headspace Nowra is a free, youth-friendly and confidential service for young people aged 12-25 years.

Led by Grand Pacific Health, headspace Nowra brings together a range of services to provide a holistic “one-stop-shop” for young people. Our services include: 

• Mental Health Support – Youth Counsellors, Youth Workers and other Mental Health Professionals 
• Drug and Alcohol Support 
• Education and Employment Support
• Sexual Health Support
• Peer Worker Support
• Pride Space- A fortnightly social group for LGBTQI+ community members and allies
• The Youth Reference Group (YRG)- a group who meet fortnightly to advise headspace Nowra on youth perspectives 

PLEASE NOTE:
headspace Nowra is not an acute mental health/crisis service. If you have any immediate concerns regarding the safety/wellbeing of a young person, please call: Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511; Lifeline on 13 11 14; or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. In an emergency, contact 000 immediately.   

HOW TO REFER:

We accept referrals from all sources and by any method.
Once a referral has been received, a confirmation of receipt will be sent, as well as information on the expected time it should take to hear from us about the referral.  A follow-up will be sent after the referral has been reviewed.

Self-Referral: Young people are encouraged to make contact with headspace Nowra directly. Call (02) 4446 7300 within office hours or email info@headspacenowra.org.au . The best way to contact us is by calling.

Drop in: Young people can call into headspace Nowra (96 Kinghorne Street) between 9am-5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Friday or 9.30-6pm on Wednesday (9am-5pm during Covid restrictions). Staff will endeavour to see the young person the same day, or the next available appointment will be offered.   

External Referral: GP’s, Allied Health Professionals, community-based agencies and educational institutions can all refer young people to headspace Nowra by phone. General Practitioners should include a mental health care plan (if appropriate) for the young person and send to info@headspacenowra.org.au or FAX 4421 0045

Referral Form for external providers 

Family Referral: Families, carers or friends can refer a young person to headspace Nowra. The young person needs to be aware of and consent to the referral and be willing to meet with a member from the headspace Nowra team.

If you have any questions please call 4446 7300

Where to look for support while you're on waiting list at headspace Nowra

Waiting for your psychology, counselling or psychiatry appointment can take a long time.

If you've made it to this web page, chances are you've probably looked for support online already.

Here are some of our suggestions that you can use while you wait:

Have a look at our wellbeing starter pack – it is a collection of a few useful apps, services and resources you can turn to if you're looking for support while you wait.

Did you know headspace is also online not just at a centre?

You can get free online and telephone support and counselling for your mental health by creating a headspace account. There are group chats, online communities, and 1:1 direct support with eheadspace professionals. It also has support for your families and friends. Create your headspace account or call 1800 650 890

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone you know, you might feel better calling a helpline, joining a forum discussion or trying an online program.

Beyond Blue

The Beyond Blue forums are a supportive place to connect with people who are going through similar experiences to you. You can read other people’s stories, ask for advice or share your own experience.

ReachOut

Reach Out Forums is a supportive, safe and anonymous space where people care about what's happening for you, because they've been there too.

Kids Helpline

The website has information and services to support young people through any problems – big or small.

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)

Having a parent with a mental illness can be tough. But COPMI have a lot of information and videos to help you get your head around it all.

Don’t forget Your School:

It can be scary telling people that you are struggling but talking to your school can really help you. Chances are you aren't the only student who is struggling with their mental health, and the school probably already has some kind of internal support system. Speak to a teacher you trust, and they should be able to help you.

Want to know more about what to expect when attending headspace Nowra?

We have created welcome packs to introduce you to our service and direct you to where you can find further information and support:

headspace Nowra Welcome Pack

Sometimes people don't show up for their appointments at headspace. We understand that life can be unpredictable and things can come up. 

