Mental health Archives | Page 3 of 23 | South Western Sydney PHN

26 September 2025

The Connect for Life Photography Exhibition showcases the powerful work of nine artists who bring lived experience of suicide to their creative expression.

Each artist participated in an eight-week peer support and therapeutic photography program, creating a safe and supportive environment where participants connected, shared their stories and developed new skills in creative expression.

This exhibition forms parts of a broader suicide prevention and awareness campaign which centres the insights and wisdom of those with lived experience. Its goal is to challenge myths and transform harmful narratives which surround suicide in our society.

Official opening event: Thursday, 16 October 2025 | 5pm to 8pm

Join an evening featuring:

live music by local artists Ella’s Holiday
panel discussion with program participants and suicide prevention professionals
viewing of the complete exhibition

Exhibition details

where: Moss Vale Civic Centre Atrium (parking available on Donkin Avenue)
opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, Saturday, 9am to 12pm

The exhibition will remain open throughout the month of October for those unable to attend the opening event.

This project was made possible through funding from SWSPHN and implemented by Folkal and Ironbark Therapy.

26 September 2025

We’re all encouraged to celebrate taking steps on our wellbeing journey during Mental Health Month in October. 

Mental Health Month is held each year to encourage all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not. 

It also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of good mental health in our everyday lives, encourages help-seeking behaviours and fosters a supportive environment where people feel empowered to ask for help when needed. 

This year’s theme, Taking Steps on Your Wellbeing Journey, is about identifying the steps people can take to improve their mental health and wellbeing, while recognising progress isn’t always straightforward. The journey may include side steps or steps back, and that’s okay.

Visit the Wayahead website

5 Ways to Wellbeing 

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are five simple and effective ways to improve your psychological and emotional health. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body for your overall wellbeing.

Like physical fitness, you can strengthen your psychological health in lots of small day-to-day ways. This will help you live a happier and a longer life as well as help you to cope with stress. 

Everyone can ‘try the 5’ at home, work or during study. Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Be Aware, Help Others.

Visit the 5 ways website

Our region, our services 

In South Western Sydney, one in five people experience mental ill health in a 12-month period. 

SWSPHN funds a range of mental health services to support those in our community impacted by mental health concerns. These services have been co-designed with our local community and service providers to meet the specific needs of South Western Sydney. 

Services include: 

Medicare Mental Health Centres, where adults can access free and confidential mental health information, services and supports from multidisciplinary care teams over extended hours. A new centre is opening later this month in Campbelltown and will complement the existing Liverpool centre. 

headspace, free or low-cost support for young people aged 12 to 25 years for their mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, and work and study. We fund centres at Bankstown, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Edmondson Park and Oran Park.

NewAccess, a confidential guided six-session mental health coaching program designed to provide the skills to manage life stresses such as work, study, relationships, health or loneliness. NewAccess is free for residents in South Western Sydney.

Visit our website to find out more about our services

17 September 2025

SWSPHN proudly hosted its ninth annual Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Roundtable, Stronger Together: Collaborative Pathways for Co-Morbidity Care, on Wednesday, 4 September, bringing together senior staff from services across the region to discuss ways to strengthen integrated care in the sector.

Facilitated by Sharon Pedersen, the roundtable highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in addressing complex needs within the community.

The day began with a powerful lived experience story followed by a presentation from Kate Whitney, on behalf of Hello Sunday Morning, an Australian not-for-profit dedicated to helping people change their relationship with alcohol.

*Sally Boardman presenting on behalf of The Matilda Centre.*

Participants then heard from Sally Boardman of The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, who shared evidence-based insights into comorbidity guidelines and strategies for improving service partnerships.

After a networking lunch, SWSPHN’s HealthPathways and Planning Coordinator, Nicole Gonzaga, presented findings from the recent Local Health Forum, which focused on shaping the future of alcohol and other drugs support in the region.

The afternoon session concluded with a presentation from Simone Angus-Carr, a representative from the Ted Noffs Foundation, Australia’s largest provider of drug treatment services for young people.

