The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) will be represented on an epic 5,000 km motorcycle road trip from Perth to Melbourne, via Sydney, to raise awareness of mental health issues in rural and remote Australia.

RCH Telehealth Program Manager Susan Jury will join other mental health professionals from around Australia who are donning their leathers and hitting the road on a road trip that includes crossing the Nullarbor.

Susan will pick up a new BMW motorbike in Perth on Friday 2 May, before starting the ride to Sydney and then back to Melbourne and says it’s a great opportunity to combine her love of riding with a good cause.

“We’re riding for mental health, for others and for yourself – it’s a great stress release,” Susan says.

That stress release will involve 12 days in the saddle, riding an average of 500 kilometres and a minimum of 397 kilometres.

“I’m nervous and expect to be saddle sore,” Susan says.

“On the first day we are riding 594 km, so we’ll be on the go for at least six and a half hours.”

The ride, dubbed Psychs on Bikes, will raise awareness of mental health issues en route, with participants running a series of rolling conferences, including public seminars, in local communities.

“It will be in an informal setting with a beer and a chat afterwards. The idea is to remove the stigma that is often associated with mental illness,” Susan says.

The participants will also breakfast with local GPs and mental health professionals, with the early morning sessions focusing on managing mental health challenges in rural and regional Australia. The sessions will be accredited for professional development purposes.

Susan, a St Kilda resident, has worked at The RCH for nine years, in her current role she promotes the use of video consulting, known as Telehealth, for children and families in rural and regional areas.

Find out more or support Psychs on Bikes here.