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headspace
Katoomba
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37 Waratah St, Katoomba, New South Wales 2780
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Phone 1800 478 626
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headspacekatoomba@uniting.org
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headspace Katoomba is linked to headspace Penrith which is a service tailored for the local community.
To learn more about our services, what we offer and how to refer – please download our Service Information Kit
We are open from Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
headspace Katoomba offers young people aged 12-25 a welcoming environment where they can access free and confidential mental health support as well as support with work and study and alcohol and/or other drug support. Young people aged 12 - 25 do not require a formal referral. Simply phone, email or walk in to arrange an appointment with one of our staff during business hours.
Our site has full wheelchair accessibility.
Download our Service Provider Referral form here.
Hours
When we are closed please contact headspace Penrith for more information
- Monday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Tuesday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Wednesday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
headspace Katoomba is linked to headspace Penrith and operated by Uniting NSW.ACT. All headspace services are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Administration of funding is carried out by the headspace centre’s local Primary Health Network, in this case, Nepean Blue Mountains.
Services
Mental health workers – which may include psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and other workers – that can help if you're just not feeling yourself.
Workers either on site or linked to the centre who can assist you with work or study opportunities.
Workers either on site or linked to the centre who can assist you with any alcohol or other drug concern.
Jobs and volunteering
Positions currently available at headspace Katoomba
Salary: 20/hr
Role Summary
YAC members contribute to a range of activities at headspace Katoomba where they provide their ideas, feedback, and advice and share their expertise as young people.
They provide their views and thoughts as a young person to help the running, planning, design, delivery and on-going improvement of headspace Katoomba.
During their term, YAC members are required to attend monthly meetings with the other YAC members and provide their insights into planning and development for headspace and other partnering services.
During their term YAC members are also encouraged to: attend interviews for headspace Katoomba to give your youth perspective, attend events run by headspace or partnering services to promote mental health wellbeing, represent headspace in the community as an inclusive, youth friendly service, provide content for social media posts to inform other young people about upcoming events and/or activities, speak publicly about the benefits of help seeking and attend workshops or groups to help raise awareness and reduce stigma.
YAC members are supported in their role through orientation and training, regular check ins with the Community Development Coordinator and Wellness Plans.
The YAC is supported by the Community Development Coordinator and works closely with the headspace Katoomba Team.
When the YAC is consulted by any member of the headspace Katoomba Team, the YAC will be updated at a later date on the outcome of the consultation.
To join the YAC, we ask you to:
- Have an interest in or passion for youth mental health and issues affecting young people
- Be able to work in a team and participate in group discussions as well as working independently and having good communication skills
- Be motivated, willing and committed to participate on an ongoing basis
- Have something to say about mental health and other youth issues
- Know how to balance your wellbeing and your other responsibilities like school/work/university/family with the demands of the YAC position (remembering that support is available)
- Have consistent access to the internet and phone - YAC members use email, Facebook and Discord to communicate. (If this is an issue let us know, adjustments can be made)
- Be aged between 12 and 25 years at the time of application
- Respect the other YAC members
- Show proof of Covid vaccination or medical exemption from vaccination
- Get your Working with Children Check (if over 16) and Police Checks (if over 18) – talk to us about how you can do this for free.
In return, we will:
- Provide you with training to help you:
- discuss your lived experience in a safe and comfortable way
- run meetings and take meeting minutes
- create social media posts
- understand the headspace model
- put on events
- run activities
- deliver presentations in the community
- and more.
- Organise the venue and snacks for each meeting
- Help run the monthly meetings and take a written record of each one
- Develop a Wellbeing Plan for each YAC member
- Invite members to attend:
- Team, Management and Consortium (i.e. partners) meetings
- participate in interview panels
- attend activities and presentations
- plan events
- participate in headspace campaigns
- Invite members to be involved in community education activities, or as media spokespeople on the issue of youth mental health and well-being
- Give members an option to speak at public functions or at local schools, mental health forums, conferences and similar events
- Ask YAC members to consult on headspace programs and service delivery.
