Partnership repaints approach to tradie mental health crisis
- Written by Times Media
Haymes Paint Shop has supercharged its commitment to blue-collar counselling service TIACS to encourage Aussie tradies to ‘spill ya bucket’ on mental health. The brightly coloured “Spill ya bucket” fundraising paint bucket will become a symbol for opening up about mental health on the worksite.
For every eye-catching green touch-up bucket sold, Haymes Paint Shop will donate to TIACS, helping to ensure they can continue to provide free counselling services. The Australian owned Haymes Paint Shop network of 59 stores has set a $10,000 fundraising target for TIACS at a time when demand for its free and confidential phone and text counselling services is soaring.
The buckets are emblazoned with the slogan ‘Legend, Spill Ya Bucket – TIACS is your helping hand. Free mental health counselling for tradies’ and are set to be a highly visual call to action on worksites across Australia.
Launched at the Haymes Paint Shop in Newmarket in Brisbane on Tuesday, November 25, the national Spill Ya Bucket campaign aims to fund critical free TIACS counselling sessions for blue-collar workers, including trade painters.
Haymes Paint Director Matt Haymes said Haymes Paint Shop was proud to support TIACS for a fourth year, helping to make a real difference to the mental wellbeing of those in the painting and broader blue-collar industries.
“It’s vital that trade painters don’t ‘brush off’ their mental health, and the Haymes Paint Shop partnership with TIACS, helps ensure they get the mental health support they need, when they need it,” Mr Haymes said.
“Buying a bucket not only means a donation to TIACS but also creates a visible conversation starter on every job site a bucket is on.”
Reflecting on the ongoing partnership, the Co-Founder of TIACS and TradeMutt, Dan Allen, said: "We're really proud of how our partnership with Haymes Paint has grown over the years and we're incredibly grateful for their ongoing support.
“With the Spill Ya Bucket campaign about to roll out, it's set to spark real conversations and highlight the support TIACS offers to tradies, truckies, farmers, blue collar workers and their loved ones. Funds raised in-store will help TIACS stay Australia's home of blue-collar counselling and reach even more people across the industry.”
TIACS provided 3,365 free counselling sessions and supported 1,101 individuals last financial year, with roughly 40 per cent from the construction industry, which includes trade painters. Relationships, stress, and anxiety and depression were the top three issues clients reported.
Demand from all blue-collar clients has grown 12 per cent, while there has been a 21 per cent jump in new clients from April to September of this year. Meaning more people reached out for the first time.
Veteran trade painter and owner of DH Painting Darryl Hathway knows first-hand the toll mental health is taking on the industry. He has tackled his own mental health challenges and estimates 40 per cent of his young team has also suffered at times with poor mental health.
“Needing help with your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. Painting can be a lonely job; it helps to have someone to talk to about how you’re feeling,” Mr Hathway said.
“When your usual strategies aren’t cutting it, I’d urge anyone to make the most of the TIACS service that is free and confidential via text or phone call.”
The fundraising buckets are available for $6.50 at Haymes Paint Shop stores until the end of January, 2026.
Launch Details:
Time: 8am-10am (Qld time)
Date: Tuesday, November 25
Location: Haymes Paint Shop Newmarket
22 Finsbury St, Newmarket, Queensland
Who:
TIACS founder Dan AllenHaymes Paint State Sales Manager QLD – Ryan Howatt
ABOUT HAYMES PAINT
Haymes Paint is the largest paint brand that is Australian made and owned. Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, the family-owned business has maintained its head office and manufacturing in Ballarat since it was established in 1935. With 5,000+ paint colours and annual colour library releases, Haymes Paint is a leader in colour, defining the colour trends that the DIY market and the trade and design industries will see each season.
Haymes Paint offers interior and exterior paint, speciality finishes, woodcare, concrete and paving coatings, render and texture, and protective and industrial coatings. Proudly independent, Haymes Paint is available through more than 350 paint stockists across Australia, including Haymes Paint Shops and Paint Right stores.
ABOUT TIACS
TIACS is the home of blue-collar counselling, a free, professional and confidential mental health counselling service for tradies, truckies, farmers, blue-collar workers and their loved ones across Australia. Available via text or call on 0488 846 988, Monday to Friday from 8am–10pm AEST.
