We know sometimes you have to wait for an appointment and it can feel really frustrating and isolating. We want to acknowledge the courage it took to reach out for support and want to share these other helpful resources, services, websites and apps that you may also find useful:  

Community support:

BUSY Ability - 1 Brygon Creek Drive, Upper Coomera QLD 4209 – Provides support to persons with an illness, injury or disability to find, or remain in, employment. https://busyability.org.au/

Oxenford/Coomera Community & Youth Centre - 25 Leo Graham Way, Oxenford QLD 4210 – Provides telehealth/face to face counselling/psychological support and a series of programs including life skills, family, and parenting supports. https://youthcentre.org.au/#services

Nerang Neighbourhood Centre - 29 Martin Street Nerang QLD 4211 – Provides multiple programs & activities including a food service, Information, advice, referrals, support

Information and advice for New Zealand citizens living in Australia. http://www.nncinc.com.au/services/

Multicultural Families Organisation - 79B Scarborough St Southport QLD 4215 – Provides Youth Development & Homework Club, support for Domestic Violence, Multicultural Women's Services and other programs in the community. https://www.mfo.org.au/

Crisis support:

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/ - Free, private and confidential phone, online and text support for people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping or staying safe.

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au- Free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5-25 years.

Parentline 1300 30 1300 or https://parentline.com.au/ – Free, private and confidential phone and online counselling and support for parents & carers from 8am to 10pm. 1300 30 1300

Gold Coast Acute Care Team 1300 642 255 – When you are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping or staying safe, it is the first point of contact for the Gold Coast Mental Health service providing education, support, information, advice, and referral.

Websites:

 eheadspace - Free, confidential, over the phone or online counselling service from 9am to 1am provided by headspace. 1800 650 890 or eheadspace.org.au

Family and Child Connect 13 32 64 or https://familychildconnect.org.au/ – Free support to help with a range of family and parenting challenges.

ReachOut - Online resources and support for young people under 25 going through a tough time. au.reachout.com

NewAccess – The 6 structured free, confidential, over the phone, online or face to face sessions give you practical tools to manage whatever you are facing. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess

Beyond Blue - Online space for discussion and support from peers.
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums

The Butterfly Foundation - Telephone and web based counselling, information and support for people experiencing eating disorders https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/

The BRAVE Program - Online program to support young people aged 8-17 with anxiety. brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au/

Mood Gym - A free self-help program that teaches cognitive behavioural skills to help prevent and manage symptoms related to anxiety and depression https://moodgym.com.au/

The Desk - Online tools and programs to support students with their mental health. https://www.thedesk.org.au/login?login

Head to Health - Wherever you are on your mental health journey, Head to Health is here to help you find the information, resources, and services that most suit your needs. headtohealth.gov.au

Bite Back - Online activities, psychoeducation and positive psychology to support young people with their mental health. biteback.org.au

Alcohol and Other Drugs Support:

 Lives Lived Well 1300 727 957 - Provides support for people who are being impacted by alcohol or drugs or problems with mental health. https://www.liveslivedwell.org.au/

Hello Sunday Morning - Website and app that support young people cutting back or taking a break from alcohol. hellosundaymorning.org

Clear Your Vision - Online program to support young people to reduce their cannabis use. cannabissupport.com.au/treatment/tools-to-quit/clear-your-vision

Apps:

Calm Harm – This app provides tasks that help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm. You can add your own tasks too and it's completely private and password protected. https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps/calm-harm

BeyondNow - This is a safely planning app that you can work through if you're having thoughts of suicide. beyondblue.org.au/get-support/beyondnow-suicide-safety-planning

ReachOut Breathe - An app to help reduce the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety by slowing down your heart rate with your mobile phone (iOS) or Apple Watch. https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps/reachout-breathe

Smiling Minds - A website and app teaching Mindfulness Meditation to young people (7-22 years), and adults https://smilingmind.com.au/

Breakup Shakeup - A behavioural activation app that provides fun, easy activities to do to help young people (14-25 years) cope after a breakup http://www.emhprac.org.au/services/breakup-shakeup/ 

Accessibility 

headspace Upper Coomera is accessible for people who use a wheelchair and/or have restricted movement. Our centre has wheelchair access from the car park, with a large loading zone in front of our doors that can be used for dropping off and collection. Disability parking is also available within the Brygon Reserve Shopping Village, in front of Vinnies. 

