How one mental health support program turned one man’s experience of isolation into new horizons. When Sam* moved to Queenstown in Tasmania’s remote west, he faced more than just the challenges of settling into a new town. He was navigating complex mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, while coping with…
On a rainy Wednesday morning, the hum of conversation fills the cement-walled warmth of Hamlet café in Hobart. Around the tables, practice managers from across southern Tasmania are catching up, and in some cases, meeting for the first time. There’s no formal agenda, no presentations, and no PowerPoint slides. Just coffee, breakfast, and something just…
How a regional pilot has grown to keep people well and out of hospital across the state. We’ve featured the Community Rapid Response Service (ComRRS) before in Primary Health Matters, but the story has grown—and so has its impact. What began as a small pilot in Launceston is now a statewide service, with teams in…
How a group of passionate doctors are empowering their fellow GPs to support transgender patients in practice. For Relic O’Shaughnessy, a 22‑year‑old non-binary Tasmanian who uses they/them pronouns, being seen and respected in health care shouldn’t depend on luck or courage. “We are people first,” they say. “Gender-affirming care isn’t just hormones or surgery, it’s…
How consultation is shaping better mental health experiences and outcomes for Tasmanians. When dozens of Tasmanians gathered across the state in July to share their experiences working in mental health services, one thing quickly became clear. People wanted to be heard, and they wanted to help make things better. For Brad Smith, a team leader…
How one mental health organisation’s investment in its people is paying dividends. When you walk into Cornerstone Youth Services in Launceston, it’s immediately clear this is a space that cares for people. In the headspace waiting room, there are phone charging stations, coffee and tea, and colouring-in materials for young people preparing to go into…