Acting Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Manager, Pritika Desai, said the event was a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections and share knowledge across the sector.

“SWSPHN would like to thank all guest speakers and participants for contributing to a day of collaboration and learning,” she said.

“The roundtable continues to serve as a vital platform for building stronger partnerships to support those living with both mental health and substance use challenges.”

Find out more about alcohol and other drugs services in South Western Sydney

22 August 2025

The first round of Mental Health First Aid for Vietnamese communities wrapped up in Cabramatta on Wednesday, 13 August.

The 12-hour training was split over four sessions led by peer worker at Towards Zero Suicide/South Western Sydney Local Health District, Tam Nguyen.

SWSPHN funded the training under the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bilateral Schedule.

Attendees included Vietnamese carers, volunteers and community members with an interest in mental health who are living in South Western Sydney.

Participants said the course made them feel more “confident when talking to and supporting people going through mental health challenges” and more informed on “where to find help”.

SWSPHN Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Luisa Dematos, joined the group on their final day for lunch where they shared a tasty Vietnamese meal and talked through their key takeaways from the course.

The training was supported by the Vietnamese Australian Welfare Association and held at the Cabravale Senior Citizens Centre.

The next course is planned for October and will be delivered in Bankstown area.

Vietnamese families, carers and other community members who have an interest in mental health education/information are welcome to attend. Email minhtam.nguyen@health.nsw.gov.au to register for the session.

SWSPHN-funded Mental Health First Aid for Vietnamese communities was a success with participants saying they now feel ‘more confident when talking to and supporting people going through mental health challenges’.

22 August 2025

Young people from culturally and linguistically diverse LGBTQIA+ communities have embraced the opportunity to collaborate on a project designed to support mental health literacy.

Sydney University hosted a design-a-thon event which was funded by SWSPHN under the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Targeted Regional Initiatives for Suicide Prevention program.

It was one of nine grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 issued to community groups and organisations to fund a variety of activities which included peer-led group supports, and creative and awareness campaigns.

The design-a-thon event called for young people from South Western Sydney to create an online hub for mental health literacy among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) youth who identify as LGBTQIA+, along with an ongoing campaign to support it.

The hub will include information in multiple languages and real stories of people seeking help for mental health concerns.

Dr Horas Wong from Sydney University said the event brought together a strong group of young people from CALD LGBTQIA+ backgrounds and was supported by around a dozen community organisations, who contributed mentors and judges.

He said participants were “highly engaged throughout, generated multiple high-quality ideas and reported having an amazing experience”.

“We’ll be working closely with the winning team to develop their idea as part of the mental health hub. We also plan to share our experience in the upcoming multicultural health conference in November,” Dr Wong said.

In August this year, LGBTQIA+ young people from culturally and linguistically backgrounds worked together to create a multilingual online information hub and a suicide awareness campaign, as part of the design-a-thon project.

20 June 2025

A new service opening in South Western Sydney later this year will expand and enhance the free support available to people who have recently attempted suicide.

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) will fund mental health service provider Neami National to deliver Universal Aftercare services, under a bilateral agreement between the Australian and NSW governments.

Aftercare is free, non-clinical psychosocial support for people after a suicide attempt.

Neami National will collaborate with a wide range of local stakeholders, including SWSPHN, South Western Sydney Local Health District, other community managed organisations and local community members, to shape the service to meet the specific needs of the local community.

The service will work with consumers in the short to medium-term to:

improve mental wellbeing and capacity to self-manage distress
build formal and informal supportive networks
reduce risk of future suicidal crisis and/or suicide attempts

In 2022, suicide was the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24, with more than 3,200 lives lost across Australia. Men and First Nations people are particularly at risk, with men making up 75 per cent of suicide deaths and First Nations people being twice as likely to die by suicide.

