Mental Wellbeing

Be You provides a coordinated and evidence-informed response to support schools address student, staff, and community needs following a suicide. Be You specialises in postvention planning, response, and recovery.

Be You is the mental health and wellbeing in education initiative delivered by Beyond Blue in collaboration with Early Childhood Australia and headspace.

Bungee is an inclusive resilience-building program that promotes social connection and emotional well-being through the arts. The program supports children and young people (aged 5-18).

Meridian Wellbeing Services host the ACT’s leading, professional, peer-led counselling service for people living with HIV, people impacted by HIV, LGBTIQA+ people, their families-of-choice, carers and allies. Our qualified team provides confidential counselling for people who are seeking support to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

CYCLOPS ACT is a program supporting young people, up to 25 years old who care for a family member experiencing a physical or intellectual disability, mental health issues, alcohol and other drug related issues and/or chronic illness.

The Southside Initiative has compiled this directory of Family Support Services. Please share this page with your networks including schools, early childhood centres, community organisations and of course families who you believe will benefit the most.

Our girls-only program, Fearless Future, supports girls to discover who they are and see all they can be in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment, which: Provides a sense of belonging. Allows them to find their voice and speak without fear of judgment.

Headspace has an office in Braddon and Tuggeranong. Headspace seeks to enhance young people's ability to seek help, and offer youth-centred support and services.

Inclusive Pathways (Psychology) is funded by the Capital Health Network (CHN) to provide free psychological therapies and social and emotional wellbeing support to LGBTIQA+ people.

This group is for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children aged 8-16 years old and aims to build links within the community focusing on mentoring healthy lifestyle choices, confidence building, positive role modeling.  

Messengers is an arts-based youth support program for vulnerable young people and their families operating across the A. C. T. Messengers offers weekly group programs in which participants develop a range of skills across artistic mediums including visual, performing and other creative arts.

MindMap ACT Youth Portal is a dedicated portal for children and young people (up to 25 years of age) to help navigate Canberra’s mental health system and to find the right service and support.

The Southside Initiative has compiled this directory of Parent & Carer Support Courses on offer across the ACT. Please share this page with your networks including schools, early childhood centres, community organisations and of course families who you believe may benefit the most.

Parentline ACT provides free and confidential telephone counselling and referrals to parents and carers. It uses a humanist and client/child centered approach to counselling; and it focusses on building relationships based on listening to your child, and problem solving and assertiveness skills.    

A free ebook from Peer Support Australia to help students transition from Year 6 to Year 7.

The Award is a leading structured (non-formal education) youth development program, empowering all young Australians aged 14-24 to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance.

Peer Support Australia offers an evidence-based Peer Support Program, which can form part of your school's wellbeing strategy. There is substantial evidence that peer support programs contribute to students’ sense of connectedness and wellbeing.

The Southside Initiative brings together a list of community Information Sessions and Resources available to parents and carers to support them with their child's transition to preschool in 2025.

Vinnies’ Migrant and Refugee Program aims to support children from a migrant or refugee background to feel connected, safe, valued and empowered. We do this by being strength based, trauma informed and relationship focused. We currently offer three programs.

Warm Connections Counselling provides individual therapeutic support to families with children and young people aged zero to 15 years. This service offers long-term support to parents, children or young people and aims to strengthen family relationships and improve wellbeing.

Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn has a range of youth programs to give young people a place of belonging and support.

The Youth Services team provides outreach and activities for young people aged 12-25 years who live work or play in or around Belconnen. Activities are aimed at increasing resilience and developing skills that give young people opportunities to actively engage in their lives and their communities.

When it comes to supporting our young people to be the best they can be there are many community services across Canberra ready to help. Reach out to them to learn more about their programs.