In His Words – Gary Groves, CEO ReachOut

In June 2024, Gary Groves stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer at ReachOut Australia, bringing over 25 years of experience across the public service and community sectors. We caught up with Gary as he shares insights into his leadership approach, ReachOut’s mission and the importance of supporting the wellbeing of young Australians.

You have spent much of your career working to support communities and improve wellbeing across the public and community sectors. What led you to join ReachOut, and what does purpose mean to you in this role?

Over the past two decades, I have worked closely with society’s most vulnerable individuals. During my time working with NSW Police and Family & Community Services, I witnessed firsthand the hardship that many people in our communities face. I saw young people whose lives could have taken a different trajectory if they had received the right support earlier. This experience highlighted to me how critical mental health support is, yet I also recognised the significant gaps in accessing it.

My work had always been situated at the crisis end of the system, which made me realise that meaningful change requires a shift towards preventative and early intervention approaches. Eager to make a broader impact, I understood that to truly make a difference, I needed to actively engage within the mental health sector itself.

This led me to ReachOut, because its core focus is on supporting young people early in their mental health journey. Its innovative approach and commitment to providing free support to young people and their networks resonated deeply with me. I believe that by leveraging digital platforms, I can contribute to ensuring equitable, stigma-free access to help and make a lasting difference.

ReachOut has been instrumental in providing digital mental health support and this has been evolving rapidly in recent years. Looking ahead, what innovation or initiative are you most excited about in enhancing these services?

Ask ReachOut is a ‘conversational AI tool’ that allows young people to ask a question and express their needs in their own words. It then offers real-time personalised support, connection and links to relevant services within the boundaries of ReachOut’s service. The tool reduces barriers to access by providing a safe, online place to seamlessly connect young people to the most impactful information, conversations and support pathways they need.

Meeting young people where they are, on social media platforms, schools, workplaces and digital channels is essential for reaching and supporting them effectively. The integration of AI allows us to scale our services and provide timely assistance, while ensuring that human support remains an integral part of the process. This hybrid approach will help us deliver immediate, accessible help, while maintaining the quality and compassion that underpin our support.

We are committed to continuing the delivery of our one-on-one digital services to young people, as well as to parents and carers. This layered approach ensures that young people receive the right advice at the most critical moments in their mental health journey, ultimately helping us to create a more accessible, responsive, and impactful support system.

How do collaborations with corporate and community organisations help amplify ReachOut’s mission?

Collaborations with corporate and community organisations play a vital role in amplifying ReachOut’s impact. These partnerships, like the support from the PNI Foundation and Antipodes, enable us to extend our reach, engage new audiences, and access additional resources that enhance our ability to deliver impactful support. Corporate partners bring not only funding but also innovative expertise, technology, and platforms that can help us scale our services effectively.

Community organisations, on the other hand, deepen our connection with diverse communities, ensuring that our support is culturally relevant and accessible to those who need it most. By working together, we can create a broader, more coordinated effort to break down stigma, increase awareness, and provide early intervention in mental health for young people across Australia.

Ultimately, these collaborations strengthen our capacity to reach more young people, parents and carers, and to deliver innovative, accessible, and compassionate support that aligns with our mission of improving mental health outcomes for all young people in Australia.

Finally, what message would you like to share with young Australians who may be facing challenges?

To young people in Australia who may be facing challenges, I want to remind you that you are not alone. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed or unsure about what to do, many young people experience difficult times at some point in their lives – I was one of those people, too. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and it can be the first step toward changing your course and finding hope.

There are supportive services available to you, and one of them is ReachOut. ReachOut is dedicated to supporting young people no matter where they are in their mental health journey, offering free, accessible, and stigma-free help through digital platforms. Whether you need someone to talk to, advice, or simply someone to listen, ReachOut is here for you. Remember, help is available whenever you need it, and taking that first step can make a difference.

You deserve to be heard, supported, and guided through difficult times. No matter how tough things seem right now, there is hope, and change is possible.