"headspace" Central Sydney Launch Party

Launch of South Sydney Youth Services and two other Headspace sites.

It all started with a Welcome to Country address and Uncle Max’s smoking ceremony, the sacred and familiar smell of the eucalypt burning followed by the deep sound of the didgeridoo.

headspace Central Sydney officially celebrated its opening during this years Mental Health Week October 9th. The evening included speeches from the honorable Tanya Plibersek Minister for Housing and for the Status of Women, Services Managers from Youthblock Health and South Sydney Youth Services, our very own Micheal Moore and local young people who are members of the headspace Youth Reference Group.

Tanya enjoyed the event immensely mentioning the launch in parliament at the House of Representatives on October 16th. She described the launch as ‘terrific, enjoying ‘meeting the staff and young people’

To celebrate the theme for Mental Health Week this year ‘Building Resilience – appreciating the little things in life’ we focused on talking about what it was that help get a young person through their struggles with Mental Health , Alcohol and Other drugs.

The three speakers from our Youth Reference Group Ayar, Jordan and Vanessa who bravely shared their stories helped set the mood and intention of looking at the needs and building resilience in young people. Vanessa a young Aboriginal women who moved to Sydney from Bourke 3 years ago said that without the help of South Sydney Youth Services and support around her Mental Health she would not be here today. Vanessa is now planning to study Youth Work so that she can help out other young Aboriginal people. Ayar who was also quoted in local paper The Glebe’s coverage of the event said it was ‘compassionate and experienced professionals (at Youthblock) that gave him the skills to survive’.

Following the speeches we had three local musicians, the band Total Revolution in Perspective, Hip Hop Performers Miko, Terry and Ian. All these musicians had accessed the music program at Youth Block and commented how effective it was in helping them get through difficult periods in their life. Youthblock Health and Resource Centre in Camperdown provides essential services to young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They base their model around wholistic care for a young person which includes a music program.

The walls were filled with artwork from local young people from various workshops headspace has been involved in including; ‘Mental As’ with Stratfield council, the Beyong Blue Children of Parents with Mental Illness art project and the Marrickville Youth Resource Centre /headspace aerosol art project.

CuzCo productions also performed on stage and held a breakdance workshop getting everyone to participate, lots of fun and even more fun watching everyone!

headspace services are now fully operational in Youthblock Health & Resource Centre, South Sydney Youth Services and Marrcikville Youth Resource Centre, we are only short GP’s at Youthblock and Marrickville Youth Resource Centre. Referrals are increasing at each centre as more and more services and young people learn about this vital service available for a young person who may be experiencing mental health, alcohol and other drug problems.
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