The Outback Mind Foundation founder Aaron Schultz will bring a screening of documentary When the Dust Settles to Shepparton in October, followed by a discussion panel and connection time.
When Aaron Schultz lived in Mooroopna around 25 years ago, he said there were “four of five players at the cricket club who took their lives”.
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Founder of The Outback Mind Foundation — a charity focused on empowering regional men to look after their mental health — Mr Schultz says we, as a society, haven’t gotten much better at improving the situation since that time.
“We need to be getting more serious about making changes,” he said.
Mr Schultz will be in Shepparton at La Trobe University on Monday, October 6, to screen a new documentary on the subject and will be joined by a panel of advocates to host a discussion, questions and connection time afterwards.
The 2025 documentary, When the Dust Settles, follows three Australians forever changed by suicide’s ripple effects.
It’s an intimate and visually striking documentary set against the vast outback, that confronts grief and survival, revealing the silent aftermath and brave steps the three individuals have taken towards connection, purpose and hope.
The documentary follows three Australians forever changed by suicide’s ripple effects.
“It really is such a powerful film that highlights what’s happening in the community with male suicide,” Mr Schultz said.
“The flow-on effect is devastating children, parents, friends.”
After more than 20 years of managing male teams across the construction, mining and manufacturing industries, and a decade in the health system, Mr Schultz saw the need to provide regional and rural men in Australia with more support.
On top of his own first-hand experience of poor self-awareness that had led him to burnout, depression, anxiety and an overall unhealthy lifestyle, it inspired him to redirect his energy in helping himself and others.
His foundation takes a preventative approach by providing ongoing wellbeing solutions that aim to help men improve their physical, mental and emotional health.
“It’s about proper support, more education, focusing on emotional literacy,” Mr Schultz said.
“Men need to learn how to regulate themselves rather than self-abusing or taking their lives.”
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