Local trainee provides mental health support to Warren’s youth on Country
Proud Wiradjuri woman and Warren local, Shaana Daley, is providing much-needed culturally safe and informed mental health support to her community’s youth thanks to a trainee program aimed at improving access to Aboriginal mental health support in Western NSW.
Supported by funding from Western NSW Primary Health Network’s headspace Outreach Program and the NSW Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program, Marathon Health’s Aboriginal Workforce Development Initiative removes barriers to education and employment and assists students with accommodation, travel costs, meal allowances and support during their studies.
Earlier this year, Ms Daley graduated with a Certificate IV Mental Health and is now providing culturally safe outreach support to Warren’s youth through the Warren Youth Centre and Community Hub. Ms Daley was just one of 13 students from Nyngan, Warren, Condobolin, Coonamble, Walgett, Collarenebri and Lightning Ridge to graduate with this qualification under the program.
Alongside their studies, the trainees have been helping young people aged 12-25 years in their communities improve their mental health literacy, increase help-seeking behaviours, and receive basic health assessments and referrals to appropriate services.
Ms Daley says that they provide support to the youth at the "drop-in centre every day for after school, and we run lots of programs."
She added, “In the middle of last year, we ran a mental health sports program where we played different sports with the kids every week. And at the end, we had a yarn about different mental health issues and how to get the help and who to talk to.”
Ms Daley says she can already see the benefits of the support being available through the Centre.
Grateful for the trainee program, Ms Daley says services like this will help break down barriers and provide Aboriginal communities greater access to mental health support on Country.
“We've been very well supported through Marathon Health with our studies. The training with AH&MRC [Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council] was fantastic.”
She added, “We are now qualified with a Certificate IV Mental Health and it's only going to benefit the youth and all of our little towns in the long run.
“If I can help one kid, that's enough for me.”
As part of the Aboriginal Workforce Development Initiative, a further seven students graduated last month with a Certificate III in Primary Health and nine students are currently undertaking their Certificate III Community Services.
Read more about the headspace Outreach Program here: https://www.marathonhealth.com.au/service/headspace-outreach-program/