ReachOut Australia

Earlier this week, ReachOut Youth Advocate Sina Aghamofid spoke at Black Dog Institute's roundtable on AI and mental health. Thanks for having us 💜

Just when we thought 2025 couldn’t get any better… We’re so stoked to share that our Parents Campaign has scooped up a few more awards. We’ve won two Merit Awards at the recent AGDA Awards AND won Gold for ‘Best implementation of a brand development project’ at the Transform Awards (Transform magazine). Last month, we brought home Gold and Best in Class awards in the Communications Design category at the Good Design Australia Awards! Many parents and carers don’t know where to turn when they need extra support. This campaign was designed to help us connect with them and to let them know they’re not alone and that support is available. We are beyond proud of this work and so grateful to everyone who helped bring it all to life. A big thanks to  Benjamin Gay and Julie Faktor, Yonder Creative Dick Sweeney and LOUIS AND CO Heckler HQ and Electric Sheep Music

Our Youth Advocates know from personal experience that mental health misinformation can be a big barrier to getting support when you need it. And their recent research confirmed that this is an issue for a lot of other young people. So our Advocates travelled to Canberra to advocate for change by sharing their report and their policy recommendations with MPs and Senators. Thank you Zali Steggall OAM MP, Charlotte Walker, Susan Templeman, Leon Rebello MP, Renee Coffey MP, Matthew Gregg, Ash Ambihaipahar, Alison Penfold for having these discussions with us. Report coming soon!

We need boundaries in all our relationships. With our friends, family, romantic partners and our colleagues. But it can be tricky to explain what boundaries are to our teens, especially as they start to gain independence and develop more relationships outside of the home. Therapist Chana Anthony from Flow State Space shares how to simply explain what boundaries are, why they are important, and some examples of what they can look like.

We’ve been in the digital space for more than two decades. We know the Internet can be an incredible place for connection and support, but it can also be pretty overwhelming and sometimes even unsafe. That’s why we welcome the Government’s new public survey on a new Digital Duty of Care. For years, ReachOut has been calling for reforms like this to improve online safety. Just this month our Youth Advocates were in Canberra discussing further reforms, including the need for a digital duty of care. This is a positive step toward strengthening online safety and making sure the digital world is built with young people’s wellbeing front of mind 💜 We look forward to being part of the discussion Anika Wells Have your say, here: https://lnkd.in/g4gMsSkx

With social media age restrictions just around the corner, many young people and families are already thinking about what’s next. Some might be relieved, while others might feel overwhelmed or uncertain. No matter how you feel, this is going to be a big shift.  We’ve launched new resources to help young people, families and schools navigate the potential mental health and wellbeing impacts of the upcoming changes. 💜 A new resource for parents and carers: https://lnkd.in/gEsAcnSV   💜 An online hub bringing together relevant resources for young people: https://lnkd.in/gGBbmZEm  💜 A new resource for educators: https://lnkd.in/gY6mMNGH And for the ins and outs of how the restrictions will work, check out the eSafety Commissioner’s hub here: https://lnkd.in/gtn4aE_c

Last week, the ReachOut team travelled to Cairns to meet with young people from DJARRAGUN COLLEGE, part of the Cape York Partnership. We’ve been lucky to work alongside them since 2022, partnering on resources that support the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations young people and their families. This trip was all about listening and learning. Meeting young people in person and hearing their stories firsthand is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. It keeps us connected to young people’s experiences and ensures our work is focused on what matters most. Some of the key themes that came through in our workshops included: 💜 Stress about the future - what might life look like in the years ahead, especially when you consider the current challenges like the cost of living and climate change.   💜 The importance of role models - how important it is to have them, and how important it is to be one for the next generation. A big thank you to the Cape York Partnership and the teachers and students at Djarragun College for making us feel so welcome. We can’t wait to keep working together in the future!

Parents and carers worried about how the upcoming social media restrictions might impact their teens should tune into Digital Nutrition's webinar. Psychologist and friend of ReachOut, Jocelyn Brewer, will share practical strategies to support vulnerable teens and help families navigate the new restrictions with confidence.

Parents and carers play a huge role in supporting the young people in their lives. But it’s not always easy knowing the right approach. We were recently welcomed to the Pinnacle Investment Management Group and Antipodes office to host an intimate session for the team, many of whom are parents and carers. Mindy Bentley Fraser sat down with one of ReachOut’s Parent and Carer Coaches, Kristy Southers, for a fireside chat about: 💜 The key changes for young people as they reach adolescence 💜 How parents can effectively communicate with their teens  💜 How they can play an active role in supporting their teen’s mental health It was wonderful to have such an engaged group with thoughtful questions and insights. We’re excited to continue showcasing the wonderful work and expertise of our coaches to support the parents and carers within our partner organisations!