of indigenous-inspired workwear for members.
“TradeMutt is 100% Australian owned. Their makesfunky, eye-catching workwear is designed to start conversations about mental health, and suicide prevention,” according to Amanda Bell, AFPA’s go-to” for Workplace Health and Safety, who said 50% of the shirts profits go towards TIACS (This Is A Conversation Starter) providing free mental health counselling to blue-collar workers.
“Dozens of companies have joined forces with Trademutt / TIACS—you might have even seen their shirts at Bunnings and BCF. I am proud that the forest industry is joining the cause,” Ms Bell said, “the idea isn’t for a country-specific design, but for a design that creates a sense of community cohesion across the industry.”
The workwear, which includes high-visibility shirts and polo shirts. has been designed designed to showcase forest industries based on three themes:
- Design theme 1: Reflects our commitment to environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management practices. We strive to keep the land we manage productive and healthy for present and future generations.
- Design theme 2: Represent that our forests connect us with our communities and each other and provide us with employment and places for recreation and tourism.
- Design theme 3: Recognise that Indigenous land management benefits Indigenous people and the wider Australian society.
Known as the Koliinboolok Kaalk Biik (The black mans/peoples forest country), “the ngammai (sun) represents the kolinn (blackfellow) regular use of wiin (fire) to regenerate the boai (grass), kaalk (wood) and biik (country/ground),” she said. “Regenerated forest creates homes for the koloonoon (snake), baraimal (emu), maram (kangaroo), kaan (cockatoo), and poongil (eagle hawk), to name just a few. The forestry industry regenerates to keep the natural cycle of life going.”
AFPA invites anyone who works in, supplies to or supports our Forest Industries to purchase a shirt. People have until February 14th to order and pay for shirts – with male and female sizing available through the Trademutt website: “So far, we have the numbers required for the minimum order of yellow hi-vis and polo shirts but not yet orange,” Ms Bell said. “I will take orders of orange, hoping we get to 300, but if we don’t, all orders of orange shirts will be refunded.”
- For more information about the workwear, please contact Amanda Bell who will help process orders.