Here's how you can help us to help you...

headspace Nowra's Cancellation Guide

headspace Nowra is home to a team of fabulous staff, who all help people in different ways. Some of the main people you can see here are:

Administration and Management:

Kim – Office Administration

Kim works in Office Administration and will likely be the first person you’ll talk to when you come to headspace or call us. She will give you any initial information you need about coming to headspace and help to book your appointments. Kim has previously worked in hotel management and real estate. She loves working at headspace because of the positive impact that we have on young people’s lives. When she’s not at work, Kim enjoys going out camping, spending time with her family and taking the dog to the beach.

Rhiannon- Senior Administration Officer

Rhiannon is our Senior Administration Officer & is one of the friendly faces you will come across in our front office. Rhiannon has joined our headspace team with a passion to provide support to young people & their families. When not at work, you will find Rhiannon out enjoying the many bush tracks of the Shoalhaven with her family.

Emily - Service Manager

Emily is the service manager for our center. She oversees all the different services and programs headspace Nowra has to offer. She has come to us with a wealth of knowledge and has a long background in working with families and young people in supporting their mental health. While she isn’t at work she enjoys being on and around the water, spending time with family and friends, reading and bingeing out on a good TV series.      

Clinical Team:

Erin – Clinical Lead 

Erin is a Clinical Psychologist and the Clinical Lead at headspace Nowra. Erin is a compassionate professional with a passion for youth mental health. Erin started with headspace as a placement student whilst studying a Master of Psychology (clinical) and now is here full time as the Clinical Lead supporting both headspace staff and young people in the Shoalhaven. When Erin is not at work, she spends her time taking her dogs to the beach, in the garden or adventuring around the beautiful Shoalhaven area.

Alex - Clinical Educator

Alex is the Clinical Educator at headspace Nowra, where she facilitates our Postgraduate Student Placement Program. She is also a Clinical Psychologist working in our psychology stream and has a background in working in Suicide Prevention. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with my family and friends, going to the beach, enjoying a good book, or enjoying downtime doing a good puzzle.

Sarah – Mental Health Clinician

Sarah has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Masters of Social Work. She started at headspace Nowra as a student on placement while completing her Masters and now works with us full-time as a Mental Health Clinician. Sarah is working towards her accreditation as a Mental Health Social Worker and is passionate about supporting young people through a collaborative, curious and warm approach to practice. In her spare time, she loves baking and taking her dog Bart to the beach!

Zach – Mental Health Clinician 

Zach has recently completed his Master of Clinical Psychology at the University of Wollongong and has now worked at headspace Nowra for over two years. Zach enjoys working with a range of psychological issues, as he feels that this allows him to better serve the needs of the community. When Zach isn't working, he loves watching the footy (or most sports really), playing with his dog, and swimming at the beach.

Madoc - Mental Health Clinician - Intern

Madoc is a Provisional Psychologist and is currently completing his Master of Clinical Psychology. Madoc originally started his journey at headspace Nowra as a student and now works as a part of our team. Madoc has a particular interest in working with families and enjoys supporting young people to meet their mental health goals. When he is not work, Madoc enjoys reading, catching up with mates and training jiu-jitsu!

Chantelle - Youth Access Worker

Chantelle is our Youth Access Worker at headspace Nowra. Chantelle is one of the first people that you will speak with when first connecting with headspace! Chantelle has a passion for working with young people and ensuring a safe, friendly, and welcoming introduction to headspace supports. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her furbabies and friends, having a cup of coffee and being outdoors.

Alan - Youth Care Coordinator/Counsellor/Intake worker

Alan is headspace Nowra's Youth Counsellor and Youth Care Coordinator, which means he supports young people in a range of ways in addition to counselling sessions.  Alan works as one of our intake workers, so he might be one of the first people a young person talks to when they first contact headpsace. When he’s not at work, Alan enjoys surfing, playing music and going camping.

Lynne – Family Clinician

As a family clinician, Lynne provides support to the parents and families of young people accessing headspace services. Lynne is a registered nurse working in mental health since 1992. Lynne draws on her clinical experience and being a parent of two grown-up children to assist parents and families at headspace. Lynne loves to travel but is equally happy close to home, walking the dog at the beach and preparing meals from her garden.

