Now in their fourth year of partnership, both companies have helped Mr Perfect expand to more than 40 locations in most states and territories across the country. Their funding also enabled the organisation to transition from in-person meetups to online services and support during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Mr Perfect founder Terry Cornick said awareness of mental health and wellbeing had improved among men in the five years since the program started.
“When we first started Mr Perfect, even getting men to turn up was a challenge, let alone talk about their mental wellbeing,” Cornick said. “That's no longer the case. Our average attendance at BBQs has gone from five to more than 20, and people are more willing to open up.
“What we're offering is a soft entry point into mental health awareness and support. It's our hope that men come to our BBQs, have a meaningful conversation with someone they can relate to, and later reflect on whether they need to consider taking the next step in addressing their own mental health concerns.”
The partnership is in line with Zurich and OnePath Life's mission to be champions of mental wellbeing in Australia by supporting early intervention and practical behavioural change.
In September 2021, Zurich announced a three-year partnership with UNICEF to promote mental wellbeing among young people worldwide through a communication campaign.
In September 2020, Zurich and OnePath Life launched industry-wide mental health support for financial advisers through the Holistic Adviser Wellbeing Kit that comprises two parts: My Wellbeing Hub and CPD-credited training modules hosted on _Zone, a new on-demand financial adviser learning platform.
Commenting on both companies' commitment to improving accessibility of mental wellbeing programs in the community, Linda Griffin, head of brand, marketing, and corporate affairs at Zurich, said: “We've seen firsthand through the various mental wellbeing programs we support that community-based programs serve a tremendous role. We are inspired by people like Terry Cornick, Mr Perfect's founder, for the work they do to lift up their communities and fellow Australians.”