Toilet Facilities

headspace Upper Coomera has an adapted toilet available for people who use a wheelchair and/or have restricted movement. All toilets are gender neutral.

Transport Options

headspace Upper Coomera can be reached via the Gold Coast public transport network (Trans Link) including these main route options. You can plan your journey here

- Coomera Westfield to headspace Upper Coomera:

Travelling to headspace Upper Coomera from Coomera Westfield is approximately a 30-minute journey. The trip commences at Coomera Station stop A, route 727. This route will then take you to Old Coach Road at Low Drive Upper Coomera, 1.3km walk to the centre doors.

- Helensvale Westfield to headspace Upper Coomera:

Travelling to headspace Upper Coomera from Helensvale Westfield is approximately a 45-minute journey. The bus route is 725 and this leaves from Town Centre Drive, Helensvale Station approximately every hour and is approximately a 30-minute drive with the stop for headspace Upper Coomera being Reserve Road near Goldcrest Drive Upper Coomera. Followed by a 330m walk to the centre.

- Pimpama City Shopping Centre to headspace Upper Coomera:

Travelling to headspace Upper Coomera from Pimpama is approximately a 40-minute journey. The journey commences at Jacobs Well Road at Pimpama City route 721, which leaves every hour. Then hopping off the bus at Ormeau Station and travelling to platform one to hop on the Gold Coast Train – Airport via Brisbane to Varsity Lakes. Then when reaching Coomera Station leaving platform one to travel to Stop A Coomera Station and getting on bus route 725. Then travelling to Reserve Road near Jessica Drive, Upper Coomera followed by a 384m walk to the centre doors.

Free Parking

Free Parking is offered throughout the Brygon Reserve Shopping Village and along Bryon Creek Road. 

At headspace Upper Coomera we understand asking for help when you are not well can sometimes be frightening, so we try to make it as simple and stress-free as possible for young people to access our services

If you would like to refer yourself or find out more about our service just phone one of our friendly staff members on (07) 5600 1999. If you are a parent, carer or friend of a young person and would like to refer them to headspace Upper Coomera we suggest you talk to them about this idea first and if they agree then contact us on (07) 5600 1999 or email reception@headspaceuc.org.au 

If you are a professional and would like to refer a young person to headspace Upper Coomera we ask that you fill out our headspace referral form. This information will assist us in getting the young person the right help they need more quickly. Once filled out simply fax it through to us on (07) 3568 8300 or email reception@headspaceuc.org.au Our reception staff will action the referral and send it through to the appropriate staff member. 

headspace Upper Coomera aims to provide easy access to services for young people at no cost and we ensure that we respect your confidentiality.  headspace Upper Coomera does not discriminate regardless of race, cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or disability. 

You can also use our eheadspace service, which provides after-hours online and telephone mental health support to young people and their families, open 9am-1am every day. 

If you have a valid Australian Medicare Card and a current Mental Health Care Plan, you can have up to 10 sessions in a calendar year with your Allied Health Worker (Clinical/General Psychologist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist) bulk-billed through Medicare. Please bring in your Medicare Card.  There may be some circumstances that may result in services needed to be be paid for. Where fees apply, you will be advised in advance.

Don't have a Medicare card? Access the medicare application form here, or follow the link to their website for more information.

If you are not eligible for an Australian Medicare Card, or do not wish to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan, or if you have used all of your 10 sessions for the year under your Mental Health Care Plan you can be offered the opportunity to pay to see the allied health worker as follows:  

Clinical Psychologist:          General Psychologist:                 Social Worker:

 $128.40                                     $87.45                                         $77.10

-Payments for fee-for-service appointments can be made via EFTPOS (preferred) or CASH (please note we do not keep large quantities of cash on-site and exact money is preferred). 

-Fees are aligned to the Medicare Benefits Schedule and are subject to change if the Medicare rate increases. 