The Universal Aftercare initiative recognises the relative risk of suicide after attempted suicide is between 20 to 40 times higher than in the general population. It aims to prevent suicide behaviours by improving access to, and engagement with care and supports.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said SWSPHN’s 2025-2028 Needs Assessment identified the need to address barriers to accessing suicide prevention support services in our region like cost, language and logistics. It also highlighted the importance of tailoring services to an individual’s need.

“Along with a particular focus on delivering timely support immediately after a hospital or mental health service visit, Universal Aftercare will provide proactive outreach support to at-risk clients at a time and place which suits both the client and the service,” he said.

“Another key focus for the service will be ensuring clients are connected to the right supports for their unique circumstances.

“Importantly, this service will help clients navigate and stay connected to non-clinical psychosocial support in a way which complements their clinical care, providing practical assistance on the recovery journey.”

Dr McDonald said SWSPHN was looking forward to working with Neami National to ensure people in crisis in our community were supported to build the skills to manage their mental wellbeing, as well as other aspects of their health.

The new service is expected to commence in early August.

If you, or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, talking about self-harm or is noticeably in serious distress, call Triple Zero (000).

19 June 2025

Young people living in South Western Sydney are benefiting from a new mental health support service, headspace Oran Park.

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) has funded Grand Pacific Health to deliver the service, designed to provide a safe and welcoming space for young people aged 12 to 25.

headspace aims to provide an integrated approach to wellness by offering support for a young person’s mental, physical and sexual health, as well as counselling in areas such as work and study goals, or problems with alcohol or drugs.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, praised the team at headspace Oran Park who had worked “tirelessly” to establish the new service and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Grand Pacific Health in its delivery.

“Grand Pacific Health is a recognised health service provider which is currently the lead agency for 12 headspace centres, including two satellite centres across NSW, as well as a centre at Liverpool and Edmondson Park,” he said.

“An outreach service in Narellan has also opened to complement the Oran Park service and improve access to young people who live, work and study in the Camden Local Government Area.”

Dr McDonald said SWSPHN was proud to facilitate and fund services like headspace on behalf of the Australian Government, which enhanced access to mental health treatment in our region.

“The Oran Park centre will complement other youth services funded by SWSPHN, including headspace centres in Campbelltown, Liverpool, Edmondson Park and Bankstown, as well as ReFrame in the Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Shires,” he said.

“This is a remarkable milestone which represents an ongoing commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people in our region, recognising their importance in our future.”

headspace National Chief Executive Officer Jason Trethowan said: “we’re proud to see headspace Oran Park officially open, creating a welcoming place for young people to get support with their mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drug use, and vocational goals.

“Every young person deserves access to care that is inclusive, evidence-based and easy to navigate. headspace Oran Park will offer just that, meeting the needs of a growing and vibrant community.

“I want to thank our partners Grand Pacific Health, SWSPHN and the local young people who helped shape this service. Together, we’re creating spaces where young people feel seen, heard and supported.”

Grand Pacific Health Executive Manager, Youth and Primary Care, Jenny Valdivia, said: “the centre is a testament to the many young people who consulted with us in establishing the service, our Youth Reference Group members who volunteer their time to ensure we deliver the best supports we can to young people and their families and our many consortium partners.

“We are really excited to see the impact this service has on the wellbeing of young people in the Oran Park and surrounding areas.”

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures almost two in five young Australians aged 16 to 24 have faced a mental health disorder in the past year.

The Camden Local Government Area, including Oran Park, has a relatively young population, with almost 20 per cent of the total classified as youth. By 2045, the number of children aged 0 to 9 is expected to grow by nearly 20 per cent in Oran Park and 60 per cent in Camden, while the youth population is projected to rise by around 60 per cent in both Oran Park and Camden LGA.

Over the past decade, the number of 18 to 24-year-olds accessing mental health services has significantly increased, by 44.6 per cent for males, and by 69.5 per cent for females.

Clients do not need a doctor’s referral to access the service. They can simply drop-in to visit the service or phone the centre on 4604 3030 to make an appointment.

headspace Oran Park is located at Level 5, Suite 5.04, 3 Fordham Way, Oran Park. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.30am to 5pm and Thursday from 11am to 7pm.

