Meet Donna
Hello, my name is Donna Cavanagh. Like Owen, I worked for the Department of Defence, but as a civilian. I have had few jobs across different areas of society, travelled and moved as a partner to a defence member and ran my own business ‘Eagle Support Disability Services’ for a number of years, as an art mentor for adults with a Disability and Mental Health issues.
Working in the disability and mental health sector opened my eyes to the need for first hand support when a mental health crisis was developing, so I completed the standard adult mental health first aid course in 2018 and am currently completing a Certificate IV in Mental Health.
Once completed, I plan to progress my studies in Mental Health. The 1.5 hour Business Workshop was my initiative and was borne from discussions with Ipswich businesses, and their lack of policies and procedures to deal with a mental health crisis. This short workshop will assist in setting up your business to provide support at all levels, from front of house through to management.
President and Welfare Officer of CanAssist Wagga Wagga (assistance and support for rural cancer patients)
President of the Macquarie Towns Art Society
Chair of Ipswich Fresh Futures Market
Member of the Regional Arts Development Funding Committee where she helps assess applications for grants.
In November 2019, she was responsible for organising the In-augural International Men’s Day “Walk to Talk”.
Australia Day Flag Planting – Planting Australian Flags at the Ipswich General Cemetery and Warrill Park Cemetery on all the Defence Personal and all emergency personnel
Owner of Donna’s Art and Craft later known as Eagle Support Disability Service. Working with acutely disabled adults, creating art artworks, and selling them. 100% of the money went back to the client.
This business became Helping Support Minds when Oggy and I realised there was more that we could do by offering services to a broader part of the community, and not just the disability sector.
Australia Day Awards – Winner Ipswich Citizen of the Year 2023
Australia Day Awards – Finalist Ipswich Citizen of the Year 2022
Australia Day Awards – Winner Ipswich Event of the Year (Having Your Voice) 2019
Cert IV in Mental Health
Diploma in Mental Health
NDIS Recovery Coach Master Beginner to Pro
Mental Health First Aider
First Aider
Cert IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business
Safe Talk – Training in Suicide Alertness
B.strong – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – Intervention Training
QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program
Board member of the Hawkesbury Chamber of Commerce
Member of the Ipswich Chamber of Commence
Member of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
Member of Ipswich Women in Business
Member of the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association
Guest speaker every Monday on radio with West Breamer Radio. Talking about Mental Health
Write in the newspaper Ipswich News Today every week talking about Mental Health
Christmas Hampers
Every year we do Christmas Hampers for Hannah’s House, The Women’s Crisis Support Services Down 2 Earth and The Ipswich Foodbarn.
Every year Helping Support Minds (The Oggsters) do Christmas Hampers, which we reach out to the Women’s DV emergency shelter, Ipswich Assist, Down 2 Earth, Goodna Street Life, and now Hannah’s House
This year we will continue to deliver Christmas Hampers to the Women’s DV emergency shelter. Sadly, this year the WDVES has seen an increase of clients and this year we will be doing 50 Christmas hampers.
Street Work
Most day’s I am on the streets doing welfare checks and referrals and just being a familiar face.
Every Tuesday myself and Down 2 Earth do a cook up in Browns Park North Ipswich
I do welfare checks, referrals , court support.
I work closely with Hannah’s House, Ipswich Assist, Down 2 Earth, and Goodna Street Life
Crossroads In the Park
Help coordinate with Churches of Christ
Every 3rd month we put on Crossroads in the Park at Browns Park.
This event is for the rough sleepers, disability, low social economic, people with mental health issues and anyone who just needs support.
Other community service providers come along and provide support. This can be the UNISQ physio and chiropractors, free hair cuts and beard trims from Heavy 8 barbers and free clothing. Providers are:
UNISQ
Stride for Better Mental Health
Uniting Care
Hannah’s House
Womens Crisis Support Service
Public Trustee
Thread Together
Down 2 Earth
Ipswich Foodbarn
Churches of Christ
Heavy 8 Barbers, and
Helping Support Minds,
plus many more.
And now we are doing the same at the Riverview & District Community Centre.
Australia Day Flag Planting.
Basic description of the Australian Hand Waiver Flag is 260mm x 130mm, plastic stem and the flag is made from paper or plastic. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t let me download a picture. A basic google search of mini-Australian flags will find it for you.
Australia Day Flag Planting involves placing an Australian Flag in the ground near the headstone of service personnel, including ADF, Police, and Ambulance.
We were involved in a similar ceremony at the Rouse Hill Lawn Cemetery, in NSW. It was conducted in the morning on Australia Day, with the local RSL coordinating the activity. They had a BBQ and coffee available for the volunteers and I think they had the local Bunnings sponsor the purchase of the flags.
When we arrived here in Ipswich I did my research and found that Ipswich and ALL of QLD do not do the Australia Day Flag Planting. So, I asked Ipswich Council and War Graves Australia. They both thought it was a lovely idea and gave us permission to do it.
Every year I ask permission from ICC and War Graves Australia.
I send a report with photos to Ipswich Council and War Graves Australia
Once completed it looks spectacular and is an easy way to show respect to our deceased defence personnel and emergency workers.
All the volunteers meet at the Ipswich Cemetery at 6.30am for a debrief, then Oggy takes a group to Warill View Lawn Cemetery and the rest stay with me at the Ipswich Cemetery.
Recovery Centre for the 2022 Floods
The floods come. We had to do something. We did.
Spoke with Ipswich Showgrounds, they give us a space to for free.
Spoke with the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce, they paid for our insurances.
The Ipswich recovery centre was at Ipswich showgrounds, and we set up the Recovery Centre downstairs.
We were open for 13 days and in that time, we saw 800 people come into the centre. Mick and myself did outreach taking Ute loads of water and cleaning items to those that couldn’t come to the centre. Plus, a shoulder, for people to cry on. and there were loads of tears.
I did loads of welfare checks, called ambulances, contacted people with Housing and other service providers.
No of this could not happen without the Ipswich community and CSI donated $6,000 worth of food.
Shoe Box of Love from Adelaide donated a pallet of beautiful shoe boxes full of toiletries tailor made for every family member.
Since then, Mocka Australia have donated 24 pallets of flat pack furniture that have been distributed to families.
Ipswich Chamber of Commence
The Ipswich Showgrounds
Wesbro Services
John Hollard Group
CSI
RSPCA
Shoe Box With Love
I am still doing welfare checks and contacting people.
Mocha Australia
More recently, Mocha Australia have donated Qty 64 pallets to Helping Support Minds, to distribute to other community groups that support people in need or are still trying to re-build after the floods.
Workplace mental health first aid training.
Make a difference within your business- take a proactive approach to workplace wellbeing.
ABN: 51 208 878 177
Helping Support Minds
Workplace mental health first aid training
Useful links
Website by Ipswich Websites