Mental health & wellbeing

Youturn delivers a wide range of mental health and wellbeing services that place early intervention, accessibility and comprehensive support at the forefront.

Supporting people of all ages, our Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service helps individuals strengthen resilience, improve wellbeing and stay connected, through case management, group programs and community-based support.

As the lead agency for eight headspace centres across Southeast Queensland and South Australia, we provide tailored clinical and non-clinical programs that respond to a spectrum of needs. These include prevention and early intervention initiatives for young people, as well as specialised programs such as the Youth Enhanced Service (YES) in Adelaide and Darling Downs for individuals managing more complex mental health conditions.

Through these services, we aim to empower people to overcome life’s challenges, improve their wellbeing, and build resilience for a brighter future.

*Dorothy’s Story

My name is *Dorothy. I have Turner’s Syndrome, Blount’s disease and Hashimoto’s.

I have been going to headspace, seeing Dr Amanda, the GP at headspace Maroochydore, for over 7 years now and it is no small thing to say, she has changed and saved my life.

My whole life I was experiencing chronic pain, and a copious amount of difficulty with no answers or help in sight. I originally first went to headspace for help with my mental health trying to handle all that, and in doing so, I met Dr Amanda.

Through headspace, through Dr Amanda, I now have answers, help and hope. Last year I went through 3 major surgeries, spending over a year in bed in recovery. In the meantime, I also got diagnosed with endometrial cancer. I survived that extra horrible ordeal, because of Dr Amanda. Without her, without the access to a GP that headspace gives me, who knows what would have happened.

I am now cancer free, and that is because of her. I cannot tell you the ways she has helped and advocated for me. From believing my pain, to contacting specialists, helping me receive the help I need, making me feel comfortable enough to tell her personal things that in turn, help her help me. Sometimes just the conversation was enough. There have been many weeks when, besides my mum and brother, she was the only person I spoke to.

*Name changed

This is my long way of saying Dr Amanda
has saved my life, she’s changed my life.
In many, many ways. My quality of life is
better because of her.
*Dorothy

HEADSPACE

Highlights

In 2024–2025, Youturn strengthened its role as a headspace lead agency in South Australia, successfully transitioning headspace Port Lincoln and preparing for the establishment of headspace Gawler. The Port Lincoln handover on 1 July 2025 followed months of planning to ensure continuity of care, with strong engagement across governance, staffing, and community stakeholders, and a focus on building a cohesive, resilient team.

Meanwhile, headspace Gawler is on track to open in November 2025, with a site secured through youth consultation and early relationship-building underway with local schools and community groups. Together, these new centres expand Youturn’s capacity to deliver safe, inclusive and youth-focused mental health support across South Australia.

Other achievements

Bribie Island: This year marked the one-year anniversary of headspace Bribie Island, an important milestone in expanding access to youth mental health services in the region. To build on this achievement, the centre successfully launched group programs that provide opportunities for young people to connect, develop skills, and receive early support. These programs are creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people can strengthen their wellbeing and feel supported within their own community.
Bundaberg: headspace Bundaberg’s Multicultural Sports Day, developed in partnership with Bundaberg Regional Council and the Neighbourhood Centre, has grown from a small local initiative into a major annual event, now supported with sponsorship and funding to increase its reach. The centre also established a First Nations Leadership Group in collaboration with Stepping Black, helping to strengthen cultural engagement and awareness. In addition, headspace Bundaberg secured grants for demand management and capital enhancement, enabling improvements to the centre’s facilities and clinical staffing capacity.
Gympie: headspace Gympie were able to offer more bike mechanic workshops, a hands-on program that has been particularly successful in engaging young males, a group often less likely to access traditional mental health support. The workshops provide practical skills and a non-clinical environment where participants can connect, build confidence, and open up about their wellbeing. This initiative highlights the value of informal, skill-based activities in promoting mental health and fostering meaningful community connections.
Toowoomba: The team at headspace Toowoomba delivered an impressive calendar of community engagement activities, increasing awareness and access to services across the Darling Downs region. Highlights included participating in Park Fest, the Push-Up Challenge at Grand Central, university collaborations, and a series of mental health education programs in local schools. These events not only promoted headspace services but also strengthened partnerships with community organisations, schools, and universities.
Maroochydore: Staff retention at headspace Maroochydore remained exceptionally strong, with all departures linked to internal promotions or maternity leave, supporting continuity and service stability. The centre completed a quality improvement project realigning documentation with practice, and introduced the Safeside suicide prevention model to strengthen risk management. Innovative new initiatives were also piloted, including equine therapy and in-school GP clinics through the inreach program, alongside the continued delivery of the region’s only free Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) group.

Challenges

Caboolture: Limited centre space at headspace Caboolture restricts service delivery as demand grows, while young people in regional areas such as Kilcoy face barriers to access, highlighting the need for stronger outreach.
Bundaberg: Ongoing recruitment and retention challenges have left key clinical positions unfilled, leading to waitlist pressures and resource strain as staff maintain contact with young people awaiting treatment.
Maroochydore: Sustaining the service delivery model in a constrained funding environment, while balancing high demand for clinical services with limited resources for psychosocial supports, remains an ongoing challenge.
Gawler: Establishing referral pathways to local GPs has been difficult due to capacity limits in the region, while building delays have impacted the projected opening timeline and recruitment.

