Victoria Police and The Police Association of Victoria are set to ‘walk the talk’ in order to raise awareness and much needed funds for retired police officers living with mental health issues.
Every day, Victoria Police officers put their lives on the line in order to ensure a safer Victoria. This can take a heavy toll, and tragically, there is a prevalence of mental health issues amongst current and former officers.
The Head to Head Fundraising Walk is about demonstrating the commitment of Victoria Police and The Police Association of Victoria (TPAV) to supporting current and past serving officers affected by such issues. It recognises that once a person retires from policing, they are still considered part of the Victoria Police family and their wellbeing continues to be a priority.
“Police go there and are trained to try and bring the situation to order. They do so confidently, but they are also human beings. They are often confronting those same dramatic, graphic and terrible scenes as the victim and that takes its toll despite the best training, "Chief Commissioner Ashton said.
“Police often leave the job experiencing mental health issues and although we are funded to support current employees, we don’t look after our retired officers - that is a clear gap. I can’t turn back the clock, but I can try to do something going forward to tackle the issue.”
A first of its kind for police, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton and a team from The Police Association of Victoria led by Secretary Sergeant Wayne Gatt, will come together from opposite sides of Victoria, covering a combined 1,000km on foot to raise awareness of this important issue, as well as much needed funding for past serving officers who are unable to access the same level of support as those still serving with Victoria Police.
Sergeant Gatt said: “Unless you’ve experienced it yourself, you simply can’t walk a mile in the shoes of a police officer suffering from a mental health condition as a result of what they’ve seen and felt in the job.
“Together though, we will walk more than 600 miles in our own shoes to raise awareness and money for those affected, to try to make their path ahead a healthier one.”
Over three weeks they will walk the roads with a range of co-walkers, former police, and the community, meeting ‘head to head’ in Wangaratta. Along the way they will visit police stations and participate in events with local communities to help broaden awareness and raise much needed funds for the Retired Peer Support Officer program.
To find out more information about the Head to Head fundraising walk and how to get involved or donate, please visit www.headtoheadwalk.org.au.