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Image: Marathon Health staff – Chris McAlister (Portfolio Manager of Mental Health), Tammy Orreal (Mental Health Clinician), Jenna Dolbel (Mental Health Clinician).

There has never been a more important time for mental health support available through local clinicians across a range of platforms. The expansion of Medicare rebates to include telehealth mental health support until March 2021, has been a much-needed lifeline for country Australians.  

Chris McAlister, Marathon Health Portfolio Manager of Mental Health, says moving beyond the pandemic, ensuring country Australians have access to a combination of local mental health service delivery models, will be a priority for the charity.

Image: Youth Reference Group member, headspace Queanbeyan mascot Hugo, and Nat Oliver, headspace Queanbeyan Community Engagement Coordinator.

• 697 young people supported last FY, through 2,400 occasions of service
• Adaptable services for local youth
• Place of refuge during extraordinary circumstances

It’s been five years since headspace Queanbeyan opened, and in that time the centre has achieved incredible things for the community, and provided a place of refuge for young people dealing with challenging times.

Image: Cameron, Charlize, Michele, Cody, Ngaire (back), Jacqui and Brooke – headspace Dubbo YRG

It’s been a difficult year for the Dubbo community as they navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team at headspace Dubbo are eager to bring back some colour and fun in celebration of headspace Day on Wednesday 21 October.

Amy Mines, headspace Dubbo Community and Youth Engagement Coordinator, says this year’s headspace Day is a chance for people to come together and do something they enjoy. 

Image: Lithgow LGA, August 2020

The 2019-20 bushfire crisis had a devasting impact on communities across Western NSW. However, free priority mental health support is available now through the Mental Health Support for Bushfire Affected Australians program.

Mental Health Support for Bushfire Affected Australians provides specialist mental health support to individuals, families and emergency service personnel impacted by the crisis.

An evidence-based early-intervention program is keeping Dubbo families together, and reducing the number of children entering out-of-home care. 

Member for the Dubbo electorate, Dugald Saunders, said Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) involves experts working closely with families to address underlying issues that can result in harm.

Friday marks Wear it Purple, a global day of support for LGBTQIA+ young people. Wear it Purple was created to address the significantly higher rates of self-harm, anxiety, depression and suicide that LGBTQIA+ people experience, and to promote inclusivity within the community

Fox Fromholtz, in Marathon Health’s Equal Ground program, says it’s important to take every opportunity to support diversity and foster safe and inclusive environments. Encouraging the community to get involved and learn more about the issues LGBTIQA+ people face.

For more than two years, Marathon Health has been providing early-intervention speech pathology services to preschool and school children in 15 underserviced communities across Western NSW.

Under the First 2000 Days Framework, the early years of a child’s life are a critical time for physical, cognitive, social and emotional health. Children who have a language difficulty at age five are more likely to have trouble with reading, spelling and mathematics, and may struggle to complete school and find work.

It’s been one year since headspace Lithgow opened, and in that time the centre has achieved incredible things for the community, and provided a place of refuge for young people dealing with challenging times.

Since doors opened, Bonnie Bassett, Satellite Lead/Senior Youth Care Coordinator, says the team have worked hard to create a fit-for-purpose centre, offering wrap-around supports ranging from mental health, general health, vocational and educational services, drug and alcohol and social groups.