The barbecue is free to attend and will run from 11.30am in Benalla’s picturesque Rose Garden.
This community mental health program is focused on prevention and early intervention, which research shows represent the best tools for addressing Australia's mental health emergency.
The Mr Perfect barbecues will be able to continue across Australia for another 12 months after Zurich Financial Services Australia and OnePath Life renewed their partnership with the initiative.
Now in their fourth year of partnership, both organisations have supported Mr Perfect to expand to more than 40 locations in most states and territories around the country.
The funding also enabled Mr Perfect to quickly scale up online services and support, in place of in-person meet-ups, during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Zurich Financial Services Australia’s head of brand, marketing and corporate affairs Linda Griffin said Zurich and OnePath Life were committed to improving accessibility of mental wellbeing programs in the community.
“New research into Australia’s mental health emergency by the Centre for Social Impact shows that prevention and early intervention represent our best tools for supporting mental wellbeing,” Ms Griffin said.
“It’s our hope and strong belief that through participation in community programs like Mr Perfect, fewer Australians will reach a point of crisis in their mental health.
“We’ve seen first hand through the various mental wellbeing programs we support that community-based programs serve a tremendous role.
“We are inspired by people like Terry Cornick, Mr Perfect’s founder, for the work they do to lift up their communities and fellow Australians.”
Mr Cornick said awareness of mental health and wellbeing had improved among men in the five years since he started the program.
“When we first started Mr Perfect, even getting men to turn up was a challenge, let alone talk about their mental wellbeing,” Mr Cornick said.
“That’s no longer the case. Our average attendance at barbecues has gone from five to more than 20 and people are more willing to open up.
“What we’re offering is a soft entry point into mental health awareness and support.
“It’s our hope that men come to our barbecues, have a meaningful conversation with someone they can relate to, and later reflect on whether they need to consider taking the next step in addressing their own mental health concerns.”
Find out more about Mr Perfect barbecues at this link.
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