Meagan’s boots ’n’ all career shift a win for youth mental health
In the space of a few years, Meagan Chivers has gone from making Blundstones to wearing out the leather on her own boots as she travels rural Tasmania to help young people with their mental health.
In the space of a few years, Meagan Chivers has gone from making Blundstones to wearing out the leather on her own boots as she travels rural Tasmania to help young people with mental health.
A member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service youth mental health program, Ms Chivers offers what others in the sector say is hard to come by: a country person able to connect with rural people about their troubles.
By all accounts she’s gone above and beyond in her role.
It’s a far cry from her days making boots and working in a convenience store. But it was the role behind the counter that set her on her career path.
“Everybody kept telling me, ‘you’re really easy to talk to, you should get into community services or something like that’,” Ms Chivers, 37, said.
That led her to pursue further qualifications as a mature-age student, working and studying full-time.
“It was full-on, and my social life (went) out the window, but I knew this was my dream,” Ms Chivers said.
“It was very challenging, but also very rewarding as well.”
A keen barrel racer, Ms Chivers lives on a small farm at Mount Seymour, 50km north of Hobart, where she runs horses and sheep.
She travels hundreds of kilometres each week for her job, juggling her farm, community and work commitments.
“If somebody 20 years ago had told me that I’d be a qualified counsellor, a youth mental health worker for the RFDS, I would have said ‘whatever’,” Ms Chivers said. “I’m just the little girl from Bothwell who makes boots.”
Ms Chivers said country people were often reluctant to talk with strangers about their feelings but often said they related to her because of her rural upbringing.
“The most rewarding part is when you can meet a young person, and they’re really low, struggling with life’s challenges, and then after a few appointments they tell you how they’re doing well or feeling better,” she said.
Her work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile for her clients are the reasons Ms Chivers has been nominated in this year’s Shine Awards, which put a spotlight on the stories of rural and regional women. A partnership between Australian rural and regional masthead The Weekly Times and Harvey Norman, the Shine Awards recognise unsung leaders who make a difference to their communities.
Ms Chivers was nominated by a former neighbour from rural Bagdad, Meegan Palmer, who said she was proud to see Ms Chivers forge her career.
Colleague Adele Daly said the nomination was validation of Ms Chivers’s dedication.
“She’s an exceptional practitioner and carries a huge caseload but carries it so capably and professionally,” Ms Daly said.
“Then on the weekend she’ll do two 12-hour rides to help get her neighbour’s sheep down from the highlands.
“That’s the kind of person she is.”
More Coverage
‘Instruments of fear’: Fresh anti-Semitic attacks prompt calls for tougher penalties
Anti-Semitism is ‘an evil still spreading in our neighbourhoods’ said the Anti-Defamation Commission chair, as multiple vehicles and properties were plastered with graffiti in Sydney’s eastern suburbs overnight.
Almost half of young Australians vote because they’re scared of a fine
In a new landmark survey, researchers found – surprisingly – that young Australians not registered to vote were more likely to be wealthy students than registered voters who simply forgot to show up on election day.