Why Australia Post is giving away 4 million free postcards
Australia Post has today announced a new initiative to help Australians stay connected through the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of the innovative program, more than four million specially designed prepaid postcards will be delivered to rural and remote households across the country from next week.
These postcards will also be available for free at participating Australia Post Offices, while stocks last from September 6.
The postcards, which were designed in collaboration with Beyond Blue, are able to be divided into two sections.
The first part of the postcard is designed to be kept, which includes tips on maintaining good mental health.
The second part of the postcard is designed to write on and send to friends or loved ones, free of charge.
Discussing the program on their website, Australia Post wrote that their partnership with Beyond Blue aims to connect more people with mental health and wellbeing services.
“Did you know nearly half of us will experience a mental health condition in our lifetime? Feeling connected can make a difference,” the website says.
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Nicky Tracey, the Head of Community at Australia Post, said the postal service’s newest initiative will have a positive impact on people’s mental health, particularly those who are currently in isolation or lockdown.
“We know that when we connect, we feel better and sometimes a small message can be all it takes to make a big difference to someone you care about,” Ms Tracey said.
“These postcards make it really easy to connect with a message of love, hope and support by simply putting a message on the card, addressing it and dropping it in a red post box.”
Beyond Blue Chief Executive Officer Georgie Harman has said the partnership with Australia Post is enabling the mental health organisation to further expand their reach into rural communities.
“This postcard campaign will help us reach into rural and remote areas, where social and geographic isolation, weather impacts and difficulty accessing services can present mental health challenges,” Ms Harman said.
“I really hope people will join in the spirit of this initiative, read the tips and send a card to a loved one. If we keep talking about mental health, we can smash the stigma and remove the barriers that hold people back from seeking support.”
Other moves in Australia Post, Beyond Blue partnership
Australia Post’s partnership with Beyond Blue was initially announced on 30 September 2020.
“Beyond Blue and Australia Post have formed a national partnership to build stronger, more connected communities and help them stay mentally well," Beyond Blue said in a statement.
Following that announcement, special edition stamps reading ‘when we connect, we feel better’ were released on 1 October 2020, which are still available for purchase today.
Australia Post is also displaying links to Beyond Blue information on their website, and has provided a number of other online mental health resources.
Readers needing help with mental health issues can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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