Award Win at theMHS Conference: Shifting the Landscape for Suicide Prevention
The Year 2 Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) has recently received recognition at Mental Health Services (theMHS) conference with a Convenor’s Choice award for their abstract submission ‘Shifting the Landscape for Suicide Prevention in NSW – Year 2 lived experience monitoring and evaluation co-design project’. WentWest employee Jay Gardener was supported to attend the conference […]
Sydney’s United Approach to Refugee Mental Health
Supporting people affected by the Gaza conflict is the focus of a recent mental health initiative offering tailored local services, and culturally sensitive support that’s improving emotional wellbeing and community connection. A joint initiative of Western Sydney, Central and Eastern Sydney and Sydney North Primary Health Networks, The Wellness and Resilience: Gaza Conflict Project tailored […]
Suicide Prevention Day: Focus on Western Sydney Women
On World Suicide Prevention Day, Western Sydney clinicians are being urged to provide extra support to women following a rise in suicide-related behaviours among women in the region. [i] The Western Sydney Primary Health Network is calling on health professionals to check in with women on their mental health during regular check-ups. Between 2018 and 2022, […]
Citizens’ Assembly Help Improve Local Health Outcomes
The Wester Sydney Primary Health Network Citizens’ Assembly has continued to progress recommendations of the Citizens’ Juries held in 2023. As the official Consumer Advisory Committee of the PHN, the Citizens’ Assembly provide unique insights into the gaps and opportunities to improve health services for residents of Western Sydney. WentWest Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, […]
Focus on First Nations Health Outcomes for NAIDOC 2025
NAIDOC Week (6 – 13 July) is a very special event for Western Sydney’s First Nations residents. As home to one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in Australia, Western Sydney was filled with cultural pride and community spirit, with many organisations, community groups, and local councils hosting a variety of NAIDOC-dedicated events. WentWest representatives […]
STARTTS Visit to WentWest in Refugee Week and Pride Month
Western Sydney Health professionals are urged to do cultural inclusivity training and consider displaying rainbow flags and accreditation. The suggestion was made as part of a special WentWest event to commemorate Pride Month and Refugee Week. Staff from the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) talked to WentWest […]
New Mental Health and Wellbeing Program Launches at Northwest Community Services
Free counselling services are now available for Western Sydney residents. With two in five people experiencing mental health issues in their lifetime, the service will cater for people of all ages. Run by NorthWest Community Services (NWCS), the service is funded by the Western Sydney Primary Health Network. WSPHN Chief Executive, Andrew Newton said […]
Supporting Youth Mental Health in Western Sydney
Demand for youth mental health services has doubled in parts of Western Sydney, according to figures from headspace. More than 300 young people sought help from headspace Parramatta in the first few months of 2025 compared with 747 seeking help in all of 2024. Research shows that almost one in seven (14%) children and adolescents […]
Building Community-Led Suicide Prevention in Western Sydney
Tackling mental health, suicide and self-harm in Western Sydney needs innovative, community-led approaches. This week, in partnership with The Funding Network (TFN), WentWest launched the Western Sydney Pitch Night. Western Sydney Pitch Night will allocate funds to up to 3 key programs, each focused on locally led collaborations that seek to reduce suicide prevention activity […]
Powerful Healing in Simple Ways
Refugee trauma, the stress of resettlement and uncertainty can cause great stress, pain and fear and negatively impact on people’s health and everyday functioning. But with timely support, people can begin to heal and live well. NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors is a leader in healing for people […]