- Provide all members with a YAC Certificate and be a character reference if needed.
If you are interested in joining the headspace Katoomba Youth Advisory Committee, please complete the Expression of Interest Form:
Feel free to reach out to Jo if you have any questions (details below).
Download the headspace Katoomba Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Member Expression of Interest Form
Complete the Expression of Interest Form, headspace Katoomba, recruiting Youth Advisory Committee
Over 18? Ask us about the Family and Friends Committee
A group of family and friends who provide input on headspace services and advocate for family, friends, carers and those who are a part of headspace.
For more information contact:
Name: Jo McClelland Phillips
Phone: 0432 833 348
Email: jmcclellandphillips@uniting.org
More information
What's going on at headspace Katoomba? At our centre, you can get involved with a number of groups and programs
Primary Care team
Our headspace primary care team provides young people who are experiencing mental health problems with a range of integrated mental health, alcohol and other drugs and vocational supports.
Groups and Programs
We run groups that we think will benefit our young people, such as our Weekly Hangout Hub in Springwood; please talk to a clinician or check with reception for more information
Hey there! Did you know that headspace Katoomba is a proud member of the Welcome Here Project? This means we're all about celebrating diversity and making sure everyone feels right at home, especially our LGBTIQ friends.
At headspace Katoomba, we're dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for all young people aged 12-25. Whether you're seeking mental health support, help with work and study, or advice on alcohol and other drugs, our friendly team is here for you.
So, if you're in the area and need someone to talk to, or just want to hang out in a welcoming environment, come on over! We're committed to making sure everyone feels accepted and valued.
For more information about the Welcome Here Project, how it supports inclusivity across Australia and other locations, check out their website.
Let's continue to support and celebrate the wonderful diversity in our community together!
headspace Katoomba has a ‘no wrong door policy’, which means no young person is turned away without connection to appropriate internal or external services. If you feel you need additional support whilst connecting with an external service or following our recommendations, please let us know.
We do our best to support you on your journey, be it with headspace or onward with an appropriate external referral; however, we always welcome feedback on how we can do better - please see the feedback section below for info on how to do this.
Mental Health Services:
Mental health workers, which can include psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and mental health nurses (to name a few), are available to talk if you are not feeling like yourself. The mental health workers will spend some time getting to know and understand your story and your goals before working with you (and your friends/family) to find the right way to get you back on track!
If you are a service provider and you wish to refer a young person to headspace, simply download the Referral Form and return it via email to: headspacekatoomba@uniting.org. Please ensure to be as specific as possible when filling out this referral.
Please ensure that the young person whom you refer is willing to engage with headspace and is able to attend appointments.
We recommend that you follow up the emailed referral with a phone call, just to make sure we've received it.
Our intake phone number is: 1800 478 626
If you are looking to self-refer, you can call us on the provided number, send us an email (as stated above), or, simply walk into our centre, and one of our friendly staff will be on hand to assist you.
Welcome to the headspace Multicultural Support Hub. Our dedicated Multicultural Practice Team, with support from the Grant Thornton Foundation, has developed two key resources designed to help young people (aged 12–25) and their families. These essential factsheets provide clear insights into:
- About headspace: Learn who we are, the range of free services we offer in person, over the phone, or online, and how we support your mental and physical wellbeing.
- Tips for a healthy headspace: Discover practical advice for managing stress, staying active, improving sleep, and connecting with your community.
These factsheets are available in 10 languages—including Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Filipino, Hindi, Korean, Nepali, Punjabi, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese—to serve our diverse community better.
Simply click the download links below to access the PDFs. If you need assistance or have questions, please get in touch with our team.
Arabic (العربية)
English
Filipino (Wikang Filipino)
- About headspace: Tungkol sa headspace
- Tips for a healthy headspace: Mga tip para sa malusog na headspace
Hindi (हिंदी)
Korean (한국어)
Nepali (नेपाली)
Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ)
Simplified Chinese (简体中文)
Spanish (Español)
- About headspace: Acerca de headspace
- Tips for a healthy headspace: Consejos para un headspace saludable
Urdu (اردو)
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
Trusted resources are below to help you cope and make sense of what you’re feeling.
