MEDIA RELEASE | COOK SHIRE ANNOUNCES 2023 AUSTRALIA DAY AMBASSADOR, DR TAHNEE BRIDSON

Named Queensland’s Young Australian of the Year in 2022 for her dedication to mental health, Dr Bridson will be attending Council’s Australia Day Award Ceremony and morning tea on Thursday 26 January 2023 at the Cooktown Shire Hall.

“We are honoured to welcome Dr Bridson to our Shire. Her commitment and passion for her purpose, combined with her sense of service exemplifies the Australian spirit,” said Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott

A Psychiatry Registrar, when Dr Bridson learned of the silent suffering that many friends and colleagues were experiencing because of the shame, fear and stigma surrounding mental health challenges, she founded Hand-n-Hand Peer Support in 2020 that leverages social media to assist healthcare workers who are experiencing wellbeing or mental health difficulties.

“Hospital and healthcare workers are certainly not immune to the mental health trials and tribulations that come with living and working in regional and remote communities,” said Mayor Scott.

“Dr Bridson’s work with Hand-n-Hand Peer Support provides much needed mental health support to the healthcare workers who work to tirelessly to keep our community healthy, safe and well.”

To learn more about Dr Bridson’s work, and to reflect, respect and celebrate this Australia Day, the community are welcome to attend the Australia Day Awards Ceremony, followed by a complimentary morning tea supplied by the Cooktown Country Women’s Association, on Thursday 26 January 2023 at the Cooktown Shire Hall from 9am.

For more information contact Cook Shire Council via email to mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phoning 4082 0500

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