Community Engagement Team:

Maria - Community Engagement Officer

Maria is headspace Nowra's Community Engagement Officer and can often be found out and about in the community. She has experience in raising awareness about children and young people's rights, making youth participation one her most important flags. Maria is also passionate about caring for the land and its people through the food we eat, so she grows delicious and nutritious veggies. Music and dancing are her best companions, even more so when Colombian rhythms resonate, being the place where Maria is from.

Peer Worker: 

Bea – Peer Worker

Bea (they/them) is our Peer Worker here at headspace Nowra and a passionate member of the LGBTQIA+ community; They create and run groups in our centre while also connecting individually with young people in a non-clinical approach who need someone to listen to them alongside (or instead of) a young person's time with a clinician. A Peer Worker is someone who has a lived experience of overcoming challenging thoughts, feelings and experiences and functions as a role model of recovery.

Bea is an enthusiastic creator and lover of all different kinds of arts; they love to explore creative writing and make all sorts of artworks outside of work while also incorporating chances to meaningfully create into our centre's groups.

Vocational Specialists:

Courtney T - Vocational Specialist IPS

You may recognise this face if you have ever come into the headspace Nowra centre, Courtney would have been your first point of contact! Courtney is now a part of our work and study program, working as a vocational specialist.

‘I am really enjoying working with the young people of the Shoalhaven supporting them with their work and study goals’. When Courtney isn’t working you will find her, spending time with family, at the beach or chilling with friends.

Dieticians

Alycia - Dietician  

Alicia works every second Tuesday afternoon from the headspace centre.  If you would like to make an appointment, please talk to someone at reception.

Clinical Team

Ebony- Youth Access Worker

Ebony is the Youth Access Worker at our Ulladulla outreach service, meaning she is one of the first people you'll have a session with when you first connect with headspace. Ebony holds a Bachelor of Psychology and is currently completing her Masters of Counselling. In her spare time Ebony enjoys reading, spending time with friends and doing physie.

Shakira- Mental Health Clinician

Shakira is a Mental health Clinician at our Ulladulla outreach service. Shakira is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and has a long background in working with families and young people in supporting their mental health in schools, private practice and post-separation. While she isn’t at work, she enjoys stand up paddle boarding, beach time, spending time with family and friends, reading and hitting the gym. 

Vocational Specialists

Courtney T - Vocational Specialist IPS

You may recognise this face if you have ever come into the headspace Nowra centre, Courtney would have been your first point of contact! Courtney is now a part of our work and study program, working as a vocational specialist.

‘I am really enjoying working with the young people of the Shoalhaven supporting them with their work and study goals’. When Courtney isn’t working you will find her, spending time with family, at the beach or chilling with friends.

Gordon – Vocational Specialist IPS

Gordon is one of our Work and Study team members. Gordon’s passion lies in education and that of helping young people achieve a dream of study as part of where they wish to go into employment- not just focusing on one pathway but what best suits the young person and what they really want to do. Gordan likes seeing young people come in and leave with a sense of hopefulness and purpose in their lives. When he’s not at work you’ll find Gordon Studying, parenting or out on the water in some form!

headspace Nowra believes that family and friends play an important role in a young person’s journey to better wellbeing.

We understand that there are many different types of family and friends that are important in a young person’s life.

How you can be involved in supporting your young person will depend on many things – including the young person’s age, life experience and their feelings about family involvement.

Wherever possible, we advocate for and provide meaningful opportunities for family and friends to directly participate in our services.

This pack will introduce you to our service and where you can find further information and support for you and your young person.

Family and Friends Welcome Pack

You can also find more information on how to support young people in the Explore Topics resource library. 

Help is close at hand 

What is gambling really costing you?

Most people gamble at one time or another.

It may be on poker machines, at the TAB, on the lotteries or at the casino. For many people, gambling is fun, entertaining and causes no harm.

However, for some people, gambling can become a problem. Gambling can come at a high cost - financially, emotionally and personally. Gambling can be harmful for the person who gambles, and their family and friends.

