Pebble in the Pond

Working in the emergency medical service places a huge toll on the mental and emotional wellbeing of our paramedics – so what can we do to help prevent mental ill health on the front line? Joining us this week is Todd Wehr, Director of the Queensland Ambulance Service Staff Support Services, known as “Priority One” in which he leads a multidisciplinary team. Todd has spent more than 25 years in th...

It is our responsibility to genuinely and actively involve First Nations Australian, Maori and Pasifika peoples and their representative bodies in all aspects of addressing health and wellbeing needs. This week’s guest Indi Clarke is the Executive Officer of the Koorie Youth Council and takes great pride contributing to work that gives back to his communities. Born in Melbourne and raised in Mildu...

The relationship between substance abuse and trauma works in close tandem. While trauma increases the risk of developing substance abuse, substance abuse in turn increases the likelihood of being re-traumatised by engaging in high-risk behaviours. Traditionally, substance abuse treatment programs have held the belief that addressing trauma could trigger traumatic responses, leading clients to rela...

When identifying new best-practice interventions, many mental health organisations are faced with the challenge of implementing them within existing systems and service delivery protocols. This is further complicated by interdependencies with other complex service systems. This week’s guest Suzie Lewis is responsible for leading the design, development and implementation of new services and progra...

While Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD) is a personal struggle, the effects do not stop at the victim. When a parent has PTSD, their words and actions can affect the mental health and development of children. This week’s guest Karen May is the Associate Director of Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA) and is also currently working on her PhD at University of Adelaide foc...

While praised for their resilience, frontline workers are faced with amassing circumstances placing them at high risk of mental health issues. A national survey of COVID-19 frontline healthcare workers found more than half reported mental health symptoms during last year’s pandemic second wave – yet less than one in 10 accessed formal support programs Joining us this week to shine a light on the i...

Co-design goes beyond traditional methods of consultation and instead forms authentic partnerships with stakeholders, including lived experience. This approach utilises knowledge and experience to develop, design and deliver a more successful program, product, or service. This week’s guest Katherine Ellis is CEO of Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic), the peak body and leading advocate for you...

Involving people with lived experience in the journey to greater mental health treatment and support helps us to build understanding, reduce stigma and discrimination, and improve the quality, relevance, and mental health research. This week’s guest Tash Anderson is a passionate advocate for children and young people who have experienced family violence and who have been through the out-of-home ca...

Despite work playing a significant role in mental health and wellbeing, many military personnel with mental illness are being discharged rather than rehabilitated back into their roles or other occupational settings. To enhance return to work rates, particular attention should be directed towards early intervention for PTSD symptomatology. It is imperative that military personnel receive gold-stan...

When it comes to mental wellness in Australia, how do we know how well we are progressing as a whole? With over 25 years of youth work experience under his belt, this week’s guest Bernie Shakeshaft believes young people are the most accurate barometer of how we are faring as a nation. In the early days of his career, Bernie saw kids dropping out of school, getting into trouble and falling through...

According to the He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, while the prevalence of mental distress among Māori is almost 50% higher than among non-Māori, Māori are 30% more likely than other ethnic groups to have their mental illness undiagnosed. Dedicated to changing these staggering statistics is this week’s guest Jean Te Huia - a mother, grandmother, wife...

The power of lived-experience stories not only enable us to feel emotional and inspired, but can also be the pillars we need for change, particularly as it relates to our systems and processes for health and wellbeing This week’s guest Tara J Lal has a mission to use the voice of lived experience to effect meaningful change for our frontline workers at all individual, organisational and community...

Crisis support for survivors of domestic violence has long been a priority for governments and organisations in the sector. What has not been recognised as widely however, is the importance of providing ongoing support to women and children after they have left crisis accommodation. Women reported that having to rebuild their lives without support, often in a new location, had a profound impact on...

With over almost 30 years’ experience in the domestic violence and child welfare fields, this week’s guest David Mandel is focused on improving the way we identify and respond to domestic violence, particularly relating to children. David has written or co-written numerous journal articles, book chapters and white papers including his most recent ones on how perpetrator intervention program comple...

Cultural, spiritual, and social wellbeing are integral components to Indigenous people, who take a holistic approach to mental health. Tailored, community-led approaches have seen huge advances in Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing, and this week, we are proud to have with us a leader in the field, Australia’s first registered Aboriginal Pharmacist, Associate Professor Dr Faye McMillan. Fay...

Every Australian should have access to the opportunities and choices they need to lead full and healthy lives. Committed to playing a key role in Indigenous justice is this week’s guest, Thelma Schwartz. This week’s guest Thelma Schwartz is the Principal Legal Officer of QIFVLS, an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation providing legal and non-legal support servi...

A long history of trauma, grief, loss and cultural disconnection means mental health issues for Indigenous people can be complex. Culturally appropriate support that recognises the connection between physical health, mental health, spiritual needs and social and emotional wellbeing is crucial. This week’s guest Chelsea Watego is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman with over 20 years of exper...

The death of Hannah Clarke and her three young children on in February 2020 on a footpath in Camp Hill in Brisbane opened our collective eyes to the devastating failures of authorities to protect victims of domestic abuse from being murdered. Over the past 20 years coercive control has been defined, documented, and legislated against in Britain. In Australia, calls for coercive control to be crimi...

On Friday 9 August 2019, the Council of Australian Governments endorsed the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, agreeing on five national priorities to reduce family, domestic and sexual violence. One woman committed to seeing out this plan is this week’s guest, Jacqui Watt. Since 2015, Jacqui has led No to Violence through transfo...

In late 2019, early 2020, Australia received international attention due to devastating bushfire conditions and events that unfolded. This traumatic event was then compounded with the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Australia on 25 January 2020. Since then, Australia’s mental health sector has adapted to the conditions, whilst displaying the best qualities of humanity - selflessness, compassio...

When escaping domestic violence, survivors can be faced with many challenges, including needing to establish financial independence and find safe housing. Two women committed to empowering survivors are this week’s guests, Kate Crowley Smith and Linda Sawrey. Kate is the Founding Director of Broken to Brilliant, a charity helping survivors who have safely left the abusive relationship and are out...

Familial illicit drug misuse is a rapidly growing issue for Australian children. Reports suggest that 1 in 7 Australian children may be living in a household where one or more family members are misusing illicit drugs. As schools are generally a consistent presence in the lives of most Australian children, teachers are typically key people in provisioning for their education, safety, care, and wel...

For First Nations people, the hope and promise of healing from addiction can be rooted in cultural interventions. However, there remains few published studies specifically examining the type and impact of these interventions. With 20 years’ experience in recovery in the Christian community, Mark Hammersley has had extensive experience working as an educator for the Advanced Diploma in Counselling...

Whether it’s decreasing the amount consumed or quitting completely, changing alcohol habits can be a lonely journey. Having a supportive community is vital for long term success – but, is being part of an online community as effective as in-person support? Dominique Robert-Hendren is the Head of Clinical Innovation and Chief Clinical Psychologist at Hello Sunday Morning and is also our special gue...

School refusal can result in significant functional impairment, chronic mental health issues, social isolation, family conflict and ultimately a poor trajectory into adulthood. In a bid to combat this issue, the Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) Day Program North and Day Program South provide integrated mental health and education services to children and young people experiencing significant fun...