could your voice help headspace Bathurst meet the needs of young people in our region?

Our staff will talk to you about your concerns and provide you with support, information and services in a confidential, non-judgmental environment.

headspace Bathurst Management:

Jason Eggins: Centre Manager 

Madeline Whittaker: Clinical Team Lead

Reception and Intake

Mary Boyd: Program Support Officer 

Shelley Van Essen: Program Support Officer 

Youth Care Coordinators:

Lucas Harris

Rachael Fraser

Loren Cafe

Community Engagement Coordinator:

Sam Bolt

Youth Peer Workers:

Julie Maclean

Mitchell Boland-Nash

Allied Health Professionals:

James Schuurmans Stekhoven: Registered Psychologist 

Candice Boyd: Registered Psychologist

Tylaa Ryan: Provisional Psychologist

Medical Practitioners:

Dr Syed Shah: Psychiatrist

Dr Tim Kirchler: GP

At headspace Bathurst we strive to provide excellent, respectful and confidential services that facilitate shared decision-making and, promote collaborative care.

In receiving treatment from staff you should:

• Be treated in a respectful, professional, courteous and, caring manner.
• Be provided service in a safe environment.
• Expect your personal privacy to be protected and receive an explanation about the nature and limits of confidentiality surrounding the service.
• Expect adequate information regarding all aspects of services provided or treatment available, so you can make the best and most informed choices.
• Be able to participate in making decisions about your care.
• Be able to consent to accept or refuse treatment and/or participation in educational or research programs.
• Expect our clinicians to discuss all aspects of treatment and they will offer alternatives should you wish to seek another option or opinion.
• Be able to decide who will be present at a consultation (parent or carer, advocate, interpreter, student).
• Receive prompt service.
• Be able to request a different service provider.
• Be able to make a complaint or compliment or provide general feedback about the service or treatment received and expect it will be investigated appropriately and confidentially and not be disadvantaged in receiving continuing service.
• If required request a copy of relevant records in accordance with the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act.

As a client of headspace Bathurst, you have a responsibility to:

• Inform your clinician of any changes in your behavior and/or physical or mental status that could affect your care, including compliance with prescribed medication.
• Ask questions and get clarification regarding the identification of issues and suggested treatment plan.
• Follow your clinician’s treatment recommendations.
• Be prompt for scheduled appointments.
• Cancel appointments by phone (24 hours before if possible) if you are unable to keep them so others may use the time slot.
• Advise change of address, phone number and, people we can contact regarding appointments.

Disclosure of personal information
Personal information gathered as part of this service will remain confidential except when:

• it is subpoenaed by a court; or
• failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
• your prior approval has been obtained to:

1. provide a written report to another professional or agency. e.g., a GP or a lawyer; or
2. discuss the material with another person, eg. a parent, employer or health provider; or
3. disclose the information in another way; or

• you would reasonably expect your personal information to be disclosed to another professional or agency (e.g. your GP) and disclosure of your personal information to that third party is for a purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose for which your personal information was collected; or
• disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law.

How and why we collect personal information
As part of providing a psychological service to you, headspace Bathurst needs to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your situation; such as your name, contact information, medical history and other relevant information. This collection of personal information will be a necessary part of the psychological assessment and treatment that is conducted. We use personal information that you give us to provide you with the best service we can. How much you tell us is up to you. The more information we have the more we can be clear about the help we can offer. When we collect personal information or ask you questions, we will whenever practical, let you know why this information is being collected. 

Each time you have an appointment at headspace Bathurst, you will be asked to complete a hAPI survey, which will be texted or emailed to you. The information collected will be used by headspace Bathurst staff to assist in providing you with the best support possible. This information is then de-identified to help us to evaluate and develop our services and learn about the health needs of young people. We are also required to report unidentifiable information about you (eg. age, amount of sessions, gender) to our funding body.

Your email address will not be added to any mailing lists without your permission.

Provision of a telehealth service
headspace Bathurst currently provides telephone or videoconferencing appointments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To access telehealth appointments you will need access to a quiet, private space; and the appropriate device, i.e. smartphone, laptop, iPad, computer, with a camera, microphone and speakers; and a reliable broadband internet connection. At the beginning of every telehealth session, your clinician will ask where you are currently located.

Limitations of telehealth
A telehealth consultation may be subject to limitations such as an unstable network connection which may affect the quality of the psychology session. In addition, there may be some services for which telehealth is not appropriate or effective. Your headspace Bathurst worker will consider and discuss with you the appropriateness of ongoing telehealth sessions.

Protecting your privacy
headspace Bathurst is committed to protecting your privacy. As part of providing a service to you, headspace Bathurst will need to collect and record personal information about you. However, you do not have to give all your personal information, but if you don’t, this may mean there is a limit to the services we can provide. Your details and session notes are stored electronically on a database called MasterCare. Access to this is protected by a password and organisation systems to ensure your information is kept confidential.

We take all reasonable steps to securely store your information from loss, misuse and unauthorised access. We will not record calls or video chats, unless agreed upon by you. Every effort has been made to ensure that all contact with the headspace Bathurst service is secure and confidential. Unfortunately, we do not know if headspace Bathurst phone numbers will show up on mobile/home phone bills. It depends on the type of phone bill you receive. headspace Bathurst uses systems that meet recommended standards to protect the privacy and security of the video sessions. However, headspace Bathurst cannot guarantee total protection against hacking or tapping into the video visits by outsiders. This risk is small, but it does exist.

Informed consent
Informed consent is a procedure that entails providing you with comprehensive information about the psychological service and gaining your agreement to take part in the service. At your first appointment your clinician will talk you though the above information and you are welcome to ask any questions. Your clinician will then ask if the following has been explained and you have understood that:

• I consent to telehealth services
• There are some instances where my headspace Bathurst clinician may have to break confidentiality to keep me safe.
• This is a voluntary service and I can choose to leave and not come back at any time.
• If I have any worries about the service I receive; I can talk to my clinician or contact the manager of headspace Bathurst.
• I have received a Welcome Pack which includes my Rights and Responsibilities for care and treatment at headspace Bathurst, and these have been explained to me.
• I may choose to nominate and involve family/carers/friends/others in my care, and I’ve been offered a Family and Friends pack with information about the services.

headspace appreciates the support of local businesses and the community

If you would like to donate, this can be done at the Bathurst office or alternatively via direct deposit:

BSB: 082-564

Account no: 131273738

Note: Please specify in the donation description that the donation is for headspace Bathurst to ensure it goes to the right centre.

Are you aged 25 years or older?

Do you have a passion for being an adult advocate for young people?

Would you like to see improved youth mental health outcomes in the local community?

The headspace Bathurst Family and Friends Reference Group wants you!

Meeting bi-monthly, the Family and Friends Reference Group is made up of 5 – 15 community members [25 years and older] who are passionate about mental health and well-being.

The group aims to:

The FAF hopes to:

1. Provide you with the opportunity to have input into the strategic direction of headspace services, and local mental health services.
2. Allow a way for the voice of young people to be heard and acted upon.
3. Provide opportunities for skills and leadership development and provide experience in; media, marketing, communication and advocacy skills.
4. Support you to lead projects locally
5. Assist in allowing young people to direct youth mental health policy development
6. Demonstrate good practice by assisting young people in the youth, welfare and health sector

Application forms are downloadable here: Word version/PDF version

Frequently Asked Questions are available here: Word version/PDF version

For more information, contact 6941 9021 or email sam.bolt@marathonhealth.com.au