If you are concerned about yourself, or a loved one reach out to GambleAware for support.

Follow the links below or call GambleAware on 1800 858 858

They are here for you 24/7 

If you need support: We’re Ready Whenever You’re Ready To Talk About Gambling

If you want to support someone: How Can You Help Someone With A Gambling Problem Change

Gaming, gambling and young people: What’s The Connection Between Video Games And Gambling

Our Purple Pack is made up of a stack of useful resources we've found from many different groups and organisations to support transgender,  gender diverse and sexually diverse young people.

It includes:

• Information on pronouns, medical and social transitioning, coming out/inviting in, your legal rights, navigating relationships, sexuality and more.
• Stories from other gender and sexually diverse young people.
• Info on where to go to get more information and support online or in person.

The aim of this pack is to help you and your loved ones along your journey no matter what point you are at.

You can find a digital version here

Information for Young People:

• How headspace can help
  • headspace resource 
• Gender Identity and Mental Health
  • headspace resource 
• TransHub (website)

  • ACON’s digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse (TGD) people in NSW, our loved ones, allies and health providers.

• Rainbow Network Resources
  • A range of resources from help when coming out ot family and friends to setting up online social and support groups.
• Minus18 - CHAMPIONS FOR LGBTQIA+ YOUTH
  • Through a preventative model of mental health support, we tackle social isolation by creating fun-filled spaces where LGBTQIA+ young people belong and are celebrated. Being visible, making friends and feeling supported are what our events are about.
• Twenty10 - 
  • A broad range of specialised services for young people 12-25 including housing, mental health, counselling and social support
• Gender Centre -  
  • Specialised services that enables the exploration of gender identity and assistance with the alleviation of gender dysphoria
• LGBTIQ Health -
  • Supporting healthy lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, intersex, queer and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people and communities throughout Australia and the world, free from stigma and discrimination
• QLife
  • Provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
• Rainbow Cultures
  • A directry of LGBTQIA+ multicultural community groups and services in NSW

• QueerAbility
  • A Toolkit for accessing the NDIS
• Pivot Point
  • Support for reducing or quitting alcohol and other drugs
• Queer and Trans Tales: The Downlow on Gender, Sex and Sexuality. (A super simple comic guide!) 
  • by Sam Orchard / Rooster Tails

Information for Families and Friends:

• Trans 101: Gender Identity Crash Course 
  • How to support trans people around you
• Families Like Mine 
  • A guide that offers practical advice to families of young gender diverse people, same-sex attracted and bisexual people, and those who are questioning their sexuality or gender identity.
• Rainbow Network - Supporting the Families of LGBTIQ+ young people
  • Ideas and links to resources and information about how to support the families of lesbian,
    gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTIQ+) young people

Most importantly, we want you to know that headspace Nowra is a safe place and we want to support you.

Call us on 4421 5300 if you would like to speak to someone. We're here to help.

Did you know you can get your own Medicare card when you are over a certain age!

Don't know how? To find out more check out these websites below:

Health NSW - Fact Sheet Medicare at 15 

Services Australia

Our Youth Care Coordinator can help you fill out all the paperwork that is needed, we also have forms at reception you can fill out. Come into headspace Nowra to grab your copy today

headspace Nowra is accessible for all visitors, we have disability access to the building and access to appropriate disabled facilities inside the Centre.

Street parking is available around the centre with a 1hour parking limit between 8am and 6pm.

The closest 2 and 3 hour parking available off Stewart Place.

headspace Wollongong, Nowra, Bega and Goulburn now offer telehealth sessions via a special platform called “Attend Anywhere”. We think it gives you the experience most like your normal face-to-face sessions with a clinician. It’s encryption levels mean your conversations stay private, and it allows you to wait in a “waiting room”, under the supervision of our admin team, until your clinician is ready to see you.

WHAT DO I NEED?

