Rural Outreach Counselling Inc. (ROC) is a community-minded mental health charity working out of the Riverina region of New South Wales. ROC was founded with rural service gaps in mind. ROC understands the lack of support services, the long waitlists, and the distances some are required to travel for a face-to-face consult.

ROC aims to significantly reduce the impact of depression and anxiety in rural families and communities throughout regional Australia. This aim will be achieved by reaching out proactively with help and support to those who can’t, or won’t, present to a General Practitioner (GP) or existing mental health services. Through ROC MateKeeper Champions and qualified Counsellors circulating within the community, support will be provided to at-risk individuals via networking, connections, and relationships formed by reaching out.

ROC’s MateKeeper Champions Campaign is designed to create awareness around mental health by having individuals pledge that they want to work towards learning the skills and knowledge required to support their mates, neighbours, co-workers and even individuals they may not know with mental health struggles. Our vision is to support individuals that can continue working together towards building safer mental health spaces in their communities.

ROC also often host FREE events across the Riverina including suicide prevention trainings, Community events, School programs and our MateKeeper Champion events which include morning teas, walks and community outings to bring likeminded individuals together.