headspace

This month, members from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Network (ATSN) and our First Nations Cultural Governance Committee (FNCGC) gathered on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm (Melbourne) for our Annual ATSN Staff Network event, this year hosted at Melbourne Zoo. These important gatherings create space for mob to connect, share knowledge, celebrate wins, raise concerns, and support each other’s wellbeing and professional growth. They also give us the chance to learn through First Nations–led workshops and cultural experiences, strengthening our communities and the work we do. A huge thank you to our facilitators and cultural leaders:  • Kristy Dickinson (Haus of Dizzy) – creative workshop: shirt & tote bag printing  • Nornie Bero (Mabu Mabu) – cultural ingredient workshop & interactive Yarning Circle Q&A  • Wurundjeri Elder, Annette Xiberras – Welcome to Country (Day 1)  • Wurundjeri Man, Colin Hunter Jnr Jnr – Welcome to Country & didge performance (Day 2)  We are grateful for the connections, stories, and shared culture that continue to shape and grow our spaces. 

Building the future of youth mental health care. The headspace Early Career Program is creating supported pathways for emerging allied health professionals into youth mental health careers. Our latest evaluation reveals the program's impact on workforce development. Notably, the program is inspiring students who had not previously considered youth mental health to pursue careers in the sector through positive placement experiences at headspace centres. Program impact at a glance: • 102 graduates employed • 670 student placements supported • 60,000+ services delivered to 20,000+ young people - Approximately 10% of all services in ECP-funded centres • Over half of the graduate clinicians have continued to work for headspace or gone on to roles in youth mental health and broader mental health after completing the program Since the start of 2025, a further 41 graduate clinicians have been employed, and 355 clinical student placements have commenced. These outcomes highlight how the Early Career Program is contributing to Australia's youth mental health workforce whilst supporting service capacity of participating centres. Read the snapshot evaluation report to learn more about this program's impact. https://lnkd.in/gCQaY4Qp

We're pleased to share findings from our LGBTIQA+ Snapshot Report, which deep dives into the experiences of LGBTIQA+ young people accessing headspace services. Some positive key findings include: ✅A strong increase in LGBTIQA+ young people accessing our services over the past five years. ✅Very positive experiences, with LGBTIQA+ young people showing higher willingness to engage with headspace. ✅Comparable mental health outcomes to the broader headspace population. The collected data will help to further inform our service offerings and reinforce our commitment to providing safe, welcoming spaces for all young people. Read the full report for more detail https://lnkd.in/gUZUTdwH

"It's not just one identity we're designing services and resources for; it's the many identities that form a whole. And they all tell a story. Data is great, but let's also hear the stories to help build inclusive services as well.” - Christina Molina, National Manager of Clinical Practice - Multicultural & Family Inclusion. We're thrilled that members of headspace’s multicultural practice team Christina Molina, Bimba Chavan and Ali Rahman along with Adriel Appathurai from Centre for Multicultural Youth presented at this year's National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference, an opportunity for our sector to share, learn and challenge ideas. Christina and Ali spoke about the work headspace is doing to support international students, in partnership with the Grant Thornton Foundation, including offering paid internship roles for international students, as well as developing resources, co-designed with international students, for international students. Bimba and Adriel’s interactive co-design workshop showcased the Reverb 2.0 project, where multicultural young people lead the way in shaping mental health systems that truly reflect their lived experiences. This is what happens when we shift the power — innovation, inclusion, and systems that work for everyone. Learn more about Reverb: https://lnkd.in/gwC6rBc6 Image: left to right: Christina Molina, Ali R., Adriel Appathurai, Bimba Chavan

A fantastic first day was had by all at the headspace WA state meeting in Boorloo (Perth) on Whadjuk Noongar Country this week.  This gathering of headspace Centres and headspace National provided an opportunity for colleagues to collaborate, share knowledge and gain a deeper understating of what it's like to work within the special environment that is the Western Australian headspace Network. Plenty more yarning and collaboration to come! 

It is critically important to support university staff, students and communities through critical incidents and challenging times. The headspace University Support Program provides mental health and suicide postvention guidance to all Australian universities. A key outcome is university staff feeling more confident and better equipped to plan for, respond to and recover from the impact of suicide. We're pleased to launch the second edition of Responding to suicide: a toolkit to support Australian universities - a comprehensive, downloadable resource designed to help universities develop suicide response plans, respond confidently to critical events, and access practical, evidence-based guidance. Join our webinar on Thursday 27 November at 12:30pm AEDT, as we introduce the 2nd Edition: https://bit.ly/3LEZ5pn Download your Toolkit via the link below: https://bit.ly/4pjh6Iq

It's more important than ever to support the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians. By working at headspace, you can make a direct impact. Whether you're looking for clinical roles, corporate positions, or community engagement opportunities, we offer meaningful careers where you can contribute to creating positive outcomes for young people aged 12 to 25. With a new year approaching, now is the perfect time to think about what comes next in your career journey. Explore our current opportunities across Australia and discover how your skills and experience can help shape the future of youth mental health. Visit our careers page to view all open positions: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ek-qDuh6

Congratulations to the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria on the signing of Australia’s first ever treaty with Aboriginal people, which was formalised in law last Thursday, 13 November. 🖤💛❤️ This historic treaty for First Peoples means that the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria will now be a permanent representative decision-making body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.  “It’s a proud moment for Victoria and for First Nations people across the country and I'm sure it gives strength and hope to all young people.” - Daniel Knapp, Executive Director First Nation’s Wellbeing and Engagement at headspace. 

To every parent or family member of a trans or gender diverse young person: we see you, and we understand how heavy the past few weeks may have felt. With changes in Queensland affecting access to gender-affirming care, it’s completely natural to feel a mix of emotions and concerns for the young person you love so deeply.    At headspace, we firmly believe in the power of gender-affirming care. It’s not just about medical treatment, it’s about giving young people the space to feel seen, accepted, and supported. This care has been shown to significantly reduce mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, and self-harm.    If you’re looking for guidance or someone to talk to, headspace is here to help. Whether you visit a local centre, reach out to our online support services, or simply explore the resources on our website, we’re here for you and your family. For further support, visit Transcend Australia: https://transcend.org.au/   You are not alone. Please reach out if you need support. 💚