# Why Opportunity Matters for Mental Health - VERTO

Source: https://www.verto.org.au/blog/why-opportunity-matters-for-mental-health

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# Why Opportunity Matters for Mental Health

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:   Read Time: 9 mins
:   Published: 13 Oct

![](https://www.verto.org.au/images/BLOG_Mental_Health_2026_440x330.jpg)

October is Mental Health Month, and it is a good time to talk about wellbeing. But in my view, we need to be careful not to treat mental health as something that sits apart from the rest of life.

For many people, wellbeing is shaped by very practical things. Work matters. Connection matters. Purpose matters. Confidence matters. Being part of a community matters. Having somewhere to go, something to contribute, and people who notice whether you are there or not can make a real difference.

I have seen this throughout my life and career, from growing up in Dubbo in Central West NSW to working with rural and regional communities across employment, training and community services. Across all those settings, and in the conversations I’m having today, the same themes come up again and again. People want to feel useful, capable and connected, and to believe there is a next step available to them.

That next step is not always large. Sometimes it is a conversation. Sometimes it is a short course, a work experience opportunity, a job interview, an introduction to an employer, or simply someone taking the time to listen properly and help make things feel manageable again.

The right pathway will look different for different people. But practical opportunities can still help people move forward. A course, a job, an apprenticeship, a supportive employer or a local program can provide structure, connection and purpose. It can help someone rebuild confidence. And over time, it can help people see a way forward.

### Opportunity can be the start of confidence

At VERTO, we see every day how confidence can return when people are given practical support, encouragement and a realistic way forward.

For someone who has been out of work for a long time, the challenge is not always just finding a job. Sometimes it is rebuilding confidence, routine and belief in what they can offer. For a young person unsure where they fit, it might be training, work experience or meeting an employer willing to give them a chance. For a parent returning to work, it might be help with childcare, career guidance, literacy or language support, or simply having someone turn a broad goal into something manageable.

The support may look different from person to person, but the principle is the same. People are more likely to move forward when they feel understood, when the barrier in front of them is understood, and when the opportunity feels real.

We see this with people living with disability, injury, illness or mental health conditions who want to work, but need the right employer and the right conditions around them to succeed. We also see it with employers who are willing to look beyond the resume and give someone a chance to prove what they can do.

This is why opportunity matters. It helps people rebuild confidence. It gives them a way to participate. And participation is a powerful thing.

### What I heard on the North Coast

I recently travelled to the North Coast to spend time with our local teams. While in Ballina, I hosted a CEO Thank You Lunch with 11 VERTO staff from our Ballina, Byron Bay, Casino, Lismore and Ocean Shores offices.

It was a chance to thank them properly for the work they are doing, and to hear directly about what they are seeing in their communities.

These conversations are always valuable because our staff understand the local context. They know the employers. They understand the barriers job seekers are facing. They see where training can open doors. They also see the quiet wins that do not always make headlines, but matter deeply to the people involved.

What stood out to me was the strength of connection across the region.

The team spoke about local relationships, practical support and the importance of continuing to make a positive impact in the communities they serve. They shared ideas, insights and experiences from across the North Coast, and it was clear that the work is not just about programs or contracts. It is about people, trust, local knowledge and helping communities move forward.

It is about helping someone believe they have something to offer. It is about helping employers see potential that may not be obvious on paper. And it is about keeping people connected, especially when life is difficult.

### Connection is practical

There is a tendency sometimes to talk about connection, belonging and purpose as soft ideas. I do not see them that way.

Connection is practical. Belonging is practical. Purpose is practical.

When people feel connected, they are more likely to ask for help. They are more likely to show up. They are more likely to keep going when things become difficult. When people feel they belong in a workplace, a training environment or a community program, they are more likely to participate fully.

And when people have purpose, even a small one to begin with, it can change how they see themselves.

That is why employment and training can have such a strong impact beyond income alone. A job can provide structure. Training can build confidence. An apprenticeship or traineeship can create direction. A short course can be the first sign that change is possible.

These are not small things. For many people, they are the start of rebuilding momentum.

### Employers have a role too

In our work with employers, we hear regularly about the pressure they are under. Costs are rising. Skills shortages are real. Some industries are finding it difficult to attract and keep the people they need.

But it is worth remembering that employers are also part of the wellbeing picture.

A workplace can be one of the most important places of connection in a person’s life. For someone who has been out of work, a good employer can provide more than a pay packet. They can provide routine, dignity, belonging, encouragement and a sense of being needed.

For a young person, an employer who is willing to train, mentor and support them can change the direction of their life. For someone returning to work after a difficult period, the right workplace can help rebuild confidence over time.

This does not mean employers need to become counsellors. That is not their role.

But employers can create workplaces where people are treated with respect, where support is practical, and where potential is not dismissed too early. They can partner with employment and training providers. They can offer entry-level opportunities. They can support apprenticeships, traineeships and work experience. They can recognise that building a workforce often means building people, not just filling roles.

### Regional communities understand this well

In regional communities, the link between opportunity and wellbeing is not theoretical. You can see it in families, workplaces, local businesses and community groups. [**Employment, education and social connection are all recognised as part of the broader conditions that shape people’s health and wellbeing.**](https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/social-determinants-of-health)

When people are working, learning and participating, the benefits do not stop with the individual. They flow into households, workplaces and the wider community.

The opposite is also true.

When people become disconnected from work, training and community life, the impact can be wide-reaching. It affects confidence, financial security, family wellbeing and the strength of the community around them.

That is why local pathways matter.

Not everyone will take the same path. Some people will need employment support. Some will need training. Some will need help with literacy, digital skills or confidence. Some will need a first employer to give them a chance.

The important thing is that there is a pathway, and that people can see it.

### Finding the solution

Mental Health Month is an important reminder to check in on one another. But it is also a reminder to look at the practical conditions that help people stay connected, build confidence and participate in community life.

We need communities where people can access practical support. We need training that builds confidence as well as capability. We need employers who are willing to see potential and provide opportunities. We need services that understand local communities and work together.

And we need to keep recognising that employment, training, connection and purpose all play a role in wellbeing.

There is no single answer to mental health. But opportunity matters.

Because when people feel connected, capable and included, they are more likely to take the next step.

And when more people can participate in work, training and community life, we all benefit from the results.

Ron Maxwell, CEO of VERTO