HISKA is a Gippsland-based Charity running community service and support programs. The organisation was founded by Kim and Matt Baillie in March 2019, following the suicide of their son, Zac.

HISKA has three primary purposes - youth support and engagement, family support following the loss of a loved one and community support through education and redefining the stigma of mental health and suicide.

The HISKA Youth Sheds program is designed to support struggling teens and young adults with positive social connection and increase self-confidence though shared projects. They are spaces where youths can tinker and think about something else for a while. Activities including classic car, furniture and machinery restorations. Youth Sheds are run by trained mentors who will let the kids take ownership of projects and can teach skills where necessary. This free Youth service aims to provide a simple approach to engagement of young people 16-24 living in rural towns and districts.

HISKA Sisters aims to establish a local “sisterhood” through shared interests and activities. While all HISKA programs are inclusive, this will appeal more to females & members of the LGBTI community. The name was derived by Chloe Barker who in addition to being Zac’s sister, feels that the concept of  “sisterhood” among women provides important benefits such as connection, opportunity, ownership, mutual support and wellbeing. The HISKA Sisters program will run activities & workshops including hair & make-up, health & fitness, arts and creative pursuits.

HISKA is also developing programs for the provision of specialist face to face postvention support to parents, family members and friends following the suicide or loss of a child or loved one. Local discussion groups, HISKA Rings, and the proposed HISKA Buddy service are designed to support family members struggling with various aspects of life following loss.

We feel it is important to talk about our experiences of mental health and suicide. These are not comfortable topics. We hope by sharing our own story, others will too. This gives us a chance to reduce  suicide rates and the redefine the negative stigmas surrounding mental illnesses.

Kim and Matt are available to book for speaking to local groups about their experience of parenting a child with mental health issues and their journey from the tragedy of losing a child to the positive benefits of discovering a new purpose.

Contact us to express interest in having Kim and Matt speak to your group, class or staff.

Read Our Story to find out who we are and why we are here.