Future focus

Mastercare+: Implementation across all headspace centres to improve systems, efficiency and service delivery.
Caboolture and Bribie Island: Planned relocation of Caboolture centre to provide increased space, modern facilities and capacity for flexible, inclusive services including group programs.
Bundaberg: Focus on staff recruitment and development, increasing student placements as a pipeline for future clinicians, and progressing the centre refurbishment to deliver an updated, refreshed environment.
Toowoomba: Strengthening partnerships with Multicultural Australia and QPASST to enhance access for young people, and establishing a Family and Friends Subcommittee (FaFS) to improve engagement.
Maroochydore: Co-designing a headspace Plus model with young people and the community, maintaining strong service standards and low wait times, and evaluating pilot traineeships over 12 months.
Gawler: Completing the centre establishment and opening, developing strong referral pathways with schools and services, forming a Youth Reference Group, and formalising the consortia model to guide operations.

Trauma-informed support for a young migrant

When *Jayden (23) first came to Youturn’s Youth Enhanced Service (YES) program, he was in a state of high distress. A young migrant, he had carried unaddressed trauma, suspected neurodevelopmental differences, and the weight of cultural dislocation for much of his life. Despite repeated contact with different services, Jayden had never received a clear diagnosis or the right kind of support. His family, feeling invisible and excluded from care, were desperate for answers.

The YES team responded with consistency, compassion, and a trauma-informed approach. Weekly sessions, both in person and online, were combined with outreach transport, family engagement, and careful coordination with multiple providers. To ensure continuity, the team worked closely with Jayden’s GP and even funded an autism assessment, a step that had previously been out of reach.

Recognising the risk of fragmented responses, the team developed an Integrated Client Care Communication Protocol, a practical tool shared across hospitals, GPs, psychologists, and community providers. It outlined Jayden’s triggers, de-escalation strategies, and key contacts, ensuring every professional could respond with consistency and respect.

The outcome was life-changing. Jayden was formally diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 2, a turning point that gave his family clarity and opened access to long-term NDIS support. For the first time, they felt included, supported, and empowered to plan for the future. Local services now have clear protocols to engage with Jayden in ways that uphold his dignity and wellbeing.

Jayden’s journey is a powerful example of how traumainformed, culturally sensitive, and family- centred care can transform lives. By integrating services and addressing systemic barriers, YES helped shift his story from crisis to stability, offering hope and a pathway forward.

*Name changed

YOUTH ENHANCED SERVICE

Youturn’s Youth Enhanced Services (YES) provide specialised, intensive support for young people with complex mental health needs, a space where very few free, accessible services exist.

Highlights

Adelaide: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is now fully embedded, with 16 group and 16 individual sessions delivered each semester, alongside an inclusive 8-week therapy group addressing diverse needs. The team’s outstanding work was recognised with the Adelaide PHN Health Equity Award 2025, celebrating its contribution to improving health equity across metropolitan Adelaide.
Darling Downs: The team received highly positive feedback at the Orygen and PHN workshop in November 2024, with the Darling Downs model commended for its seamless integration of clinical and peer support, a defining strength in regional service delivery.

Other achievements

Clinical capability: Analysis of referral data revealed a rise in eating disorder presentations. In response, staff completed CBT-E and Single-Session Therapy training, ensuring support remains targeted, timely, and responsive to community needs.
Youth leadership: Young people co-designed and led peer groups, creating genuine, lived-experience spaces that build confidence and connection.
Staff recognition: The YES Adelaide team received five nominations at the Youturn Staff Awards, with the Clinical Manager winning the Leadership Award and presenting at the 2025 Neurodivergence Wellbeing Conference, showcasing sector leadership.
Community connections: Strong partnerships, clear referral pathways, and a supportive culture have positioned YES Adelaide as an employer of choice, helping attract and retain skilled clinicians.
Darling Downs outreach: Outreach remains central to the model, with teams travelling across regional and remote areas to provide face-to-face support, improving access for isolated young people and highlighting the importance of rural mental health outreach.

Challenges

Workforce recruitment (Darling Downs): Attracting skilled staff in regional areas remains challenging, so efforts now focus on university partnerships, student placements, and building a local workforce pipeline.
System design (Darling Downs): KPIs based on urban models don’t reflect rural realities, with staff often travelling long distances. Youturn continues to advocate for funding and measures that recognise these challenges.
Systems transition (Adelaide & Darling Downs): The rollout of Mastercare+ required careful planning to maintain continuity of care. Phased implementation, training, and data validation are ensuring a smooth and efficient transition.
Workforce management (Adelaide & Darling Downs): Enhanced HR and performance systems placed additional pressure on teams, but simplified tools, manager training, and improved supervision are supporting staff through change.

Future focus

Innovative models of care: YES Adelaide will continue its partnership with the Orygen Implementation Lab to integrate Single Session Thinking into service delivery, while also introducing MOST (Moderated Online Social Therapy) to expand digital support options for young people.
Scaling what works: Proven therapeutic approaches and assessment models will be refined and shared across sites to maximise reach and impact.
System optimisation: Following the Mastercare+ rollout, processes will be strengthened to ensure seamless client management and robust data integrity.
Workforce development: Enhanced HR practices, supervision, and performance reviews will continue to support an engaged, skilled, and high-performing workforce.

Outcomes

Across our headspace centres, young people showed clear improvements in mental wellbeing, with average Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) scores decreasing from 31.1 at intake to 27.1 after three or more visits, indicating a meaningful reduction in psychological distress compared to the national average.
Empowerment and Self-Management: At YES Adelaide, more than half of young people reported feeling more confident and in control of their mental and physical health. They described adopting new coping strategies, improving daily routines, and feeling better equipped to manage emotions and challenges, reflecting stronger self-awareness, resilience, and wellbeing overall.

Funders: Our headspace centres and YES programs are funded on a regional basis through the Primary Health Networks and Medical Benefits Schedule Billing.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING

HEADSPACE

YOUTH ENHANCED SERVICE

POSTVENTION