On 9 December, Lives Lived Well marked an important milestone with the official launch of our 2025–27 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). 

We were honoured to be joined by Baringa Barambah Meeanjinu, a Songwoman of the Turrbal People and daughter of Turrbal Elder Maroochy Barambah, who delivered a heartfelt Welcome to Country. Growing up on her ancestral homelands of Meeanjin (Brisbane), she learnt traditional laws and customs from her Elders. She is deeply passionate about working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to strengthen social, cultural and economic outcomes.  

We were also privileged to welcome Uncle Billy Cummings, an Aboriginal Elder who lives in Brisbane and is connected to the Turrbal People through kinship ties. With a strong spiritual connection to his people, traditions and Country, Uncle Billy joined us with the blessing of Turrbal Elder and Songwoman Maroochy Barambah to perform a Smoking Ceremony on behalf of the Turrbal People of Brisbane. 

The launch was well attended by other partners and service providers, including QNADA, Reconciliation Queensland and Brisbane North PHN, as well as members of our RAP Committee who travelled from NSW and other locations to be part of the day. 

Our RAP Chair, Nathan Campbell, opened the event by recognising the significance of cultural traditions and the importance of reconciliation. This was followed by our RAP Coordinator, Rebecca Kennedy, who shared the story behind the RAP cover artwork on behalf of the artist, Daniel Lorraway. 

“This artwork represents a map of the Northern NSW region and the many communities we walk alongside and support. It tells a story of resilience, connection and healing following the devastating floods of 2022.”

Our CEO, Mitchell Giles, reinforced Lives Lived Well’s commitment to reconciliation, saying: 

“Our approach at Lives Lived Well is based on listening to local voices, respecting community leadership, and shaping services alongside communities, not for them. We aim to build stronger, mutually respectful relationships and continually improve how we provide services in ways that reflect local needs, cultures and aspirations. We also envision a workplace that is culturally safe, inclusive and respectful, a space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff can thrive, lead and build long-term careers with us.” 

Mitchell also acknowledged and thanked the RAP Committee and Executive Sponsor, Julie Dignan, for guiding this work with dedication, cultural insight and unwavering commitment. 

The event concluded with a shared lunch catered by Figjam and Co., a proud second-generation Indigenous business with connections to the Gunditjamara and Ngarrindjeri mobs. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this significant step in our reconciliation journey. 

As we approach the holiday season, please be advised that some of Lives Lived Well’s services and programs will be closed or operating at reduced capacity from Wednesday 24 December 2025 until Sunday 4 January 2026.

During this period, while we welcome referrals, our contact team will resume processing them upon their return on Monday 5 January 2026.

• You can make a self-referral by filling out this form.
• Refer yourself to our support services for veterans and family members by filling out this form.
• Service providers and health practitioners can refer your clients by filling out this form.

We understand the importance of timely support, so if you are experiencing a crisis or struggling to cope, the following services are there to help. If a life is in immediate danger, dial 000 (Emergency Services).

Support services

Lifeline: 13 11 14 | www.lifeline.org.au

• 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention service

13 YARN: 13 92 76 | www.13yarn.org.au

• 24/7 crisis support line run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A safe space to yarn with no shame or judgment.

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 | www.kidshelpline.com.au

• 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25

QLife: 1800 184 572 | qlife.org.au

• Anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Phone and webchat are open from 3pm – midnight every day.

Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS):

Counselling, support, referrals, and information for those affected by alcohol or other drugs

• QLD – 1800 177 833 (24/7) | ADIS – QLD
• NSW – 1800 250 015 (24/7)| ADIS – NSW
• SA – 1300 131 340 (8.30am to 10pm CST, every day) | ADIS – SA Health 

Alcohol & Drug Counselling Online: www.counsellingonline.org.au

• 24/7 free and confidential alcohol and drug counselling

Family Drug Support:  1300 368 186 | www.fds.org.au

• 24/7 support phone line for families and friends of people using drugs and alcohol

Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 | www.openarms.gov.au

• 24/7 crisis support for veterans and their families. Free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF and their families.