• A good connection to the internet 
  If you can watch a video online (e.g. YouTube) you can make a video call
• One of these:
  • Google Chrome web browser on a desktop or laptop, or on an Android tablet or smartphone
  • Safari web browser on an Apple iMac, MacBook, iPad or iPhone
• Web-camera, speakers, and microphone already built into laptops or mobile devices

How much internet data will I use?

You don’t use any data while waiting for a clinician to join you.

An Attend Anywhere video call uses a similar amount of data to Skype^® or FaceTime^®.

PRIVACY

You have your own private video room that only authorised clinicians can enter. Video calls are secure; your privacy is protected.

Your telehealth service will not be recorded by us. We ask you to also agree not to make recordings of our sessions and not to use materials from our sessions elsewhere. 

WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?

Your clinician is available to answer all your questions and answer any concerns. Together, you will work out a plan that best suits you. If you wish to speak to someone else about your experience, please call your local headspace centre and ask to speak to the centre manager.

HOW DO I USE ATTEND ANYWHERE?

• Go to gph.org.au/telehealth-online-video-conference a little before the prearranged time for your appointment and select the headspace waiting room (red armchair logo).
• On this web page, click Start video call button and follow the instructions
• Wait in your own private video room
• Your clinician sees you arrive in the waiting area and joins you in your video room when they are ready

If you would like to know more, here’s a short video: https://youtu.be/o-64JK4nLuE

WHAT IF MY CONNECTION DROPS OUT? 

•  If you lose connection, firstly, wait 30 seconds and try to reconnect using the Refresh button.
•  If your video link drops out, or if you intentionally disconnect the videoconference, or leave the room where the videoconference hardware is set up, we will immediately contact you via your nominated contact number. If we cannot contact you, then we will activate your Contingency Plan.

What is my Contingency Plan?

At your first session, you and your clinician will work out a telehealth safety plan. This will be reviewed at the beginning of each session. Your plan will include nominated emergency contacts and/or local and emergency services.     

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY SESSION?

It can be easy to think of your Telehealth session as a less formal “catch-up” and think it doesn’t need much preparation. To get the best from your session, try to:

1)      Find a quiet space. Put away your pets, find a room where you think you won’t be overheard. Try using headphones with an in-built microphones, if you can. Most mobile phones come with these.

2)      Bring a notepad and pen. Your clinician won’t be able to give you a piece of paper to take home with you so you might need to jot some things down.

3)      Have your phone close to you but turn it onto silent and close your email programs. It is important that your clinician can call you, if something should happen to your Telehealth connection, but it’s also important to try to minimise distractions.

4)      Give yourself permission to focus. In these busy times there are lots of things calling for our attention. Give yourself permission to be fully present with your clinician for your session.

5)      Your telehealth session with your clinican will not take any longer than an in-person session at our centre would, except you don’t have to spend time travelling to us.

Are you interested in fundraising for or making a donation to headspace Nowra?

Your generous support helps us to provide vital mental health and wellbeing support, information and services to young people and their families across the Shoalhaven.

Set up your own fundraising page:
Are you setting a personal challenge, entering a fundraising event or celebrating a special occasion?
If you would like to fundraise for headspace Nowra, head to GoFundraise to set up your fundraising page:
www.gofundraise.com.au/beneficiary/headspacenowra

Donate online:
Donate online using the secure platform of GiveNow: www.givenow.com.au/headspacenowra

Donate by direct deposit:
Account Name: Grand Pacific Health
Account number: 606303831 BSB: 082916
Bank: National Australia Bank

Donate by cheque:
Cheques can be made out to Grand Pacific Health and mailed to Attn: Finance, Grand Pacific Health, PO Box 1198, South Coast MC NSW 2521.

Please email info@headspacenowra.org.au to advise us of your contact details when making a donation by direct deposit or cheque, and include hsNowra as a message/reference with your donation.

Thank you for your support!

headspace Nowra is committed to maintaining your privacy. Please talk to one of our workers if you want more information about how we protect the right to privacy of the young people who use our service. 

Grand Pacific Health - Privacy Statement

Grand Pacific Health - Your Rights and Responsibilities