The headspace outreach service at Narellan is located at the Narellan Library forecourt, corner of Queen and Elyard Streets. It is open Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 5pm.

Visit headspace Oran Park’s website to learn more about the service.

Pictured above: headspace Oran Park Youth Reference Group member Stacey (centre) was joined by (from left) Hume MP Angus Tayor, Grand Pacific Health CEO Adam Phillips, SWSPHN Director of Planning and Performance Amy Prince and headspace CEO Jason Trethowan, to cut the ribbon at the official opening of headspace Oran Park.

18 June 2025

The last chance for GPs to receive reimbursement to complete the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Decision Support Tool (DST) training is quickly approaching, with the once-off $300 incentive payment ending on 30 June this year.

The option of locally delivered training, both face-to-face or via Zoom, will also end on 30 June, with the completion of an Australian Government initiative to expand the use and uptake of the IAR-DST.

Use of the IAR-DST continues to be encouraged, and national training will continue to be available online for primary care providers – including GPs, GP registrars, allied health and other health service providers – who may refer someone to a mental health support service.

How you currently access training

access mixed learning by joining the online workshop: Initial Assessment and Referral Training – South Western Sydney PHN Online Workshop One | National IAR Training Use access code: swsphn. Once you have successfully completed workshop one, you will be given the opportunity to register for workshop two which is delivered via Zoom on 15 and 26 May and 19 and 24 June at 12pm, and 20 May and 5 and 11 June, from 7am to 8.30am

access two-hour live training by visiting the CPD Calendar on the SWSPHN website and registering for a workshop on 2 June at 6pm

access a two-hour workshop via Zoom on 3, 13, 19 and 26 June. Download the flyer to register or learn more. July training dates – 4, 10, 16, 30 July – are now available. Download the flyer to register or learn more. Please note no reimbursements will be made for the July training

How you will access training in the future

An eLearning module for clinicians will be available in the next financial year.

The eLearning module is being developed by the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) and the University of Melbourne.

The University of Melbourne will coordinate eligibility for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the development process. GPs and GP registrars will not receive the incentive payment for undertaking this training.

We will provide more information on the eLearning module when it becomes available.

CPD hours will continue to be awarded

In addition to the $300 once-off incentive payment available for training undertaken before 30 June, CPD hours (one Educational Activity hour and one Reviewing Performance hour) will continue to be awarded until 31 December 2025.

About the IAR

How the IAR tool helps

SWSPHN commissions a range of services across the stepped care spectrum to meet the mental health needs of our community.

These include: low-intensity services, psychological therapies, specialised services for children, young people, people with severe mental illness, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, among others.

The IAR-DST is designed to assist the various parties involved in the assessment and referral process to ensure:

patients are guided to the option which best meets their needs, and has the least burden on them and the health system

resources are targeted to where they’re needed most and that those resources are used effectively

Ultimately, the IAR will help streamline referral pathways and improve service visibility.

How it works

An initial assessment is used to gather information from the referrer and patient. The assessment is undertaken across eight domains which aim to describe clinical severity and service needs, and guide decisions on the most appropriate next steps (for example, intervention, further assessment).

Find more information by downloading:

PHN Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Snapshot Resource

Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool

IAR Decision Support Tool 1.05 documentation

Why you should do the training

The IAR-DST, an initiative of DoHAC, is a nationally consistent, evidence-based and objective approach to initial assessment and referral of patients seeking mental health support.

All federally funded mental health services will soon be using the IAR-DST, standardising how referrals are made and making it less likely your referrals will be refused.

Given GPs are often the first contact point when a mental health issue emerges, it is important to ensure you are prepared for the change and are supported in implementing the IAR tool into your daily practice.

The training includes an introduction to IAR; orientation to the domains, levels of care and the decision support tool; information on clinical judgement and supported decision-making; and a practical activity using case studies to the IAR in referral, assessment and intake settings.

