headspace
Darwin

Are you passionate about youth mental health?

Have a big idea for an event, campaign or a social group we can offer at headspace?

Are you between 15-25 years?

If yes, Then this is the crew for you!

The headspace Darwin & headspace Palmerston Youth Ambassador Group (YAG) is a group of young people between 15 and 25 years who represent a diverse range of people from the Darwin and Palmerston region.

This includes young people with lived/living experience of being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, living rural or remote, LGBTQIA SG BB +, with a mental illness, living with a disability, homelessness/housing stress, otherwise culturally and linguistically diverse and a mix of ages and genders. YAG members ensure headspace services truly reflect the needs of our young people in the community.

Responsibilities

•         Participate in regular meetings at a time, day and location as agreed by all group members

•         Assist with creating social media content and other resources

•         Assist with delivering workshops at schools and universities with support from the Community Engagement team..

•         Be open and willing to participate in teleconferences, email and social media discussions

•         Support local headspace Darwin and headspace Palmerston activities

•         Support awareness raising activities for youth mental health, encourage young people to seek help early and educate the broader community about youth mental health

•         Young people may be involved in community education activities, or as media spokespeople on the issue of youth mental health and well-being. Young people may speak at public functions, local schools, mental health forums and conferences.

•         Complete orientation, induction and professional development training including any mandatory training relevant to the role

•         Regularly complete and update written tasks including Wellbeing Plans and feedback forms

•         Represent headspace whilst working with different staff and stakeholders in the community

Requirements

As a YAG member, you should -

•         Be aged between 15 and 25 years at the time of application

•         Have an interest and passion in mental health and/or alcohol and other drug issues for young people

•         The ability to think about the big picture

•         The ability to work in a team and participate in group discussions, as well as work independently

•         Motivation, willingness and commitment to participate on an ongoing basis

•         May or may not have personal experience of mental health or alcohol and other drugs

•         Good communication skills

•         The ability to balance health (including mental health), other responsibilities like school/work/university/family and the demands of the YAG position

•         All members must have easy and regular access to the internet and phone.

•         Willing to get a Volunteer Working with Children’s Check (For members over 18)

What if I don't have any experience? 

That's okay! If you're passionate about youth mental health and want to develop new skills, we can support you to learn.

How do I get involved?

Complete the online application here

For more information

Contact headspace Darwin 08 8931 5999

headspace Darwin is not an emergency service.

Please call the NT Mental Health Line on 1800 682 288, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 for crisis support and advice.

You can contact us or have a family member, friend or trusted person do it for you.

To register with headspace Darwin, contact:

Ph: (08) 8931 5999
E-mail: headspacedarwin@anglicare-nt.org.au
(Please be aware that this e-mail account is only checked during business hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

Please provide as much information as you can about the reasons you're reaching out to us at this time. Our online referral forms can be used to support this.

I am a young person wanting to make contact

I am a service provider referring a young person

I am a family member/friend/carer of a young person wanting to make contact

Consent and confidentiality are important and will be discussed in detail with all young people who come to see us.

It is essential that service providers send through a referral form when referring a young person to headspace Darwin.

headspace Darwin is located at the CASCOM Centre, just off Scaturchio Street in Casuarina. It is also one street away from the Casuarina bus depot! The CASCOM centre is accessible for wheelchairs and people of all abilities.

If you're having trouble finding us, call us on (08) 8931 5999 and we'll be able to help you out.

We will ask you to complete a survey before you see someone at headspace Darwin. This can be done through a link on your phone or on a tablet in the centre if you arrive early

Electronic headspace Holistic Assessment Tool (ehHAT)

• A set of online questions that are sent via text or email for you to complete before your first appointment with headspace Darwin
• The questions aim to explore what life is like for you and to give us an idea of what you might be wanting to talk about in your session at headspace
• The questions will help us know where to start and how to make the most of your first step appointment
• We aim to provide as much relevant support as possible the first time we meet, as we know that not everyone requires ongoing support or chooses this

When and how

• When you are booking a first step appointment at headspace Darwin, you will be asked if it is ok to send you a link via text or email
• The link will be sent 24 hours before your appointment and you will have the option to complete where you feel most comfortable
• You can complete at headspace using an iPad and the free wifi if you come to your appointment 20 minutes early
• headspace Darwin clinicians use surveys to support all appointments and we ask that you complete this before each appointment

How will my information be used?

• There will be a video before the questions that explain this for you
• Your answers will be kept within a confidential system and will only be reviewed by headspace staff to support you in your session
• Deidentified data is used to support national funding for example postcodes, demographic information.
  Additionally there are some instances where our staff may need to share your confidential information in order to keep you or others around you safe

What support does headspace Darwin provide?

headspace Darwin provides a number of levels of support to young people, which includes:

• No wrong door advice and support, ensuring young people are connected with the best option to suit their goals
• Targeted support for young people who come with concerns that have recently started, that are impacting how they feel or function
• Short term goal focused support for young people referred with a mental health care plan 
• Flexible clinical case management who are experiencing complex challenges
• Assessment and support for young people who may be at risk of or already experiencing psychosis.
  (To find out more about psychosis, click here. The early psychosis referral checklist can also be downloaded here.)