All-hours Support Line: 1800 628 036 | Department of Defence website

• The All-hours Support Line (ASL) is a confidential telephone service for ADF members and their families that is available 24/7. The ASL is designed as a triage line, which means that it’s there to help you access ADF or civilian mental health services more easily.

National Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858 | www.gamblinghelponline.org.au

• 24/7 phone and chat support. Speak to a gambling counsellor for free.

1800RESPECT – National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service: 1800 737 732

• 24/7 support line for people impacted by domestic, family, or sexual violence.

We welcomed The Hon Emma McBride MP and Rowan Holzberger MP to headspace Upper Coomera for an exciting funding and service announcement for the Gold Coast. The visit highlights a significant boost for youth mental health on the Gold Coast and a major expansion of free, accessible care for the whole community.

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Hon Emma McBride MP underlined the government’s commitment to placing mental health “at the heart of Medicare.” As she said at the press conference, “headspace is Australia’s national and trusted place for young people to seek mental health and support.” In practical terms, that investment means headspace Southport is joining the new headspace Plus model, designed to meet more complex, clinical and social needs, while headspace Upper Coomera has been awarded over $462,000 in demand management funding to support staffing, reduce waiting times and improve cultural responsiveness.

Those earlier investments have already supported local innovations at Upper Coomera. Staff described how demand funding has been used to recruit a new mental health worker and a cultural coordinator, and to trial a single-session approach that helps young people get immediate, focused help on their first visit. The result: faster access to support and fewer barriers for young people seeking help close to home.

Perhaps the biggest announcement was the confirmation that a Medicare Mental Health Centre will be established on the northern Gold Coast, due to be operational by mid-next year. Minister McBride explained this new model will deliver free walk-in mental health support without the need for a referral or a Mental Health Treatment Plan, and will be linked to a national virtual network of psychologists and psychiatrists.

Rowan Holzberger, Federal Member for Forde, spoke from personal experience about the life-saving role headspace played for his son and praised the accessibility of local services “headspace saved my son’s life… having it there so close that he could actually walk there and find it is why he is here today.”

After the announcements, the delegation was shown around headspace Upper Coomera by a member of the Youth Advisory Council and the community engagement teams from both Upper Coomera and Southport. It was a valuable chance to showcase how the centres operate day-to-day and how this new funding will strengthen local supports.

These announcements position the Gold Coast to better meet growing mental health demand — particularly for young people — by improving immediacy, cultural safety and pathways into ongoing care. For more information about mental health services we provide in the region, visit liveslivedwell.org.au/our-services/mental-health

At Lives Lived Well, we acknowledge that recent changes to gender-affirming healthcare access in Qld may be causing distress for many in our community – clients, staff, and their loved ones.

As an organisation dedicated to mental health, alcohol and other drug support, and harm reduction, we reaffirm our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals.

Mitchell Giles, CEO of Lives Lived Well, said the organisation stands in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community.

“At Lives Lived Well, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and respected. We remain committed to creating inclusive spaces where individuals can access the care and support they need without judgement”

If you or someone you know is affected and needs support, we encourage you to reach out to us or one of the many services dedicated to LGBTQI+ wellbeing.

For more information about our services, visit www.liveslivedwell.org.au or call 1300 727 957.

Lives Lived Well’s Head Office (Brisbane City) is relocating from Spring Hill to a new space in Bowen Hills.

From Monday 2 June 2025, you’ll find us at:
Lives Lived Well
East Tower, Level 3
25 Montpelier Road
Bowen Hills QLD 4006

To allow for the move, our current office at 55 Little Edward Street, Spring Hill, will close to visitors from Wednesday 14 May 2025. During the transition, our support services teams will work remotely to ensure continuity of support across all regions.

Our postal address will remain unchanged:
PO Box 332, Spring Hill QLD 4004

If you have any general enquiries or referrals, please continue to contact our Contact Team on 1300 727 957.

The move to our new office marks a positive step forward. The refreshed space has been designed to support staff wellbeing, encourage collaboration, and allow room for future growth. This relocation has been fully funded by Lives Lived Well, with no program or service delivery funds used.

To learn more about our service locations across Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia, visit https://www.liveslivedwell.org.au/our-locations/.