About Us
Group 61 (A.B.N 27 088 945 247) is a volunteer organisation which enables people affected by mental health issues achieve their personal potential.
Group 61 is a Christian, multi-denominational group, recruiting its Volunteer Support Persons mainly from local church communities. The group recognizes that healthy spirituality is integral to flourishing mental health.
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 cuppa and a chat with people each week in a park, by the sea or at a coffee shop. Usually this is a volunteer—friend relationship , but the friend may be one of a gathering of 5 to 10 volunteers and friends at a picnic.
- encouraging good nutrition, exercise, meaningful activity, cultural interests and spiritual growth.
- encouraging a number of regular personal friendships in addition to the Group 61 volunteer and
- holding regular group BBQs.
Group 61 is a volunteer organisation and its services are free.
The Group 61 Training Course gives volunteers a solid grounding in using listening skills and gives them an appreciation of the various forms of mental illness and teaches the building blocks of sound mental health. It runs one morning a week for eight weeks.
Once a month volunteers meet to support and share in confidence with one another.
Group 61 operates in the northern suburbs of Brisbane.
“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)