Miner digs deep for children's wellbeing

3 March 2009

The Hunter Institute of Mental Health will soon be working at the coalface to promote the mental health of young children in the region – and corporate sponsorship from one of the country’s leading miners will help them do it.

The Institute has secured $100,000 from Xstrata Coal NSW to fund a professional development resource that will be available free to all pre-schools and childcare centres in the Hunter area.

Designed in a magazine-style format, the resource aims to improve the knowledge and skills of workers in early childhood centres, enabling them to promote the mental health of children in their care and provide valuable support to those children who may be at risk of mental health problems.

The funding is part of Xstrata Coal’s Corporate Social Involvement Program and reflects one of the company’s goals: improving the quality of life for its communities.

Xstrata Coal NSW has 13 current mining operations or project areas within the broader Hunter Valley, with a large number of employees residing in the region.

Xstrata Coal NSW Chief Operating officer, Mick Buffier, said the Company was pleased to support such a worthwhile initiative.

“This unique project has the potential to provide long-term educational and life skill benefits for local children across the broader Hunter community and will directly assist employees with young families,” Mr Buffier said.

Institute Program Manager, Karen Stafford welcomed the funding and the partnership with Xstrata.

“This will allow us to start at the coalface, as more and more children are spending some part of their formative years in early child care centres,” Ms Stafford said.

“The early childhood period is vital for mental health, as it is a critical period for laying the foundations of a child’s intellectual, social and emotional development.

“Early childhood educators are ideally placed to have a direct and lasting influence on the mental health and wellbeing of young children,” Ms Stafford said.

“This is due to their frequent contact with children, their focus on nurturing relationships, their connections to families and communities, and their ability to guide skill development. 

Contact: Frances Holz

Phone: 4939 2216