Over two in five Australians aged 16-85 years (43.7% or 8.6 million people) had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life
One in five (21.4% or 4.2 million people) had a 12-month mental disorder
Anxiety was the most common group of 12-month mental disorders (16.8% or 3.3 million people)
Almost two in five people (39.6%) aged 16-24 years had a 12-month mental disorder
And while the doctor, therapist, and medicine are necessary, they are not enough. Suicide rates continue to rise. The medical (the doctor, therapist, and medicine) aspects of mental health recovery can lead to a type of “learned helplessness.”
When someone’s life is interrupted by mental illness, it can be tough to see a practical way forward with day-to-day life, and a good future seems out of reach. Feelings of hopelessness begin to settle in. This hopelessness can lead to suicidal thinking and even death by suicide.
A serious gap exists between someone receiving medical treatment for mental illness and them learning how to live well in spite of it. This gap is critical. So we become the bridge, the guide from the point of diagnosis to living well. Research shows that finding a way to live a hope-filled life can be best caught, not taught, by peers who have “been there” and are now living well. Research also shows that the best antidote for hopelessness is a hope that is rooted in faith.
We provide those who are hopeless a safe place to process their pain and experience faith-filled hope modeled, shared, and given in support groups, classes, coaching, and resources that are led and written by peers who are living well in spite of their mental health challenge. This serves as a bridge between someone’s diagnosis and living well in spite of their diagnosis. Our approach is based on seven mental health recovery principles and 25 years of clinical research on hope. And it works.
Because of Fresh Hope, thousands of people are living active, faith- and hope-filled lives. They are enjoying their relationships, their families, their work, and are feeling more hopeful than ever before. They are living well in spite of their mental health challenge. They are thriving!
Click on the tab below to watch Brad Hoeft - Founder of Fresh Hope
Rev Dr Inoke Veamatahau
CEO
Inoke is an ordained pastor, currently serving at Werribee Baptist Church (www.werribeebaptist.org.au) Inoke is the Pioneer of FHA, trialing Fresh Hope in Melbourne 2022 in consultation with Fresh Hope International (USA). He is currently funded by the Baptist Union of Victoria to expand FHA's ministry and establish it as a non-profit charitable organization in Australia. Inoke is a Fresh Hope qualified Coach & a Fresh Hope qualified Facilitator. He is a graduate from Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin), and a current PhD Researcher at the University of Melbourne, Nossal Institute of Global Health. His vision is to expand the work and ministry of FHA in Australia and the surrounding countries in the South Pacific region.
Vincent Retired 2010
2004-2010 Owner /Consultant – Business Consulting Services
1964-2004 Public Servant – State and Local Government
1997-2004 Director Governance and Resources City of Melbourne
1993-1997 Director Competitive Tendering and Contracts City of Greater Geelong
1979-1993 City of Wyndham various Executive roles.
Related Director exp
Vincent Retired 2010
2004-2010 Owner /Consultant – Business Consulting Services
1964-2004 Public Servant – State and Local Government
1997-2004 Director Governance and Resources City of Melbourne
1993-1997 Director Competitive Tendering and Contracts City of Greater Geelong
1979-1993 City of Wyndham various Executive roles.
Related Director experience;
Member Institute of Company Directors 1999
Director Manor Court Aged Care 2006-2013
Director Melbourne City Library Joint Venture 2002-2004
Director Heathcote Health 2013-2018
Director Werribee Bingo Association 2020-current
Chairperson Werribee Centrals Sports Club Executive Committee 1995-current
Member Committee of Management Wyndham Grange Retirement Village 2023-current
Matthew has 40 years of professional experience in a variety of areas with a background across Education, Defence and Industry.
· 22 years Air Force, last 7 years Training and education, transitioning traditional style courses to competency-based learning structure.
· Training Manager for Raytheon and BAE Systems in Avalon for four yea
Matthew has 40 years of professional experience in a variety of areas with a background across Education, Defence and Industry.
· 22 years Air Force, last 7 years Training and education, transitioning traditional style courses to competency-based learning structure.
· Training Manager for Raytheon and BAE Systems in Avalon for four years before spending over nine years at RMIT University in various roles ranging from Educational Specialist to Assistant Director Business Development.
· While at RMIT he completed a Grad Dip in Industrial Education and Training and Master in Education, with a focus on Strategic Management (Educational Perspectives) and Approaches to Research in Education and Principles and Contexts of Learning (applied and evidence learning).
· In 2012 Training Manager of a NFP and Business Relationship Manager,
· 2017 Bendigo Kangan Institute in 2017 as Manager for Resource Development responsible for LLN, VET in Schools programs and other Government projects with VRQA, Victorian Skills Authority and Industry stakeholders.
· 2921 to Wavelength Learning as Head of Education VET/Higher Ed to use the skills and expertise of the talented team and expand them from providing learning design and elearning services for the NFP, corporate and government sectors into education. This has resulted in engagements with various TAFEs, RTO and Universities to develop award winning blended and online learning solutions for full qualifications, short courses and microcredentials.
· He has strong governance experience being GIACD qualified
· School boards and councils for over 22 years as a director and chair. This included eight years as Chair of St Philips Lutheran Church Werribee, nine years as Chair of Good News Lutheran School Tarneit, and on the Board for Lutheran Education Victorian, NSW and Tasmania (BLEVNT) as a director and vice chair for the past five years.
