The Walkabout Barber rig will not roll into Taree on November 14.
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Event organisers this week cancelled the inaugural visit by Brian Dowd to Queen Elizabeth Park on Thursday in response to the numerous challenges being managed by individuals, families, and organisations in the wake of widespread fires and extreme weather conditions in the region.
The Walkabout Barber visit will be rescheduled to "most likely in the new year", according to Jennifer Caine of Compass Housing Services. The local community housing provider worked to try to bring the Walkabout Barber to Taree as part of a mental health initiative for its clients, and other people who access other local community service organisations.
Compass Housing will fund the community event when it is rescheduled in 2020 under the umbrella of its 'Shout Out' mental health and suicide prevention awareness program.
The Walkabout Barber is the first of its kind mobile barber and trauma recovery service that provides a space for cuts, connections and real conversations to take place.
Brian is a sought-after trauma recovery specialist with more than 16 years of experience and is one of only 42 people in Australia to hold a post graduate degree in Indigenous Trauma and Recovery.
"Shout Out is part of our broader community development programs that help tenants to improve their lives and to help them participate fully in the community," Ms Caine said.
The Australian first program is funded by the NSW Government Suicide Prevention Fund. It includes a general awareness campaign for tenants as well as training for frontline staff and tenants to recognise and respond to suicidality and mental health issues.
"Walkabout Barber gives people the opportunity to sit in a chair, receive a fresh cut, connect with their barber and open up conversation to do with healing, hope and happiness," Brian said.
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