By Maddison Howell
A PURPLE paint bucket is proving there is power in starting a conversation, with Haymes Paint’s latest campaign aiming to raise $10,000 for free mental health support for tradies, farmers and blue-collar workers.
The 2026 TIACS Buy a Bucket Campaign offcially launched at Haymes Paint’s Creswick Roadstore in Ballarat on October 22, marking the fifth year the family-owned business has backed the initiative.
Haymes Paint director Matt Haymes said the campaign continued to grow as demand for mental health support increased.
“This is our 5th year and every year it just gets bigger and bigger, and the reason for that is because unfortunately the demand is becoming greater,” he said.
The campaign sees customers purchase a brightly coloured purple four-litre touch-up bucket, with 100 per cent of the profits going towards funding counselling sessions through TIACS (This Is A Conversation Starter), a free and confidential service supporting tradies, truck drivers, farmers and their loved ones.
Haymes said supporting the industry was particularly important given the pressures workers could face and the barriers that sometimes prevented them from seeking help.
“Mental health and wellbeing is just something that is so prevalent, and for the farmer and tradies who might not have access to a lot of support,” he said.
With many of Haymes Paint’s customers working in the trades, the campaign also offers a practical way for the business to give back to its community.
“With a large amount of our customer base being tradies, it’s very important to us to support them through TIACS,” he said.
The campaign has already attracted strong demand, with 240 buckets stocked at the Ballarat store on launch morning selling out by 9.15am.
Haymes said the initiative had helped create opportunities for people to speak up and seek support.
“We just want everyone to know that it’s really as simple as scanning the QR code and reaching out, even if that’s a text,” he said.
Running nationally across 63 Haymes Paint shops until December 31, the campaign encourages Australians to check in on a mate and help make professional mental health support more accessible.
For confidential support, TIACS is available on 0488 846 988 by text or phone, Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm AEST.
