Facing a fear of heights

There are dozens of vantage points from which to view Sydney Harbour, but dangling attached to a rope on the outside of a skyscraper is a novel approach to sight-seeing. 

For the abseilers taking part in this year’s Abseil for Youth fundraising event, the action of descending 117 metres in front of a large, cheering crowd below, was well worth the challenge. The abseilers, over 40 of which were AMP employees, each raised at least $1,500 by baking cakes, running quizzes, organising sausage sizzles and asking friends, family and colleagues to sponsor their abseiling attempt.

As a result, Abseil for Youth raised $243,000 this year, which included a $25,000 donation from the AMP Foundation at amp.com.au/ampfoundation, AMP’s charity arm. This helped the event surpass its $200,000 fundraising total from the previous year.

Money raised from the event supports a Mission Australia run program in the NSW Southern Highlands – Triple Care Farm. The farm is a residential program for young people with substance abuse and mental illness problems.

Sadly, drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most pressing health and social issues which face young Australians today. According to ABS statistics, in any given year, over 300,000 – or one in eight – young Australians suffer from a substance use disorder. For many, substance misuse occurs in conjunction with mental health conditions.

Young people who are referred to Triple Care Farm spend 12 weeks in the program; living in one of the most scenic regions in the state, known for its panoramic views of the Southern Highlands and rugged sub-tropical forest.

The location of Triple Care Farm presents a profound metaphor for the young people who reside there. They get a change of scenery, a new perspective and different view of their lives and the circumstances that underlie their addiction. Over the course of their stay, young people receive counselling, learn life skills, access education and receive support to help them make positive decisions and create better lives for themselves.

Triple Care Farm is a relatively high-cost service because of the residential and therapeutic services it provides. The average cost of each stay is over $22,000 and there are always more referrals than the farm has capacity for. However, thanks to the fundraising efforts of everyone involved with Abseil for Youth, Triple Care Farm will be able to assist more young people in 2012.

The Sir David Martin Foundation at sdmf.org.au  fundraises for Triple Care Farm, which is run by Mission Australia. You too can make a donation this holiday season via missionaustralia.com.au and help enrich the lives of these young people.