It's a safe place where the youth of Bundaberg are free to be themselves, ask for help, make friends or just chill out.
headspace Bundaberg has been offering support to young people in the region for the past two years and will this week celebrate many achievements at the organisations’ birthday celebrations.
Community and youth engagement officer Cristel Simmonds said headspace had a main focus of mental health support and provided a free and confidential counselling centre to those aged 12 to 25 years old.
“We also run youth groups and activities to help young people better understand mental health and wellbeing,” she said.
“More than 75 per cent of mental health issues develop before a person turns 25 so it is important that we see young people early, let’s work towards early intervention and a better understanding of mental health.”
Mrs Simmonds said in its early stages headspace employed four people in Bundaberg but had since grown to include 14 staff.
“We also have a Youth Engagement Committee of 13 people who work closely with headspace to ensure our centre meets the needs of young people and helps us to understand what is important to them,” she said.
“They are, after all, the experts at being young people in today’s world.”
In the Bundaberg Region alone, headspace staff communicate with over 120 people each month to help them through daily struggles and to provide support and assistance.
Mrs Simmonds said not only was there counselling services on hand but also a variety of groups catering to different needs.
“headspacechill is held weekly and is for young people to connect and socialise in a safe, inclusive place,” she said.
“Another group of ours, called BRITE, is for the young rainbow community and is held fortnightly.”
Birthday celebrations
headspace staff will be holding a breakfast get-together with free coffee and burgers for their birthday celebrations on Thursday, 28 March from 7.30am to 9.30am at 66 Woongarra Street.
“Meet our staff and youth engagement committee, tour our centre and learn what goes on here. There will be a welcome and hello from our guests at 8.30am,” Mrs Simmonds said.
“We welcome all of community, particularly the business owners, professionals, teachers, doctors who may not necessarily get a chance to pop in and see our centre and what we get up to.
“It’s important the whole community knows about headspace because you never know when you will have a conversation with a young person who may need support.”
To find out more information, go to https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/bundaberg/
- Other news: Headspace Bundaberg here for young people
