Welcome Pack Information for Young People:

Everyone is welcome at headspace. This pack introduces you to our headspace services, where you can find further information and support.

Welcome pack - Young People: Click here

Welcome Pack Information for Families and Friends:

headspace is a famiy and friends inclusive service. We believe that family and friends play an important role in a young persons journey to better wellbeing. We also understand that family and friendships can take many different forms including all types of families, caregivers and significant others. This pack introduces you to our service where you can find further information and support for you and your young person. 

Welcome pack - Families and Friends: Click here

Family roles and responsibility brochure: Click here

headspace Manager: Anne Waters

Clinical Lead: Julia Winstanley

Operations Manager: Courtney Shiells

Access and Engagement Team: Sharon Lenehan, Colin Vale & Ben Gibbons

headspace Receptionists: Marcia McLeod, Sue Hughes & Jo Thompson

Community Awareness and Engagement Worker: Kayla Mugavin

GP Team: Dr Erin Gordon, Hannah Millard

Clinical Team: Anthony Gleeson, Damian Killeen, Lucy Whelan, India Saunders, Maya Raschel, Geraldine Lane & Rahman Gray

Early Intervention Team: Courtney Mattner & April Heaver

IPS Team: Emma Arnott & Robyn Gaw

D.A.R.E (AOD) Team: Jess Moloney, Gabi Mahony, Sophia Hilding

You becoming a youth advocate means that you’re being part of the Youth Reference Group. It is a volunteered role that we as a headspace centre use to the fullest. Having youth involved in decision making, planning and creating awareness is important to us as youth are at the heart of our headspace model.

Application Form to become a Youth Advocate - Click here

For further information what is involved in being member see the YRG Position description - Click here

headspace Warrnambool wants to let young people know when, how and where in the community to seek help for mental health problems. So we undertake community awareness activities to help increase the knowledge of young people, their  friends, families and the broader community.   

Headspace Warrnambool aims to

• improve the mental, social and emotional wellbeing of young people
• increase the level of mental health literacy available
• help people to understand, identify and respond to mental health needs of young people
• support and encourage active youth and carer participation through reference groups

We also create partnerships with local organisations, networks and educational settings to work toward reducing levels of stigma and discrimination associated with seeking help for mental health problems.

If you have a event that you want headspace Warrnambool to attend, a newsletter we can contribute to, or want us to come and speak with your group, please contact our Community Awareness and Engagement Worker, Kayla Mugavin on 5561 8878 or via kmugavin@brophy.org.au or please complete the form below and we'll contact you to discuss how we can help with your request.  

1.   Who are we?

headspace is a youth mental health foundation that provides early intervention mental health services to 12 - 25 year olds, along with assistance in promoting young people’s wellbeing over 4 core areas: mental health, physical health, work and study support and alcohol and other drug services. headspace is a safe, youth friendly and confidential service, and we aim to help give people the skills to manage their symptoms so that they can live a happy and healthy life.

2.   What can headspace Warrnambool help me with?

headspace Warrnambool have a number of professionals here to help support you in the best way possible. Young people can come to headspace Warrnambool and see counsellors, mental health social workers and occupational therapists, psychologists, doctors, nurses and more! We can support you in a number of ways and for all sorts of problems including (but not limited to) if:

• You are having trouble at home
• You are feeling down or upset
• You are feeling anxious or worried
• You are feeling nervous all the time
• You are having trouble managing your anger
• You are questioning your gender or sexuality
• You are having trouble with friends and/or relationships
• You are being bullied at school
• You are looking for employment
• You are having trouble with your medication

3. How much does headspace cost?

headspace Warrnambool is a FREE service. If we don’t have a service available at our centres, we will help you look for other free services or services that are low cost. headspace is covered by Medicare and we only require you to bring your Medicare card to your first appointment. Don’t worry if you are unable to access this card! We will sort this out upon your initial visit to headspace.

4. Do I need to make an appointment?

Most young people will make an appointment before coming into headspace, however at headspace Warrnambool you can also drop in without an appointment. One of our friendly intake workers will see you if they are available. headspace Warrnambool will usually have one intake worker available each day, on each site, so that you can get the support you need at the right time. You can also call us to make an appointment on 1300 276 749. Other people can also make an appointment for you on your behalf if you are not comfortable to do so yourself. Some of these people can be a family member, friend, GP or school counsellor. Our opening hours for both centres are as follows:

• 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 & Sunday: Closed

If you are not ready to come into our centre for an appointment, our free and confidential online support may be of benefit to you. https://www.eheadspace.org.au is a free online service for young people where you can talk to a trained professional on anything that is going on for you. This is a really great first step to accessing support if you are not ready to see a counsellor in our centre. eheadspace offers free web chat, email or phone conversations to young people and their family between 9am - 1am.

5. What do I do if I need help in an emergency?

At headspace Warrnambool, we understand that things can happen for young people that may be distressing. This could include thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself, or thoughts of suicide. If this is going on for you - attend the nearest emergency department which are located at:

• South West Healthcare Emergency Department– Corner of Ryot and Koroit Street, Warrnambool VIC 3280

6. Your confidentiality.

When you talk to someone at headspace, what you say is kept confidential. This means that nothing you say can be passed on to anyone else without your permission. We also won’t tell your parents or carers any information about you accessing our service unless you want us to. However there are a couple of exceptions. If we are seriously worried about your safety or the safety of others, we - by law- try to keep everyone safe. This means that we might have to share these concerns with someone else and break this confidentiality to help keep you or others safe.

