Construction and energy infrastructue has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry. Our mission is to change that, through training and support that shifts culture on our sites at ground-level, making it OK to talk openly about our mental health.
And we need people like you to help drive the change.
Coworkers can be a critical first line of support when someone is struggling.
Which is why the MATES program is focussed on our industry and delivered our workplaces by workers like you. MATES not your standard ‘one-and-done’ program. It’s embedded on the ground and builds upward with layers of training and robust systems of support.
Why? Because we’re here to create real change. And we know from experience that culture-shifting impact only happens with sustained and consistent action at every orgainzational level.
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Backed by Quanta and created by industry, the MATES program speaks OUR language.
MATES targets the unique stresses we face as workers in the construction and energy infrastructure industries, while also tackling the beliefs that hold us back from talking in an environment where toughness and self-reliance are king.
MATES is built on two beliefs: that suicide is everyone's business, and that the tools to deal with the challenge already exist in our industry: starting a conversation, lending a hand when someone is struggling and speaking up against stigma.
Our role is to help you use them to make a difference.
By your side onsite creating peer networks of support, these full-time roles employed by MATES are the heart of the program.
Drawn from blue collar roles, they are trusted peers who empower change from the coal face: visiting sites, delivering training and shifting culture, one connection at a time. As a field trainer, you have a chance to lead from the front line and watch on as your work (and the real conversations it inspires) changes life on our sites for the better.
For construction workers, suicide is now responsible for five times more deaths than workplace accidents. We need to spark urgent change, for our industry and for the humans who work in it. If you’re ready, that change can start with you.
Become a changemaker - roles hiring soon Become a strategic industry partner or program sponsor.
If you care deeply about workers, are comfortable being out on sites, and can have honest conversations about tough topics, you might be a great fit. We’re looking for people who can listen, build trust quickly, and turn empathy into practical action.
Created by industry for industry, MATES approaches workers differently. It’s all about connection: creating a supportive environment where workers look out for each other, feel empowered to speak up, and know where to turn for help.
The program is led by peers, built around multiple layers of support and embedded into the specific industries it services. The cornerstone of the program is its focus on delivering consistent on-the-ground training, lifting levels of suicide awareness on site and giving every worker the skills (and permission) to start a life-saving conversation with their workmates.
If you’re interested in becoming part of the MATES team, finding out how you can support our work or discovering more about our program, then we’re keen to start the conversation!