Ali Day and Matt Bevilacqua have combined with the Clontarf foundation and Kellogs to launch a workshop designed to tackle indigenous youth suicide

They’re sporting rivals in the surf lifesaving arena but for now, ironmen Ali Day and Matt Bevilacqua have combined for a much bigger cause.

THEY’RE sporting rivals in the surf lifesaving arena but for now, ironmen Ali Day and Matt Bevilacqua have combined for a much bigger cause.

Early last month, the two Nutri-Grain series champions visited local Sydney schools to help launch a new workshop designed to tackle indigenous youth suicide.

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Run by Clontarf Foundation and supported by Kellogg’s, the program is designed to help strengthen mental resilience among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state.

AAP / Blacktown Advocate Two of Australia's top Ironmen Alastair Day (Ali) Matt Bevilacqua pose for a photo with Micky Pine 12, Thomas Hampton 15 & Paul Mcardle 13 at Chifley College Dunheved on Wednesday, 4 March 2020. Two of Australia's top Ironmen are visiting the school for a program aimed at tackling Indiegnous youth suicide. ( AAP Image / Monique Harmer)

From a gruelling ironman training session on the beach to wellbeing workshops, Day said it was eye-opening yet rewarding to learn about the plights of kids in Western Sydney.

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“Not many people get the opportunity to do that,” he said.

“To head down there and see what these kids had been through in their lives and how they go about day to day school and sport, it was quite hard to comprehend.

“To see how disadvantaged kids can be, I was comparing that with the opportunities I had growing up.

“The biggest thing I got out of it was getting to interact with these kids for two to three hours each session and I’m really hoping we get to do more of it.

“Bevi and I are both really passionate about mental health and we both have pretty similar stories in growing up in small towns where surf lifesaving wasn’t a big sport and we weren’t the most talented kids growing up so we were both keen to get involved.

“This was the most rewarding thing I’ve done with Kellogg’s.”

AAP / Blacktown Advocate Second Academy Mount Driutt Clontarf Academy Staff Troy Gordon & two of Australia's top Ironmen Alastair Day (Ali) Matt Bevilacqua pose for a photo at Chifley College Dunheved on Wednesday, 4 March 2020. Two of Australia's top Ironmen are visiting the school for a program aimed at tackling Indiegnous youth suicide. ( AAP Image / Monique Harmer)

Bevilacqua said it was a fulfilling experience getting the chance to pass on some of the tips that have helped him develop an ironman resolve.

“Ali and I have learned a lot of things in terms of mental strategies and staying positive over the years,” he said.

“Mental health is obviously a massive problem in Australia and we wanted to help out.

“Kellogs wanted to help so we got on board and delivered a presentation to the kids about what we’ve been able to achieve and some tools and things boys can use every day to get up, get active and have fun at school.”

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The pilot program is expected to reach 200 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men aged 14-17, with plans for it to be rolled out nationally in the future.