We’re proud of the diverse population in our region and are involved in a variety of services and programs that help meet the specific health needs of some of our local community groups.
NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors
The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) is a non-profit organisation supporting refugees, migrants and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We have commissioned STARTTS since 2015 to provide culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) mental health literacy and suicide prevention programs for refugees, asylum seekers and other diverse communities in Western Sydney.
Through group sessions, counselling, mental health events, training and awareness days, STARTTS empowers community members to recognise signs of distress, employ coping mechanisms, build supportive community networks, and reduce the stigma around mental health.
Mental Health Support: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The Australian Government has introduced targeted mental health and community wellbeing support services to mitigate the psychological harm and distress stemming from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Western Sydney, Central and Eastern Sydney, Northern Sydney and South Western Sydney Primary Health Networks are collaborating with local communities and organisations through a 12-month small grants program. This initiative provides funding to local stakeholders aimed at fostering resilience, social connectedness and support for those experiencing loss, anxiety and heightened distress due to the international affairs.
Details about the successful grant recipients and their initiatives can be found below.
Australian National Imams Council aims to enhance the mental health knowledge, literacy and understanding of Imams, equipping them with skills to offer culturally appropriate support, locate and navigate mental health services for their congregations and advocate for mental health resources within their communities.
The initiative will include a series of workshops focused on developing essential mental health skills, exploring new referral pathways and improving communication abilities. A range of mental health specialists are involved to ensure the material provides a strong foundation for Imams to collaborate effectively with their local communities.
Educaid aims to enhance community resilience, boost mental health literacy and improve access to mental health services for Palestinian communities. It offers group-based healing circles and educational programs in schools, workshops and community centres. This is designed to create a supportive environment for participants to address grief, trauma and mental distress while fostering help-seeking behaviours.
Key aspects of the Educaid approach include educational outreach to local schools and training providers in cultural sensitivity, available in-person and online.
Gaza Association seeks to foster social connectedness, mental health and wellbeing while enhancing resilience through physical activities, traditional art and dance and a variety of community events. These initiatives aim to promote community spirit, encourage interfaith dialogue and deepen cultural understanding.
Additionally, mental health literacy approaches will enhance community members’ awareness, empowering them to identify and access support more effectively.
Palestinian Christians in Australia aims to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of the Palestinian Christian community through an immersive experience that integrates narrative therapy, storytelling and the celebration of cultural heritage. The project will offer a program called Stories of Hope which is designed to encourage ongoing community mental health discussions, social change, skill development and resilience.
This program includes Tatreez embroidery, music and dance, community storytelling and archiving. This is designed to engage participants with a therapeutic and culturally relevant approach that also provides connections to future support if needed.
Self-Actualize delivers biopsychosocial assessments to women and their children (as needed) through an outreach model to support impacted Palestinian families. Services include culturally appropriate assessments and psychoeducation, brief interventions to provide emotional support and mindfulness to address distress, grief and loss.
Service navigation and referrals to support services are provided based on the client’s needs. Referrals will come from the Palestinian community via the provider’s current network and other organisations funded under this initiative.
For more information, please email us at gazamentalhealth@wentwest.com.au
One Door Mental Health
One Door Mental Health provide recovery-focused programs to help people with complex mental health needs build meaningful, safe lives in the community.
Bilingual Hospital 2 Home supports people from CALD communities who are leaving mental health support programs (hospital or community-based) and need support with navigating the challenges of integrating back into the community and accessing the right, culturally appropriate supports.
Dementia Care Navigator - Dementia Australia
Dementia Care Navigator supports people living with dementia, their families and carers, primarily from CALD communities. A specialist navigator acts as a key touchpoint, assisting with navigation through the health system for a person with a diagnosis of dementia or their families.
For more information, please visit the Dementia Australia website.
Odyssey House NSW
This program offers CALD drug and alcohol services to individuals and their families. This includes individual counselling and group programs.
For more information, please visit the Odyssey House website.
Other Population Health Services
Mobile Imaging Service
Mobile Radiology Australia (MRA) offers mobile imaging services to reduce the number of patients presenting to the emergency department or other hospital facilities for imaging services that could be provided externally. This aims to alleviate the pressure on hospitals and prevent unnecessary ambulance transfers and hospital visits for patients. Available from the comfort of a patient’s own home, the service is available to all Western Sydney residents free of charge and is bulk-billed under Medicare.
People can also make a booking online. If you have any questions about the service, please contact MRA at info@mra.com.au or on 1300 850 405.
Live Life Get Active
Live Young Longer is run by Live Life Get Active (LLGA) and has been developed to help people, as they get older, to live fitter, healthier and happier lives.
The programme has been designed to have two sessions that are delivered face-to-face. This is the introduction session in week one and the graduation session in week seven. Then there are live Zoom sessions for weeks two, three, four, five and six. You can view these at home or you can view them in a communal setting with other people.
WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, is proud to be a partner of LLGA.
This program is free of charge for all eligible and registered participants. Registrations can be made on the Live Life Get Active website. For more information read the FAQs.
Progressing Health Now
Find out more about our other Services and Programs available for Western Sydney community members.
This information is correct as of 27 June 2025.