Bronte Lee’s workplace is ever-changing, as are the needs of her communities. As one of two Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) Coordinators covering the vast Far West of NSW, she spends many long hours in her vehicle each week.
“We cover an area from the Queensland to the Victoria-South Australia border, so just getting to a community can take a whole day,” she says. “We are on the road a lot, so our vehicles are like a travelling library of resources.”
But having been born and raised in Cobar, in far western NSW, Bronte is no stranger to travel and has a deep affinity for rural people and communities. RAMHP’s unique “boots on the ground” approach sees her working closely with local residents, employers, organisations, local businesses and health providers to promote mental health, deliver education, support events and link people to appropriate care.
“I live in the Broken Hill community, so I understand the challenges that people face in accessing services,” Bronte says. “After receiving the benefits of these services myself growing up in Cobar, I wanted to give back to other communities. We provide tailored mental health training in towns and workplaces we visit regularly, so we become embedded and those relationships help to build resilience.”
One in five Australians experience poor mental health and the need for support is especially great in rural and regional areas. With their focus on rural adversity, RAMHP coordinators aim to build mental health literacy and awareness of the support that’s available.
“Each one is different, but the beauty of small communities is that people look out for each other during tough times”
“Each one is different, but the beauty of small communities is that people look out for each other during tough times,” Bronte says. “We try to develop champions in those communities with limited services, to build capacity. They come to know and trust us. They learn the signs of poor mental health, and when they or others need help, they either know what help is available or give me a call.”
After graduating as a social worker from UNE in 2021, Bronte became a NSW Health Drought Peer Worker before taking up the RAMHP role. She believes the opportunities have given her a jump start.
“Working in a rural and regional area enables you to excel and take opportunities sooner,” she says. “Organisations commonly look within for succession planning and support those who can step up into more senior roles. I don’t think I would have had the same opportunities in a larger centre.”
And the personal learnings have been just as powerful as the professional ones.
“As we grow, we can forget the importance of self-care. From my own lived experience, I’ve learnt that I need to be kinder to myself and to always know my worth,” Bronte says. “It’s easy to doubt yourself. But your worth as a person is not determined by your accomplishments or your appearance or your social circle.
“I am a person of short stature, so I face societal attitudes regarding my appearance and ability on a daily basis. And we naturally compare ourselves to others. Now I am very conscious of what defines me as a human being. We are all just as important as one another and can achieve our dreams.
I’ve also learnt that failing something doesn’t mean you are a failure. Some of my best life lessons have come from mistakes I have made. Failing has enabled me to be where I am today.
“I’ve also learnt that failing something doesn’t mean you are a failure. Some of my best life lessons have come from mistakes I have made. Failing has enabled me to be where I am today. The most important thing is not to give up; to be confident and determined. I think [Paralympian and former Australian of the Year] Dylan Alcott, AO, is a great role model, the way he has advocated for those with a disability. I hope that I can have that kind of influence, too, to help people overcome self-doubt and understand their worth to society. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to study social work, to advocate for and empower others.”
The Lee family’s connections to Armidale and UNE run deep. Bronte’s mother Cheryl studied at the Armidale Teacher’s College in the 1980s and ’90s, and Bronte attended UNE with her twin sister Georgia, who studied a Bachelor of Business.
“We both lived in Earle Page College, which helped us to connect with other students and people from all walks of life,” Bronte says. “We also benefitted from the support and tutoring offered by the Oorala Aboriginal Centre.”
Bronte’s youngest sister Molly, a former resident of Austin Page, also completed her Bachelor of Business degree at UNE last year.
To learn more about the important work of RAMHP, go to https://www.ramhp.com.au/
