Stride is proud to be the largest provider of headspace services in Australia.
We support young people (and their family and friends) to navigate their mental,
social and emotional wellbeing. Each year, we help thousands of young people aged
12-25 access vital support through our headspace centres and satellites.
our headspace locations
Stride operates 10 headspace centres and satellites across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
queensland
new south wales
victoria
We stride with young people to help them thrive
and lead mentally healthy and fulfilling lives.
Our headspace centres provide young people with holistic mental health and wellbeing support. Each centre is informed by the specific needs of that community and provides access to a range of supports such as; mental health clinicians, youth workers, occupational therapists, mental health nurses, dietitians, community Elders, and GPs. If we can’t find the right supports in our centre, we’ll help young people to find them in the broader community.
We support young people in four main areas:
mental
health &
wellbeing
general &
physical
health
alcohol and
other
drugs
work
school or
study
With a focus on early intervention, we work with young people to provide support at a crucial time in their lives – to help get them back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future. We work with young people to help them to thrive and lead mentally healthy and fulfilling lives.
You care. Instead of seeing a piece of paper, you listen to people.
– Bailey, headspace Meadowbrook
Bailey joined our headspace Meadowbrook Work and Study Program in 2023. With support from one of our vocational specialists, he successfully secured a traineeship in IT. Bailey gained new skills and confidence to socialise with others, catch public transport and learn about the IT trade.
one-on-one support
Our headspace centres are here to provide young people (and their family and friends) with information or someone to talk to.
We work alongside young people to connect them with the best support that’s tailored to them and their unique experiences. Whether that’s connecting them with a mental health clinician, dietitian or social inclusion worker. A young person’s experience with headspace is led by them to help them achieve their goals.
headspace Uplift
Our headspace Uplift Youth Support Program works with young people aged 12-25 years who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, moderate-to-severe and/or complex mental health needs and functional impairment.
Young people may be referred to our Uplift program after an initial assessment with headspace. Treatment with Uplift focuses on symptomatic recovery, psychological recovery and functional recovery.
Our Uplift Youth Support Program is available at headspace Beaudesert, Corio, Geelong, Meadowbrook, Nundah and Woolloongabba.
Uplift Ipswich (operated by Stride) is co-located with headspace Ipswich.
work and study
Our vocational specialists can help young people realise their goals and set them on a path towards meaningful employment.
Stride currently operates four headspace centres that offer the headspace Work and Study Program.
You can find these centres in Ipswich, Geelong, Meadowbrook and Townsville.
early career program
Our headspace Early Career Program places allied health students and graduates in headspace services and supports them during their placements and rotations. In addition to the placement within a headspace centre for graduates, the other central components of the program are a bespoke education framework and support through a dedicated Clinical Educator, as well as regular clinical supervision.
our groups & programs
Our headspace centres run a number of group programs throughout the year.
These programs may be social groups, personal training groups, therapeutic groups (e.g. ARCS), or groups for certain demographics such as LGBTQIAP+ young people (e.g. Diverse City).
Contact your local centre to learn more about available groups.
headspace early psychosis
Psychosis is a confusing and often misunderstood illness, but it can be treated.
headspace Early Psychosis is a specialist program available at headspace Meadowbrook. It provides early intervention services to help young people experiencing psychosis or at risk of developing psychosis. This is a free and confidential program and our holistic approach offers tailored and effective clinical treatment as well as practical support to help young people to live their best life.
headspace tern program
Stride’s headspace Townsville has partnered with Central Queensland University to developed a new model of care for treating young people with complex post-traumatic stress symptoms.
This initiative provides young people within the Townsville and Mackay region with access to free specialist treatment.
community engagement
We engage with our communities and connect with young people through local events, school presentations and collaboration with other organisations.
We help to build the mental health and wellbeing literacy of workforces, young people, their families, schools and our broader local communities.
youth reference groups
To ensure we remain relevant and youth-friendly, we engage with youth reference groups (YRGs) at each of our centres so that young people’s voices are heard. Our youth reference groups are at the heart of our work, and they play an active role in designing, developing and evaluating our programs.
