Pitch Up Wagga Wagga is a joint venture with The Funding Network Australia partnering with WDF Accounting & Advisory, Macarthur Real Estate and Hume Bank to support 3 local grassroots for-purpose organisations to share their story, raise vital funds and take their growth to a whole new level supporting more people in the local community.

Project #1: Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia (Tumut Program)

Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia (BBBS) works to change the lives of disadvantaged youth through the early intervention and preventative approach of targeting vulnerable young people and supporting them through the provision of a positive adult role model.
By matching young people with positive role models, our mentoring programs provide a safe and supportive space for our next generation to foster a sense of belonging and self-worth. Working closely with key stakeholders within our community, the program helps both young people and their mentors to build social connections and networks of support in their local community.

Meet the presenter: Emma Peacock, Mentoring Coordinator

Emma Peacock is a Tumut local, who is entrenched in the local community with a strong history of charity/community work and advocacy for our region. Emma has worked hard to successfully launch and grow the Tumut program of Big Brothers Big Sisters since joining the team in May 2022.

Project #2: Ronald McDonald House South West NSW

Ronald McDonald House in Wagga provide fee free accommodation for families with sick or injured children and Mothers with high-risk pregnancy. The House offers more than a place to sleep, the House and Family Room are carefully designed to give families a home like environment that helps them feel more supported, less stressed and better able to cope and support their sick child. Our goal is to keep families close in their time of need and close to the care their child is receiving.

Meet the presenter: Lisa Simpson, Executive Officer

Lisa started her working life as a Nurse and has cared for others ever since. After further study through a Graduate Diploma of Human Services - Counselling, she took the role as Pastoral Care Coordinator which she held for several years before taking the role at Ronald McDonald House, a job she describes as 'made for her'. To be able to make a beautiful difference in the lives of families with seriously sick or injured children is a privilege.

Project #3: Rural Outreach Counselling

Rural Outreach Counselling (ROC) is a locally based mental health charity that offers a range of supports in Wagga and in the neighbouring communities. They offer free suicide prevention training, both in face-to-face workshops and via Zoom sessions focussing on Prevention and Early Intervention versus Intervention and Crisis Reaction. Their fully qualified counsellors are able to travel to offer support and sessions to our clients outside of the normal clinical office environments, giving ROC the opportunity to bring mental health support
to towns and communities that have limited, or sometimes no local services. Their free QPRsuicide prevention workshops have been delivered to hundreds of participants, giving them the skills to be able to “Question” someone’s mental ill health, “Persuade” them to accept help and we offer the “Refer” network to then assist them on their journey to mental Good Health.

Meet the presenter: Chelsea Stewart, General Manager

Wagga born and Raised, Chelsea is new to the ROC family, but not new to the community. Excited to be part of an organization that is making a difference to the families in and around Wagga, Chelsea hopes to lead by example and teach her kids to be kind, thoughtful and resilient.