Inoke is a pastor at Werribee Baptist Church and the founder of FHA, which is testing Fresh Hope in Melbourne in 2022 through collaboration with Fresh Hope International. He is currently supported by the Baptist Union of Victoria to grow FHA's ministry and establish it as a non-profit organization in Australia. He is a Hope-qualified Fac
Inoke is a pastor at Werribee Baptist Church and the founder of FHA, which is testing Fresh Hope in Melbourne in 2022 through collaboration with Fresh Hope International. He is currently supported by the Baptist Union of Victoria to grow FHA's ministry and establish it as a non-profit organization in Australia. He is a Hope-qualified Facilitator and Coach. He is a graduate from Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin), and a current PhD Researcher at the University of Melbourne, Nossal Institute of Global Health. The vision is to grow FHA's work and ministry in Australia and the neighboring countries in the South Pacific region.
Tenets for those with mood disorders / Tenets for loved ones
My life is affected by a mental health issue and can become unmanageable and hopeless, especially if ignored or untreated. Therefore, I choose the help and support of others to overcome the struggles and find more joy in life.
My loved one’s mental health challenge has also left me feeling helpless and hopeless. Therefore, I choose the help of others in learning about the disorder and choosing healthy boundaries for myself.
Together, we have understanding. We remind each other of the Lord’s love, and that He alone can do all things. He is the source of our hope, and in Him we can overcome all things.
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
My mental health challenge has also affected my relationships and the lives of those around me. Therefore, I choose to overcome for both my own good, and the good of those who love me.
I haven’t always responded to my loved one’s mental health issue in ways that were good for the relationship. Therefore, I choose to learn better ways to communicate with, support, and encourage my loved one.
Together, we commit to speaking the truth in love, healing broken relationships and viewing each other as the Lord views us.
“So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other.”
Romans 14:19 (God’s Word Translation, 1995)
My disorder can become an excuse. Therefore, I choose to believe I can live a full and rich life in spite of my disorder. I choose the support of people who will urge me to “push through”.
At times I don’t understand my loved one and can allow them to either wallow in their excuses, or push them too hard. Therefore I choose to learn healthy, appropriate ways to contribute to my loved one’s recovery.
Together we do better than trying on our own. We will hold one another accountable for learning, growing, and choosing to push through in hope. “So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other.”
“Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV).
My disorder can lead me to feel hopeless. Therefore, I choose to believe, regardless of my feelings, that there is help and hope for my physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being.
At times I also feel hopeless, letting my loved one’s actions and recovery define my happiness. Therefore, I choose to live with healthy emotional boundaries, and I choose my own joy despite the ups and downs of my loved one.
Together we remind each other that our hope and joy come from the Lord. He alone is able to fulfill our needs in every aspect of our lives.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).
While medicine is a key component in my recovery, it is not the only answer. Therefore, I choose to explore new ways of thinking and acting in my relationships and daily living.
I, too, have been part of the cycle of dysfunctional living, either thinking I had all the answers or thinking the problem didn’t belong to me. Therefore, I choose to submit myself to learning new behaviors and taking responsibility for my own healthy, balanced living.
Together we choose freedom over suffering, and joy in living through self-knowledge in action.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
At times I have allowed myself to become a victim, “defined” by my disorder. Therefore I choose to overcome and live in hope and joy, in spite of my disorder.
At times, I have viewed myself as a victim of my loved one’s behavior and disorder, living in resentment, anger, unforgiveness, or self pity. Therefore, I choose to separate the disorder from the person I love, forgive and let go of the past, and live as a contributor to successful recovery.
Together, we share in each other’s victories and celebrate the whole person.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
At times, my mental health challenge has caused me to focus only on myself and my needs, leading me to believe the lie that I don’t have much to offer to others. Therefore, because focusing on others will help me grow, I choose to give back, sharing my story with others, that my past pain might provide insights for someone else’s journey to living well.
I, too, have become focused on my loved one’s situation and how it has affected me. I can easily become so consumed by our issues that I fail to see those around me who would benefit from what I’ve learned. Therefore, I choose to give back by seeking opportunities to help others by sharing my insights and experiences.
Together we recognize that sharing helps both us and others heal. Sharing helps us find our voice and becomes empowering as we see our pain redeemed by the Lord. As we share, it helps reaffirm our own hope while also giving hope away to others.
“(The Lord) helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:4 (Good News Translation)
Let us inspire each other to embrace God's rejuvenating hope for our everyday lives and future. Who we see here remains confidential. Nothing that is said here will be repeated elsewhere. We don’t judge; nor do we lecture. We listen, we share and we grow.
To empower individuals to live a full and rich faith-filled life in spite of a mental health diagnosis.
To equip and empower individuals (and their loved ones) who are affected by a mental health diagnosis to live a full, rich and purpose-filled life in wellness and wholeness (mental, physical and spiritual) through participation in local Fresh Hope groups which are Christ-centered peer support groups, as well as online forums, educational opportunities and faith based mental health resources.
To provide ongoing assistance to individuals and their families during times of transition, by providing Mental Health Navigators in local communities who are Certified Peer Support Specialists and Certified Wellness Coaches
To challenge the Christian church to address the mental health crisis in their community- challenging them to provide a “compassionate, understanding, safe and supportive-place” for those who struggle with mental health issues. This includes understanding that many mental health challenges are due to the brain’s improper function and are not character flaws, moral failures or a spiritual weakness.
To advocate on both the state and national levels for continued mental health reforms to repair the issues that “broken” in the system.
To provide peer-run wellness centers in the local communities as a positive place of encouragement, connection, empowerment and learning.
To join with other organizations and voices in tearing down the thick walls of cultural stigma regarding “mental illness.”
Fresh Hope is a peer-to-peer Christ-centered wellness approach to mental health recovery based upon six tenets that empowers people to connect both their faith and recovery principles. This approach both empowers and encouraging individuals live full and rich lives in spite of their diagnosis
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