ReachOut Australia appoints Ian Thorpe AM to the Board of Directors

07 June 2019

Julie White, Chair of the Board of frontline youth mental health service ReachOut has welcomed Ian Thorpe AM to the organisation’s Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Ian Thorpe AM into his new role as a Board Director for ReachOut. Ian has been a passionate Patron for ReachOut for the past two years and we are delighted to deepen his contribution by welcoming him to the Board,” she said.

“His entrepreneurial skills, personal experience with mental health challenges and empathy for young people will equip him well to play such a critical role in ReachOut’s future,” said White.

Ian Thorpe said that his personal experience with mental health difficulties drew him to the role.

“Myself, and so many Australians know firsthand what it’s like to face mental health challenges. Having resources and being able to connect with others going through similar challenges online, anonymously and for free is important for young people. I look forward to continuing my work as both Patron and now Board Director, alongside my fellow Board Directors and CEO, Ashley de Silva to build on ReachOut’s forward-thinking approach to supporting young people and their parents when it comes to everything from everyday issues through to mental health difficulties,” he said.

Ashley de Silva, CEO of ReachOut, also welcomed Thorpe to ReachOut’s Board and said in this role Thorpe will build on his work as Patron.

“For many years, Ian Thorpe has been a strong advocate for the mental health of young people, from his work on the ABC series, Bullied, which shined a spotlight on bullying, to his prominent role in representing the voice of the LGBTQIA+ community. We welcome Ian to the Board and look forward to working with him to strengthen ReachOut’s impact in the coming years,” he said.

About ReachOut

ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people and their parents. Their practical support, tools and tips help young people get through anything from everyday issues to tough times – and the information they offer parents makes it easier for parents to help their teenagers, too.

ReachOut has been changing the way people access help since launching as the world’s first online mental health service more than 20 years ago. Everything they create is based on the latest evidence and designed with experts, and young people or their parents. This is why ReachOut’s digital self-help tools are trusted, relevant and easy to use.

Available for free anytime and pretty much anywhere, ReachOut is accessed by 132,000 people in Australia every month. That’s more than 1.58 million each year.