Coping after a critical incident
A critical incident involves an element of threat or surprise. Sometimes the threat turns out to be less than was thought while the incident was unfolding, and sometimes the threat results in serious and lasting harm.
Regardless of how serious the consequences of the incident are, people who are exposed to critical incidents often experience emotional and physical reactions to the stress.
These reactions are part of a healthy human response and of moving towards recovery. Reactions can range in intensity, gradually fading over time with social support and active self-care.
Supporting children affected by a Critical Incident
Children may not experience strong emotions during and after a critical incident, yet may not always know how to express or manage them as adults do.
Often, children present with symptoms different from those we expect in adults.
Understanding Trauma
Experiencing trauma — what it is and how you might feel
https://au.reachout.com/mental-health-issues/trauma/experiencing-trauma — Learn what trauma is, common reactions after distressing events, and tips for coping. au.reachout.com
Coping With Distressing Content
How to cope if you see disturbing videos and images
https://au.reachout.com/challenges-and-coping/coping/how-to-cope-if-you-see-disturbing-videos-and-images — Practical tips for managing your reactions to upsetting media. au.reachout.com
Managing Strong Emotions
Frustrated by the news? Here’s how to channel your anger
https://au.reachout.com/challenges-and-coping/anger/frustrated-by-the-news-heres-how-to-channel-your-anger — Support for recognising and using anger in healthy ways. au.reachout.com
Dealing With Grief After Bad News
Dealing with grief when something bad happens in the world
https://au.reachout.com/challenges-and-coping/grief-and-loss/dealing-with-grief-when-something-bad-happens-in-the-world — Information and tips for processing grief after distressing events. SANE
When You Already Have Mental Health Challenges
Managing pre-existing mental health issues during disaster and recovery
https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/managing-pre-existing-mental-health-issues-during-disaster-and-recovery — Helps you navigate how existing conditions can change under stress. SANE
Looking After Yourself
Effective self-care during disaster and recovery
https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/effective-self-care-during-disaster-and-recovery — Self-care ideas to support your wellbeing during tough times. SANE
Bondi Beach Wellbeing Support
Bondi Beach incident wellbeing support guide
https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/support-toolkit/techniques-and-guides/bondi-beach-incident-wellbeing-support-guide — Specific guidance on common reactions after the Bondi Beach incident and ways to support yourself. lifeline.org.au
Talk to headspace Katoomba
If you’re 12–25, you can self-refer — just walk in, and someone will sit down and talk with you.
Your feedback is valuable to us - it lets us know what we are doing well and how we can improve our service.
if you are a young person accessing our service – we really appreciate your feedback. From how our service looks and your experience in the waiting room to how you found your sessions and our team – we welcome anything you’d like to tell us. Any feedback won’t have an impact on the service you are currently being given. You can provide that feedback here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UR_YES_hPCKatoomba
Supporting a family member or friend? Please tell us what you think about headspace and the service you have received. Your feedback will help us improve the service for others. Complete the survey.
Uniting NSW.ACT provides care and support for people through all ages and stages of life, with a focus on people experiencing vulnerability and exclusion. As one of the largest not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in Australia we offer services across NSW and the ACT in the areas of aged care, retirement and independent living, early learning, disability, community, and mental health services. With our values: Compassionate, Respectful, Bold, and Imaginative we work to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.
headspace Katoomba's services can be accessed free of charge. Some of our services may require you to have a Medicare card, however our primary care services do not.
Young people 15+ years old can get their own Medicare card by visiting a Medicare office or by calling Medicare on 13 20 11.
The below fact sheet and road map explain why young people may need their own Medicare card, and which option and pathway to take for getting their own Medicare card that will suit their needs under difference circumstances.