Does it cost anything to see someone at headspace Darwin?

We provide a range of free or low cost services to support young people in our community. Some services may require you to have a Medicare Card. 

For more information on how to apply for a Medicare card, click here.

What is telehealth?

Telehealth allows you to talk to us through a phone or video call rather than seeing us in person. We will still be able to listen and help you with strategies. At headspace Darwin, telehealth is provided through HealthDirect. We will provide you with more information when you get in touch with us.

How to prepare for a first appointment

• Take a look at our headspace Darwin Welcome Pack (here)
• Think about your goals for change (what you would like to be different/why you are reaching out for support)
• Think about what has worked and what hasn't worked in the past
• You are encouraged to include important family or trusted supports
• Complete a survey before your appointment (a link will be sent to you 24 hours before your appointment) 

What to expect at a first step appointment

• An appointment will take roughly 50 minutes
• A conversation about consent and confidentiality
• We will check in with you around your survey
• It will be a conversation that aims to understand what's going on for you and to clarify your goals for change
• We will aim to talk through ideas, resources and next steps together - this might be things you and your family or friends can do independently.
• Where relevant, you might also choose another option to support you with your goals 

Who is in the headspace Darwin team?

Administration and Reception Staff
Our friendly and skilled administration team are often the first contact person at headspace Darwin, they are employed for their abilities in creating a welcoming and friendly space as our front of house.

Community Engagement Workers
Our engagement team are usually out and about and ready to talk to community members about what we do at headspace Darwin. They can also provide mental health and wellbeing education to groups of young people.

Clinicians
Social Workers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Mental Health Nurses who are equipped to provide mental health support to young people. They use evidence and practice-based strategies, engage with ongoing supervision and a team approach to ensure young people and their families are receiving quality support.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing Workers
Care coordinators who use their cultural understandings and knowledge in their roles to support young people and families in receiving culturally appropriate and safe support.

Vocational Support Workers
Vocational specialists have experience working within employment services and support young people in achieving their work and study related goals. 

Peer Support Workers
Our peer workers are employed with the recognition of the value of their lived experience in using mental health services. They are trained to use their experiences to walk alongside you to help navigate and understand headspace Darwin and other systems if helpful.

Specialist staff, programs and clinics
headspace Darwin partners with community organisations and employs specialist staff to offer specific supports, which include:

• alcohol and other drugs specific support
• sexual health clinic
• GP clinic
• care coordination
• early psychosis program 

headspace Darwin is committed to providing family inclusive services to young people and their family and friends

We know that family and friends often encourage the young person to seek help and play a significant role in supporting change. Family and friends are also often the first to notice a change in a young person’s emotions or behaviour. 

For more information and resources on supporting a young person, visit this link. You can also read through the headspace Family and Friends Welcome Pack here.

headspace Darwin provides a number of options to support and engage families and friends of young people. These include:

• Family Connections offers a variety of sessions on a range of topics to friends and family members of young people.
  Sessions are an opportunity to share knowledge and stories, learn skills and meet other people in similar situations in a safe and supportive environment.
  
  
• Tuning into teens is a six-session parenting program for parents of teens to help teens description speak to headspace staff regarding registration for the next group program.
  
  
• Family reference group is made up of diverse members who have lived experiences of supporting a young person through mental health services. The group provides strategic direction and advice to the headspace Darwin service. This includes discussions on youth mental health and wellbeing related topics, improvements to the service and innovating on family and friends’ engagement with the service.

To find out more information or express your interest in the above, get in touch with us on (08) 8931 5999 or e-mail headspacedarwin@anglicare-nt.org.au 

headspace community engagement - 

Did you know that, beyond the services we provide at our centre, headspace Darwin and headspace Palmerston also connects with the community by delivering education on mental health, wellbeing, and the range of services we offer?

From school and uni events to festivals, sports days and community gatherings, our team brings relaxed, engaging sessions that meet young people where they’re at. Best part? It’s completely free.

We work alongside schools, TAFE, universities, community groups, sporting clubs and organisations across Darwin and Palmerston to create spaces that support young people to feel informed, supported and confident to reach out for help.

Want headspace at your event?

Click the button below to submit a booking request.

Book headspace for your event

If you’d rather have a quick chat first, you can contact our Community Engagement - Team Leader, Himanshu, on (08) 8931 5999.

Please note: we need at least two weeks’ notice for bookings, and while we’ll do our best, we may not be able to attend every event.

Some of the topics that we can cover include:

• general mental health
• awareness of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems
• physical health (including sexual health)
• alcohol and other drugs
• bullying education (including cyberbullying)
• early psychosis