headspace, formally the headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, is an Australian non-profit organisation for youth mental health established by the Australian Government in 2006.[1] The project is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care under the Youth Mental Health Initiative Program, and indirectly supported through the Better Access Scheme.
headspace delivers support to young people aged from 12 to 25 years to reduce the impact of depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol and drug use, and to improve relationship issues associated with sexuality, sexual health, families, and bullying. Young people and their families can get support at a headspace centre as well as online and telephone support service, eheadspace.[2][3] Many hospitals, especially in metropolitan areas, refer patients that are not a current threat to themselves or others to headspace for longer-term mental health care.
Centres
headspace has more than 156 centres across Australia which can be accessed for free or at low cost.[4] Staff include doctors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, youth workers, peer workers, counselors and alcohol and drug workers.[5][6] headspace can help with psychotherapy, counselling, education and employment services, as well as drug and alcohol issues.[7] In some centres, headspace can also provide general health services such as nutritionists and GPs. headspace centre locations can be found on the headspace website.
headspace National runs the National Youth Reference Group and local centres run Youth Advisory Groups (sometimes called: Young Peoples Advisory Council, Youth Advisory Council, Youth Advisory Committee, or Youth Reference Group) that involve young people, typically with a lived experience of mental illness, providing assistance to the national strategy of headspace, and, on a local level, centre management and community engagement events. [8]
eheadspace
eheadspace is confidential and free space where a young person can call, chat or email with a qualified youth mental health professional. Unlike Lifeline or Kids Helpline, eheadspace is not an emergency or crisis service. eheadspace is available 9am – 1am (Melbourne time), 7 days a week.[9][10]
headspace schools
headspace School Support ("headspace schools") is an initiative funded by the Department of Health that provides support to secondary schools affected by the suicide of a student.[11] The initiative includes prevention programs (such as "Be You") and suicide-response services. Generally, headspace schools helps to provide support and counselling for witnesses of suicide and members of school communities, including students and staff.
Staff, board and ambassadors
The Chief Executive Officer of headspace is Jason Trethowan.[12] headspace is directed by the headspace board, chaired by Lisa Paul AO PSM. Notable roles within headspace's executive team and board include:
- Debra Rickwood (Chief Scientific Advisor and Executive Director Research and Evaluation)
- Julia Smith (Executive Director headspace Services)
- Adam Holmes (Chief Financial Officer)
- Viki Ryall (Executive Director Clinical Practice)
- Professor Patrick McGorry AO
- Ms Anne Murphy Cruise
- Dr Annette Carruthers
- Ms Katina Law
- Dr John Harvey
- Robbie Sefton
Ambassadors of headspace include:
- Ruby Rose, TV personality, DJ and Orange Is The New Black actress
- Dylan Lewis, TV and radio presenter
- James Mason, Neighbours actor
- Trent 'Maxi' Maxwell, Bondi Rescue actor
- Gus Johnston, former Victorian Hockey (team) player
- Simon Hogan, former Geelong AFL player
- Nick Duigan, former Carlton AFL player
- Daniel Jackson, former Richmond AFL player
- Bob Murphy, former Western Bulldogs AFL player
- Jude Bolton, former Sydney Swans AFL player
- Heath Black, former Fremantle AFL player
- Campbell Brown, former Hawthorn and Gold Coast Suns AFL Player
Controversies
Incident at Renmark High School
In April 2024, an incident occurred in the town of Renmark in South Australia. The incident involved a presentation delivered to Year 9 students at Renmark High School by two staff from the Headspace centre in the nearby town of Berri along with a third-party presenter. The third-party presenter facilitated an hour-long presentation that was intended to focus on respectful relationships.[13]
During the presentation, the staff discussed LGBT topics in a way that students described as graphic. The main controversy, however, occurred when the speaker suggested that some people who practice bestiality identify as part of the LGBT community. Students did not recognize the term, so enquired further, and the speaker described it as when animals have sex with people.[13] Bestiality is an indictable offense in South Australia, with maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment.[14]
The students were allegedly left unsupervised in the presentation, and parents were not consented. The students left the presentation confused and blindsided, and felt uncomfortable and disgusting during the presentation. Many students left the classroom and did not return.[13] It was reported that the students fled to the toilets to escape the presentation.[15]
Parents of the school were also outraged, with some even unenrolling their students due to the incident. One parent stated that the presentation was actually a "huge disservice" to the LGBT community.[13] LGBT advocates also criticised the presentation, referring to the inclusion of zoophiles within the LGBT community as a "slur".[13]
Renmark High School's principal, Mat Evans, sent out a letter to parents following the incident, saying the school's normal procedure for notifying parents was not followed and that the presentation was meant to discuss respectful relationships. The third-party presenter has since been banned from all government schools in South Australia. The state's Department for Education issued a similar statement to the school, with chief executive Martin Westwell describing the presentation as "disgusting" and stated that it "shouldn't have happened".[13]
Headspace stated that the organisation had heard concerns from the Renmark and Berri communities, both traditionally conservative rural towns, and that it was providing support to members of the community in need of support.[13]
