TRADIES In Sight is seeking community support to help continue delivering counselling and mental health services for tradies, apprentices, business owners and families across the region.

Founded by Bruno Efoti, the Moree Plains 2026 Australia Day ambassador, Tradies In Sight is a registered Australian charity which has provided accessible and practical mental health support for the past eight years.

The organisation helps people working in trades and construction industries to access counselling and trusted support when they need it most.

Tradies In Sight was established to address a gap in mental health services specifically tailored to tradies and men in regional communities.

“I started Tradies In Sight because I could see there was nothing specifically supporting tradies and men in our communities,” Mr Efoti said.

“Too many people were struggling quietly and didn’t know where to go.”

Mr Efoti and his wife, Jo, were invited to Moree as part of the Australia Day ambassador program earlier this year.

Mr Efoti, originally from Tonga, has worked in the construction industry as a carpenter for more than 20 years.

“Behind our reliable workforce is a silent crisis,” Mr Efoti said at the Australia Day ceremony.

“In Australia, about seven men die every day by suicide, and in the construction and trade industry, we lose a worker to suicide every two days.

“These aren’t statistics. These are fathers, sons, brother and workmates . . . people who built our homes, wired our schools and laid our roads,” he said.

Tradies In Sight Founder Bruno Efoti, speaks at the Moree Plains 2026 Australia Day ceremony at Jellicoe Park.

Tradies In Sight’s work comes at a time when mental health remains one of Australia’s most significant health challenges.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 42.9 per cent of Australians aged between 16 and 85 have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives, while 21.5 per cent experienced a mental disorder during the previous 12 months.

For people working in trades and construction, the pressures can be particularly challenging. Long working hours, financial stress, physical demands, business pressures, job insecurity and relationship difficulties can all contribute to mental health struggles.

The construction industry has also been identified as having a heightened risk of mental ill-health and suicide. SafeWork NSW reports that Australian construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than from a workplace accident. Young construction workers are more than twice as likely to take their own lives compared with other young Australian men.

Tradies In Sight says these statistics highlight the importance of early intervention and accessible support services.

The charity provides counselling, community-based support and practical conversations designed to meet people where they are, helping bridge the gap between those struggling in silence and professional support services.

During 2025 alone, Tradies In Sight delivered 720 hours of counselling, representing an estimated value of $108,000 in mental health support.

Across its eight years of operation, the organisation estimates it has provided approximately $700,000 worth of counselling services to the community.

To continue delivering these services, Tradies In Sight is seeking ongoing community support and donations.

The organisation requires about $10,000 each month to maintain operations and remain available to those who need assistance. These costs include counselling delivery, fuel and travel expenses, telecommunications, insurance and professional accreditations.

Tradies In Sight is a registered Australian charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status, meaning donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

The organisation says community contributions will help ensure counselling and support services remain accessible to tradies, apprentices, business owners and families facing mental health challenges.

As demand for mental health support continues to grow, Tradies In Sight hopes community backing will allow it to continue providing the practical, relatable and trusted assistance that has become a lifeline for many people across the region during the past eight years.

Donations to Tradies In Sight can be made HERE.