How do GPs access the tool?

DoHAC is working on digital integration of the IAR-DST into general practice software.

Currently, general practices can access the tool through the:

Online Decision Support Tool

Smart Referral Form

GP Referral Template, which is compatible with their software, which they will be given after completing the training. The IAR-DST is included in this template.

Find out more

If you have any questions, please email iar@swsphn.com.au

27 May 2025

The benefits of exercise to mental health and diabetes management were stressed during a presentation by Alyssa Horgan from SWSPHN’s Integration and Priority Populations (IPP) team, at Thursday’s (22 May) Liverpool Local Active Partnership bi-monthly meeting.

Alyssa (pictured) had the opportunity to talk about the cost of inactivity, its benefits and the role played by primary carers, and the SWSPHN programs which support mental health and diabetes management, as well as network with stakeholders interested in health, activity and sport, at the event.

Attendees included representatives from the Heart Foundation, South Western Sydney Local Health District, the Western Sydney Health Alliance, community and local sporting organisations.

“Primary care’s role includes managing and preventing of chronic disease; promoting and advocating for regular exercise; collaborating with other health professionals like exercise physiologists and dieticians; and providing patients with information about programs and services,” Alyssa said during her presentation.

She also spoke about HealthPathways and Health Resource Directory, type 2 diabetes case conferencing and exercise groups, and stepped care and the mental health and alcohol and other drugs services we fund.

Alyssa explained how SWSPHN was able to use anonymous data from general practices across South Western Sydney to identify local health trends, risk factors and priority areas for action.

“We pinpoint patient groups like those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are significantly impacted by lifestyle choices. This information helps us work with practices to create health initiatives tailored to the needs of locals.”

Liverpool Local Active Partnership is the first of its kind formed by WSYD Moving, a health promotion charity aimed at addressing the critical issues of inactivity and inequity in Western Sydney.

It is working towards building local networks, relationships, trust and pathways to enable people to become more physically active in their own communities.

The IPP team’s Kate Noble is involved in WSYD Moving’s social prescribing project which is also underway in Liverpool and aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness for seniors improving quality of life.

The project is fostering collaboration between healthcare providers and community organisations, creating a more wholistic and integrated approach for individuals.

Find out more or register to join the Liverpool Local Active Partnership.

30 April 2025

A new headspace outreach centre is now open in Narellan, delivering free or low-cost mental health and wellbeing support for young people aged 12 to 25.

Representatives from SWSPHN joined Grand Pacific Health (GPH) staff, Camden Mayor Ashleigh Cagney, community members and other service providers for the official opening of the Narellan Community Offices on Tuesday, 29 April.

*SWSPHN Mental Health and AOD team members Sophie Mara and Luke Swain at the headspace outreach opening.*

The headspace outreach, an extension of headspace Oran Park, aims to make accessing care easier for young people.

GPH Executive General Manager of Youth and Primary Health Jenny Valdivia said the service was vital for young people who struggled to travel to Oran Park.

“We received feedback from young people about the importance of having a space in Narellan to supplement our main site in Oran Park,” she said.

Attendees at the opening also had the opportunity to tour the facility and hear from other organisations delivering services in the centre, including Settlement Services International (SSI) and Big Yellow Umbrella.

The headspace outreach centre is located at Narellan Library Forecourt, corner Queen and Elyard Street and operates Monday to Wednesday, from 9am to 5pm.

Call headspace Oran Park on (02) 4604 3030 for more information about accessing the service.

Headspace centres provide early intervention mental health services for young people aged 12 to 25 for their mental health, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, and work and study.

There are five headspace centres in South Western Sydney:

Bankstown
Campbelltown
Liverpool
Edmondson Park
Oran Park (with outreach in Narellan)

SWSPHN funds Grand Pacific Health to operate the outreach centre as an extension of headspace Oran Park.

All headspace centres are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care through the Primary Health Networks program.

Visit SWSPHN’s website to find out more about headspace