7. Do I need a referral to come to headspace?

You don’t need a referral to see one of our intake workers. The intake worker will speak to you regarding the services we can offer based on what you need. A mental health treatment plan may need to be created so you can access our ongoing counselling services.

8. What is a mental health treatment plan?

A mental health treatment plan provides the community with up to 10 counselling services under the “Better Access Mental Health” initiative. A MHTP is developed between yourself and your doctor. Our intake clinician will give you step- by- step instructions on how to get one. If you don’t have a doctor, our intake clinician will speak to you regarding other options. At headspace Warrnambool, all your MHTP counselling sessions are FREE.

9. What happens in my first appointment with an intake worker?

When you first visit out centre, you will have a chat with an intake worker about what is happening in your life. The intake worker will ask you some questions about what has been going on and will try to work out a plan that will best support your needs moving forward. We encourage you to also be a part of the planning process so that you feel comfortable with the decisions being made for your care. 

10. Is headspace Warrnambool a LGBTIQ+ friendly place?

Absolutely! We support many young people with various gender identities and sexual preferences. Everyone is welcome at headspace regardless of gender, race or sexuality.

11. Do you have supports for my family as well as myself?

We sure do! We have lots of resources for families and friends at our centre.
We also do family and friends support or counselling if needed and we have a great carer support worker in our team who works with the parents and carers of the young person accessing headspace.

12. If I’m not connecting with my clinician is it okay if I see someone else?

Absolutely. If you are finding that you are not connecting with your clinician you are more than welcome to see someone else at our centre. You can do this by either asking an intake worker to link you with another clinician, you can see our friendly peer support workers who can also help link you with another clinician, or you can ask reception to book you in with someone else. There are many options on how this can be done. Don’t be afraid to ask!! Our most important priority is that you are seeing someone you feel comfortable with and who will be the best person to help support you through your journey.

13. Why do I need to fill in an IPAD when I come to headspace?

Each survey you fill out goes to the clinician you are seeing so that they have an idea of how you have been feeling before seeing you in session. Filling out the survey also helps us with our funding so that we can keep providing a free service to the community that supports young people.

14. I cannot make it to my appointment or I do not want to come to my appointment.

That’s okay!  We would love it if you could call us on 1300 276 749 and let us know in advance! We can also help you rebook your appointment at the same time.

15. Can I bring a friend with me to my appointment?

If you feel more comfortable with a friend, parent or carer in the room, this is okay! Whatever makes you feel comfortable is what we will support.

16. If I have feedback who do I speak to?

We always love getting feedback from our clients, parents or carers. Both the good and the bad, as this is what helps to make our service the best that it can be for young people. We have feedback forms on the table in our waiting room. This can be completed and put in our confidential box at reception. You are also welcome to ask our reception staff for a feedback form if there is none available to you. 

17. I would like help but I am not ready to come in yet. What can I do?

If you are not ready to come into our centre, you can access our online counselling support at https://www.eheadspace.org.au . This website offers free web chat, email or phone conversations to young people and their family between 9am - 1am.

 Information about how to obtain a Medicare card see below on Medicare website:

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/subjects/how-enrol-and-get-started-medicare/enrolling-medicare

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

Most importantly, we want you to know that headspace Warrnambool is a safe place and we want to support you. Call us on 1300 276 749 if you would like to speak to someone. We're here to help.

The Purple Pack:

Resources:

• Trans 101: Gender Identity Crash Course (from YGender and Minus18)

• OMG I'm Trans (from Minus18)

• Gender Questioning (from Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria in conjunction with the Trans Melbourne Gender Project.

• Sex, Gender and Sexuality: The Basics (from Twenty10)

• The Downlow on Gender, Sex and Sexuality. (A super simple comic guide!) (by Sam Orchard / Rooster Tails)

• Gender Identity and Mental Health (from headspace)

• Coming Out / Inviting In (from Twenty10)

• Getting Treatment: what to do if you are trans and under 18 (from Inner City Legal Centre)

• Resources for those who are exploring or thinking about some aspect of their gender or sexuality (from Twenty10)

• OMG I'm Queer (from Minus18)

• How headspace can help (from headspace)

Information for family and friends:

• Gender Help for Parents website

• Families Like Mine (from beyondblue)

• Families In TRANSition: A Resource Guide for Parents of Trans Youth (from Central Toronto Youth Services) (Note: This is a Canadian resource - while information is useful and relevant, please note links to services and help lines are not specific to Australia)

• OMG My Friend's Queer (from Minus18)

headspace isn't a crisis service, here is a list of services that can help quickly:

Police, Fire and Ambulance: 000

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 

eheadspace: 1800 650 890 

After Hours GP Helpline: 1800 022 222

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Yarning SafeNStrong: 1800 95 95 63

BeyondBlue: 1300 224 636

South West Healthcare Mental Health Services: 5561 9100

Please phone 1300 276 749 for an appointment. Every effort will be made to accommodate your preferred time & doctor/counsellor. Emergencies will always be given priority & our reception staff will attempt to contact you if there is any unforeseen delay or your doctor/counsellor has been called away. Longer consultation times are available, so please ask our receptionist if you require an interpreter service, we can organise this for you. Just let us know about this when you make the appointment.

The doctors and counsellors of our clinic bulk-bill Medicare for services provided. This means that you only need to bring your Medicare Card, and if you have one, your healthcare card.