Our YRGs are made up of a diverse group of young volunteers aged 16–25, who help support and guide us on key components of service delivery and community awareness initiatives both within our centres and the broader communities.
Contact your local centre for expressions of interest to join our youth reference groups.
our general practitioners
Many of our headspace centres have youth-friendly doctors and nurses who can assist with general health concerns, physical health, alcohol and other drugs, contraception and sexual health advice.
Our GPs can provide free ‘bulk billed’ appointments to young people with a valid Medicare card.
Contact your local centre to enquire about our GP services.
frequently asked questions
How much does headspace cost?
The services we provide are either free or have a low cost.
Young people may need a Medicare card to access our headspace services.
To access some of our services for free, the young person may also need to get a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from a doctor. Your intake clinician will explain this to you if necessary.
How can I refer a young person to headspace?
We accept referrals from any source including self-referrals, referrals from family and friends, referrals from schools or referrals from health professionals (such as a GP) and other organisations.
Young people can contact their local headspace centre to make an appointment.
What is a Mental Health Care Plan, and how can I get one?
Most counselling sessions are funded through Medicare’s Better Access Scheme. We bulk bill these sessions, meaning we bill Medicare for the services young people receive, instead of charging them. In order to bulk bill the sessions, the young person will be required to see a GP to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP).
When booking an appointment with a GP to get a MHCP, please ask for a longer appointment time.
A MHCP identifies what sort of mental health difficulties an individual may be experiencing and what sort of therapeutic support may benefit them.
Why do young people visit headspace?
Our headspace centres provide young people with holistic mental health and wellbeing support. Each centre is informed by the specific needs of that community and provides access to a range of supports such as; mental health clinicians, youth workers, occupational therapists, mental health nurses, dietitians, community Elders, and GPs.
If we can’t find the right support in our centre, we’ll help young people to find them in the broader community.
How long are appointments?
Appointments usually take 50–60 minutes, though appointments with a doctor might be shorter.
Is there a cancellation policy?
We understand that life can sometimes get in the way of attending appointments. If someone can’t make it to a scheduled appointment, we ask that they let us know at least 24 hours before the appointment time, so we can offer that time to another young person.
To cancel an appointment, please contact the centre directly via phone or email.
Will information be kept confidential?
When a young person accesses our headspace services, they will be asked personal questions so we can understand their situation, concerns, and how to best support them. This includes personal and medical details. We are required by law to keep this information safe at all times.
Privacy is valued by headspace and we will always aim to keep an individuals information confidential where possible. However, there are certain circumstances which legally require headspace team members to disclose information.
We make sure that your information is managed according to all current privacy and information security legislation, which sets standards for the collection, access, storage and use of the information we collect as part of our normal operations.
A copy of the headspace Privacy Policy is available at headspace.org.au/privacy-policy and Stride’s Privacy Policy at stride.com.au/privacy-policy
Is there an eligibility criteria?
We support people aged 12-25 with mild to moderate mental health issues.
Your first appointment with one of our headspace centres will be an intake appointment, to ensure we are a good fit for you and your needs.
Please note we are an early intervention service; our staff will assess all incoming referrals and we will contact you shortly after to let you know whether the young person has been accepted into service.
headspace is not an emergency or acute mental health crisis services.
If you have any immediate concern for the safety of a young person, please direct them to the accident and emergency department at the nearest hospital or dial 000 in an emergency. Or refer the young person to Acute Mental Health Services.
Are there job opportunities available at headspace by Stride?
We’re always on the lookout for more talented, compassionate people to join our headspace teams.
Visit stride.com.au/stride-with-us/careers to view our current job vacancies.
we welcome all young people, and celebrate their differences
We are committed to inclusive practice. Inclusive practice involves being responsive to the needs of, and actively welcoming and accepting all young people, irrespective of their culture, language, gender, sexuality, lifestyle, values and beliefs, abilities, appearance or socio-economic differences.