29-07-2025
Tradies flock to Bunnings to nab cult $59 item for 'important' reason
Aussies are showing their support for tradies across the country by flocking to their local Bunnings to get their hands on a new limited-edition hoodie. Videos online show eager shoppers snapping up the $59 pullovers just hours after they were released in stores nationwide at 7am last Friday.
The Bunnings Trade hoodies, which have a cult-like following, were created in collaboration with TIACS, a free counselling service for blue-collar workers that will receive 100 per cent of the profits, and feature a vibrant print on the lining and a joey pocket
It is the second year the organisations have partnered up to shed a light on mental health among tradies, truckers and farmers. Last year, Bunnings Trade and TIACS conversation-starting work shirts and water bottles helped raise over $600,000, a Bunnings spokesperson told Yahoo News.
But it appears they might smash that figure this July.
'This is the first year we're selling hoodies,' the spokesperson explained. 'The response has been overwhelmingly positive with nearly 80 per cent of hoodies sold since Friday.'
The excitement and interest on social media has been particularly strong, she noted, however some Aussies have shared their disappointment about their local store already selling out of the merchandise. The hoodies are only available while stocks last.
'Our partnership with TIACS plays an important role in reaching tradies across the country, ensuring more workers have access to life-changing mental health support when they need it most,' the spokesperson said.
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That sentiment is shared by TIACS co-founders Dan Allen and Ed Ross, who said they were 'stoked' to work with Bunnings to connect people to free, professional support. The non-profit group was created in 2020 after Dan lost a close mate to suicide.
The organisation's 2025 Impact Report reveals that more than 10 per cent of TIACS' clients are apprentices, one of which said in a press release that he had long feared that 'opening up and asking for help was a sign of weakness'. Through regular sessions with a TIACS counsellor, he said he 'finally felt heard' and learned the tools to cope and 'find a sense of peace'.
For support, text or call TIACS at 0488 846 988 between 8am to 10pm on Monday to Friday.
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Calls to 'change the narrative' as tradies make tough admissions
Tradies are the backbone of many Aussie industries, but their mental health is often overlooked, prompting numerous workers to speak out about their own challenges or offer a helping hand to anyone else who is struggling.
Carpenter Bardie Somerville previously told Yahoo Finance the 'normalised' culture of heavy drinking, gambling and drugs in her industry can make it easy for many people to become 'trapped in a cycle' that causes them to deteriorate.
After entering the trades industry as a labourer at 18, Bardie said she threw herself into the 'typical tradie' lifestyle, which ultimately 'led her down a pretty difficult path' and prompted her to reach out for help.
This month it was revealed that thousands of apprentices are being forced to take on second jobs just to get by, and it's having a huge impact on their mental health.
According to a survey conducted by Beyond Blue and boots manufacturer Steel Blue released late last year, the nation's skills shortage crisis has taken its toll on tradies with more than 50 per cent of those interviewed admitting they were struggling mentally.
While there has been an increase in workers turning to friends, family and their GPs for support since 2022, a fifth of respondents still said they wouldn't tell anyone if they had depression.
'We must change the narrative around depression and other mental health conditions. Taking action, getting support, talking with friends or family is such an important step to take to get better,' Beyond Blue's CEO Georgie Harman said at the you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@
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