What kind of things can you help me with?

headspace Upper Coomera can help with concerns or questions related to general health, mental health and well-being, physical health, sexual health, employment, education and training, and alcohol and other drug concerns. If you are not sure if we can help or not, then just give us a call. 

How old do I have to be?

headspace Upper Coomera provides services to young people between the ages of 12 and 25. 

Do my parents need to come with me?

Although we feel it's great if parents can come and support you, we also understand this may be difficult sometimes for many reasons. Therefore, your parents don't have to attend headspace Upper Coomera with you. You may want to bring someone else that you feel comfortable with, or you can also attend by yourself if you chose to. If you’re 16 years or under we will require consent from a family member or guardian to attend.  

How much does it cost?

All headspace Upper Coomera services are free of charge, through the Medicare system. If you don't have a Medicare card, contact us for information on how to obtain one or for alternative ways that we might be able to assist you. Where we need to refer you to another service, we will always talk with you about their costs and try to find you no or low cost service to best suit your needs. 

When are you open?

headspace Upper Coomera is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. 

How do I make an appointment?

First step is to give us a call on (07) 5600 1999 or email us at reception@headspaceuc.org.au and talk to one of our friendly staff who will:

• Chat with you about what you are wanting help with
• Explain to you the services we are able to provide; and
• Work with you to develop a plan for how your needs can best be met

We will then use this information to match you up with a worker who will contact you to book a face to face or phone appointment. You can also ask a friend, teacher, parent, other family member, health worker or community agency to contact headspace for you; however we will need to speak with you to get your consent. 

Do I need a referral to come?

No, you don't need a referral, if you are between the ages of 12 and 25 just give us a call and talk to our reception crew to see how we can help. You can also ask a friend, teacher, parent, other family member, health worker or community agency to contact headspace Upper Coomera for you; however, we will need to speak with you to get your consent. 

Do you tell people what I say?

At headspace Upper Coomera we take your privacy very seriously and anything you say to us is confidential. If your information needs to be given to other people or organisations we will ask you for your permission. The only time we would talk to someone else without your permission is if you tell us that you are going to hurt yourself or someone else, or if we are required to by law. Keeping you and other people safe is our main concern. 

What if I'm not ready to speak to someone face-to-face?

It's not unusual to feel nervous about getting help for the first time. If you're going through a tough time and you're not ready to chat to someone face-to-face, eheadspace provides confidential online web-chat and telephone mental health support 7 days a week, 9am-1am. To access eheadspace for the first time all you need to do is register at eheadspace.org.au or phone 1800 650 890. 

Headspace Upper Coomera has an inspiring team of youth friendly staff, who are happy to answer any questions you have, and to support you to get the help you need!

Our Primary Mental Health Team includes:

• Mental Heath Clinicians (including social workers and psychologists)
• Psychologists
• Clinical Psychologists
• Reception/Administration Workers
• Community Development Worker
• Youth Peer Support Workers

We are looking to recruit:

• General Practitioners (GP's)
• Youth Advisory Council 

Working collaboratively with schools is a priority for the team at headspace Upper Coomera. We would like to compliment the great work that is already being achieved in schools and work with you to continue to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

 How can we work together to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people?

 We support schools in promoting mental health awareness with young people and their families and aim to promote mental wellness, enhance awareness of mental health problems and build young people's capacity to seek help early. 

We offer generalised presentations explaining all about headspace Upper Coomera, the help we can provide and ways in which we can look after each other.  If your school is planning an EXPO or an event which has a youth mental health and well-being focus, we can attend as a stallholder, providing opportunities for students to interact with us. Our stall will include resources about headspace Upper Coomera services, other local or national youth mental health resources and when possible, merchandise to give away. 

We can also offer more tailored presentations, with specific themes that are delivered as interactive chats and require small class sizes. These presentations require considerable planning and we do not always have capacity to complete them, so please allow plenty of time with your request.  

How to make a request

If your school would like to engage with headspace Upper Coomera we ask that you please complete and submit our online request form here. For any other information please do not hesitate to contact our Community Awareness Team on
(07) 5600 1999 or email belinda.tessieri@headspaceuc.org.au