A 25-year-old electrician who has spoken openly about his own depression and anxiety is rallying Tasmania’s tradies to stop work and check on each other next month.
Baxter Lewis, the 2026 Skills Tasmania Apprentice of the Year, launched Tools Down, Talk Up to raise money for Lifeline Tasmania’s construction sector and encourage workers to talk about mental health.
He said more than $8,000 had been donated online in three weeks, passing his original $7,000 goal.
The campaign will centre on November 4, when Lewis and TasWater will hold a raffle at Sullivans Point. Lewis said around 180 people work there every day on infrastructure.
He has invited politicians including Felix Ellis, David O’Byrne and Josh Willie, along with businesses such as Total Tools, Mitre 10 and Wrest Point that have backed the campaign.
Lewis, a former roof plumber who is now a qualified industrial electrician at Frontline Electrical, said he struggled when he started work straight out of high school and saw his father go through it too.
“I’ve worked in two trades now and I’ve never really heard anyone, other than a few times, speak about their mental health,” he said.
He said the day was about breaking “that stigma of not being able to ask, ‘Mate, what’s going on?'”
Lewis said it was also for “apprentices, workers, mates, families and anyone who might be doing it tough”.
Lewis said Lifeline’s construction service was something “no one knows about” and needed more support.
“At the moment, if there’s four or five people that are calling at the same time, that sixth bloke might not even be able to have someone answer the phone,” he said.
He has spoken at schools, at expos in George Town and Scottsdale and on radio about his experience.
In November, Lewis will represent Tasmania at the Australian Training Awards in Sydney.
“For someone that’s 25 to stand up in front of 190 people and talk about his struggles, hopefully it breaks the stigma for a 50-year-old,” he said.
To donate go to the website.
