ReachOut Australia

ReachOut’s Interim CEO, Jackie Hallan, attended the Digital Childhoods Summit in Canberra last week. She participated in a panel with Dr Imogen Bell from Orygen and Dr Bridianne O’Dea from the Black Dog Institute, hosted by Professor Daniel Johnson from the Queensland University of Technology. They discussed the transformative role of technology in mental health service delivery.  Jackie also heard from sector leaders including the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman - Grant, and Lucy Thomas from PROJECT ROCKIT, and listened to two young people share their hopes and challenges for the future. Key themes emerging from the event included the importance of elevating young people’s voices in conversations that affect them and the responsibility of organisations to design safer digital platforms.  Digital technology has fundamentally changed how we connect with the world and those around us. Events like this, which foster nuanced conversations about technology’s role in young people’s lives, are crucial. They inspire collective action and collaboration. 💪📱 Thank you, Digital Child for having us!

It’s that time of year again! The Australian Mental Health Prize is open for nominations 🏆 The Australian Mental Health Prize is awarded annually to Australians who have made outstanding contributions to either the promotion of mental health or the prevention or treatment of mental illness. The mental health sector has made significant strides in recent years. Recognising these achievements raises awareness about the important work being done to address critical mental health challenges. ReachOut’s Board Member and Patron, Ian Thorpe, was celebrated in the 2022 awards for his dedication to supporting youth mental health and wellbeing. Do you know someone deserving of recognition this year? If you’re interested in learning more, head here: https://lnkd.in/gqsJ6eS

✨Introducing ReachOut’s new CEO!! ✨ We are excited to announce the appointment of Gary Groves as the new CEO of ReachOut Australia. Gary brings extensive experience in innovation, program delivery and leadership having worked in leadership roles across his 25 year career in the public service and community sector, most recently as CEO of JewishCare. Gary's dedication to enhancing mental health outcomes has been a driving force throughout his career, fueled by his deep-seated passion and personal experience with mental ill-health. Gary joins ReachOut at an exciting time for the organisation, with the growth and ongoing development of our award-winning PeerChat service and upcoming release of innovative service personalisation features. Welcome, Gary! We’re excited to have you join us. To read more about Gary’s appointment, head here:   https://lnkd.in/gWCbMJSG

As part of #NationalReconciliationWeek, we placed a focus on the power of connection to community through meaningful conversations. We were thrilled to host Bundjalung and Worimi journalist Phoebe McIlwraith, for a Q&A that delved into the crucial topic of supporting storytellers in a rapidly changing digital world. This conversation was not just relevant but vital to the work we do at ReachOut, shaping how we build and co-design services and content for a young First Nations audience. During the event we heard about Phoebe’s journey into journalism, why she values storytelling, and how she learnt to navigate the ups and downs of sharing lived experience stories in the media. Phoebe also offered incredible insights into how organisations can support First Nations storytellers in an ever-changing digital landscape. It was a fascinating discussion and reflection on the value of supporting safe storytelling. Thank you so much, Phoebe, for your time, generosity and wisdom. Phoebe has previously worked with ReachOut to produce two incredible resources for young people. Her piece ‘Why yarning matters’ speaks directly to young First Nations people and promotes the power of a healing yarn. ‘How to ease pressure off mob and share the cultural load’ educates young allies on how to recognise the impact of, and take steps to minimise, cultural load. Have a read of them here: https://lnkd.in/g5ZVSDS5 https://lnkd.in/g9TGk3TT #TruthTelling #Connection #Community #StoryTelling #NRW #FirstNationsSupport #YouthMentalHealth

This is a reminder for everyone, that #NowMoreThanEver standing up for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People must continue 🖤💛❤️⁠ National Reconciliation Week is a time to learn and explore how each one of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation across the whole of Australia. This includes, but isn’t limited to truth-telling, understanding First Nations histories and cultures, calling out racism and actively reinforcing the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Not sure where to start? Swipe to learn ways to be a better ally to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, from Alice Currie, a proud Mununjali woman.⁠ Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gjKPys9R Reconciliation isn’t just a word, it’s something that must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all of us. At ReachOut, we are committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to continue creating a culturally-safe service that supports the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations young people.⁠ Artwork by Molly Hunt, a Yolngu and Balanggarra and creator.⁠ ⁠ #NRW2024 #NationalReconciliationWeek #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #FirstNationsAlly

Today, on National Sorry Day, it is a time to reflect on the mistreatment of the First Nations peoples who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as the Stolen Generations. We acknowledge the trauma, grief and historical injustices experienced by First Nations communities and recognise the ongoing intergenerational trauma and lasting impacts that this has had on the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations peoples. To take meaningful steps towards reconciliation and healing it is important to acknowledge and reflect on Australia’s colonial past and the impact that it has had on First Nations communities. It is also important to recognise the resilience and strength of the Stolen Generations survivors and acknowledge Australia’s ongoing responsibility of supporting First Nations communities on their healing journey. For First Nations people, healing is a holistic process, which addresses mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs and involves connections to culture, family and land. To learn more about the experiences of the Stolen Generations and community healing, check out The Healing Foundation: https://lnkd.in/g7qFG8W

This week is #NationalVolunteerWeek, Australia’s largest celebration of volunteering! To kick off the week, some of ReachOut’s volunteers attended the NSW Premier's Volunteer Reception. They heard from Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib, who was stepping in temporarily for Premier Chris Minns. They also connected with a vast network of volunteers across a diverse range of sectors. The event celebrated the tireless efforts of volunteers across the country who dedicate their time, energy and talent to supporting organisations and communities. At ReachOut, our volunteer Youth Ambassadors play a vital role in spreading awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing their lived experience. Attending this event was a fantastic way to celebrate our Youth Ambassadors for the time they generously give to advocating for improved mental health outcomes for young people in Australia. We’re always on the lookout for volunteers. If you’re between the ages of 16-25 and passionate about mental health and wellbeing, head here for more info 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDsJVvRv #NationalVolunteerWeek #ReachOutAustralia #ReachOutVolunteers 

Thanks to Carolyn Nikoloski and the team at Mental Health Australia for a very informative and insightful post-budget policy day. ReachOut's interim CEO Jackie Hallan and Director of Government Relations and Communications Benjamin Bartlett discussed our thoughts on the federal budget, the significant further investment in youth mental health that is needed, and priorities for MHA's pre-election platform. #YouthMentalHealth #MentalHealthAustralia #ReachOutAus

Today we celebrate International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination 🏳️🌈 ⁠ ⁠ It’s a day to say a big ‘NO’ to discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people, and ‘YES’ to inclusion, respect and support for the LGBTQIA+ community, and to create a world where everyone can feel safe and welcome. ⁠It’s more than just a day, LGBTQIA+ inclusion is for everyday!  ⁠ Learn more via the below 🔗⁠ #IDAHOBIT24 https://lnkd.in/gRkWWYwt #lgbtqiasupport #idahobit #mentalhealthsupport #antidiscrimination #reachout

Our office recently held a clothing swap and donation drive, to help foster a culture of sustainability at ReachOut🌍 The team came together to donate their old clothes, and find some pre-loved treasures! Anything left over was donated to an organisation which collects old clothing to be repurposed into new yarn or carpet underlay. In today’s world, concern about the political, environmental and health aspects of climate change are on the rise, with many young people experiencing  climate anxiety. At ReachOut, we're committed to implementing sustainable practices in our office and encouraging our team to do the same in their daily lives. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking about climate change, but taking action, no matter how small, can empower us and shift us towards a more positive mindset 🌱 If you’re interested in learning more about how you can manage climate anxiety, head here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gepNK8b4