About Us
Group 61 Inc. (ABN 27 088 945 247) is an incorporated volunteer organisation which enables fullness of life through friendship with people affected by mental health issues.
The group is a registered charity (No. CH1790).
The group has deductible gift recipiency status with the Australian Tax Office, which means that donations are deductible from your income tax.
The objects of the group are
- to support people affected by mental health issues living in the community
- to collaborate with people affected by mental health issues in their journey of recovery
Group 61 is a Christian based group recognizing that healthy spirituality is integral to flourishing mental health. It is multi-faith in its operation.
Those being supported are encouraged in the faith to which they belong.
People being supported are referred to as Friends because that is how they are treated and that is what they become.
Through friendship comes understanding.
From the volunteer – Friend relationship comes empowerment, which brings fullness of life and the achievement of personal potential.
Support generally takes the form of
- A weekly morning or afternoon outing of a volunteer and a Friend each week in a park, by the sea or at a coffee shop. This is a fixed volunteer—Friend relationship.
- There are also cluster groups of a few volunteers and a number of Friends who meet and have their outing as a group each week.
- Group BBQs are held every second month.
- Good nutrition, exercise, meaningful activity, cultural interests and spiritual growth are all encouraged.
- Friends are also encouraged to foster a number of regular personal friendships in addition to the Group 61 volunteer.
Group 61 is a volunteer organisation and its services are free.
The Group 61 Training Course equips volunteers to deal with issues that may arise in the volunteer - Friend relationship. It gives a grounding in listening skills and an appreciation of mental illness and mental health.
The training course is designed to train volunteers but is also open to the Friends being supported and anyone from the community who wants to support more effectively a person with mental health issues.
Once a month volunteers meet to support and share in confidence with one another.
Group 61 currently operates in the northern suburbs of Brisbane and Pine Rivers and is stretching to the southern side of the Brisbane River.
“61” refers to Isaiah 61 which says:
The Spirit of the Lord God has taken control of me!
to tell the oppressed the good news,…
The Lord has sent me to comfort those who mourn,…
He sent me to give them flowers in place of sorrow,
olive oil in place of tears…
and joyous praise in place of broken hearts.
(CEV selected verses)