20 August 2020
Brother to Brother is Australia's first 24-hour hotline assisting Aboriginal men throughout COVID-19
The crisis number is 1800 435 799
The line is staffed by Aboriginal men, including elders, to promote a culturally-safe service.
Brother to Brother is the only hotline in Australia specifically created to assist Aboriginal men seeking help during the coronavirus crisis.
The service was created by Dardi Munwurro, an organisation that delivers a range of family violence programs specifically targeting Aboriginal men. It aims to break the cycle of inter-generational trauma in Indigenous communities. CEO Alan Thorpe said the pandemic has highlighted a gap in services.
"What we've come to realise is that a lot of services are conditioned to work from 9–5 but we can do a lot of prevention work outside those hours," he said.
Six men from the Aboriginal community, including Elders, are working for the hotline and answering calls on a daily basis. Since the line was launched in March, it has received an average of 100 calls each month.
To find out more visit Brother to Brother
What others are saying
“Before I started talking to Helen I was in a very dark place, I had no motivation to do anything, I was constantly putting myself down and doubting myself in every way possible. Helen has helped me in so many ways.
Assisted in making my doctors appointments, helping me with my strategies when I started to feel down again and making sure I was on track with my mental health care plan while still being there for me every step of the way. She has been an incredible support to get me to better myself and be in a much happier place.
I do not know where I would be today if it wasn’t for Helen’s constant help and support over the last year! I am so grateful to have had Helen by my side and I could not be more thankful for everything she has done for me.”
Ally Letheby
“I am a Social Worker and started working with Helen In 2017. She was my Team Leader and I was employed as a Support Facilitator. Helen taught me all about the National Disability Scheme (NDIS) and the role of Support Coordination. Helen was an excellent supervisor who showed great compassion for people with any type of needs for their wellbeing. I am privileged to have worked with her.”
Krinent Singh
Having worked with Nicole for many years I cannot recommend her highly enough. She continually strives to provide impeccable customer service. She prides herself on supporting the community and delivers prompt and professional solutions to anything she is faced with. Her attention to detail and productivity is second to none. Nicole goes out of her way to make things as easy and stress free as possible for others. Her empathetic outlook sees her providing a service that is professional, simple and fast, time and time again. There is no one I would trust more.
Nikki Cassar
“Helen is the benchmark that all Support Coordinators should aspire to. Over the many years I have known her, Helen has continually demonstrated an outstanding and unwavering empathy, respect and dedication to her clients and those most vulnerable within the community, through her work and in her capacity as a volunteer.
Her extensive experience and contribution within the industry spanning pre-NDIS, NDIS start-up, NDIS test site through to the present day cement Helen as a leading industry expert.
Helen’s experience coupled with her vast network of allied health professionals and not for profit organisations guarantees Helen is best placed to share YOUR journey with YOUR best interests at heart.”
Peter Rose
LotUs Assist acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also acknowledge all people with a lived experience of mental illness, their families and carers.
LotUs Assist is committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in all we do and all services provided to our community. We welcome all people and these interactions and experiences drive us forward every day irrespective of ethnicity, gender, age, faith, identity, sexual orientation and gender identity or disability.