Meet the team that will be looking after you, and get a better understanding of what the program looks and feels like. You're welcome to reach out if you have questions or wonder if this program is right for you. You can contact us on [email protected] or 0401 833 110 (that's Zonk's phone - he leads this project). Hit the button below to download a brochure - it includes much of the information from this page and you can send it to friends and family, or maybe your mental health worker if you have one, to see what they think.

Mini-overview

There are only nine spots, so register sooner rather than later. The program consists of four 4-day camps (all nine participants come along) to national parks across Victoria, and 16 one-hour check-ins in between (these are between you and our social worker, 1:1 by video or phone call). The program kicks with your first camp is 2-5 September 2025, and ends with the last camp on 2-5 June 2026. The team consists of social worker Dallas (she/her), Giz A Break's founder Sonke (aka Zonk, he/him), and outdoor educator Brendan (he/him) and will remain the same throughout. The program is free - all food, camping equipment, and activities are included. We're really grateful to Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, who are funding this program under the Australian Government's Psychosocial Support initiative. Here's what happens once you decide to participate.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

This program is designed for a small group of young people from Hay and Hillston and surrounds who are struggling with mental health. If that sounds like you, check if you meet the following criteria :

• You're 17 to 25 years old (or turning 17 within three months of registering)
• You live in Hay Shire or Carrathool Shire
• You live with a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, complex trauma, or a personality disorder (pending diagnoses are ok). If you have attempted suicide, this program might be for you, too.
• It's also really important that you can commit to the program - so, please check the dates for the camps and if you can make time for 1 hour a fortnight to catch up with our social worker. These catch-ups can be done by video-link (preferred) or phone call, and we're happy to schedule them at a time that works for you wherever possible (between 8am and 6pm).

If you meet the above criteria, then there's a good chance you'll get a spot if you register early - there are only nine spots available, so if you're interested, don't delay :) It might be a good idea to chat with your family and friends about it, and also your school or employer, if applicable. Also consider chatting with your GP or counsellor / psychologist about it, too.

Step 2: Register

Registrations open in late July and close in late August 2025. Once you're ready, register by clicking this link. Once we receive your registration, we'll review it to check your eligibility. Once that's confirmed, you'll receive an email with links to a couple of questionnaires for you to complete. Your answers to these will give us a good idea of where you're at, and what we need to know to look after you while you're out on the tracks with us. Your registration is complete once we've received your responses to the questionnaires.

Step 3: We'll check in with you

Either Dallas or Zonk will give you a buzz to say g'day and make sure you have a chance to ask lots of questions. We might go over some of the info from the questionnaires you completed in case we have any questions, and then we'll start booking in your dates for your 1:1 video chats between your camps. So, have a think about which weekdays and times work best for you.

And finally: Get ready for your first camp!

Once you've completed step 2, we'll also send you an email with all the details you need for the camp - what to pack, when we pick you up and where, etc. We'll pick you up in Hay at 8am on Tuesday 2 September - and then we head off to the Victorian Deserts along the SA border with VIC. 

Between early September 2025 and June 2026, we're travelling in our 4x4 to four quite different remote national parks. We've picked the best season for each location, meaning that you'll get an amazing experience each time. The camps are fully catered and there's nothing for you to bring apart from basic clothes, a pillow, and a drink bottle. You'll sleep in our high quality swags and sleeping bags, and the food is tasty and nutritious. Each itinerary includes four-wheel driving and exploring the natural environment and its history. The camps are journeys - we'll be moving to a new camp every day. The team on our camps includes social worker Dallas, outdoor educator Brendan, and the founder of Giz A Break, Sonke (aka Zonk). You can find out more about the team by downloading the brochure.