From Ukraine to Western Sydney: Focus on Mental Health Recovery
A special delegation of eight Ukrainian Fellows visited WentWest this week to learn about Australia’s psychosocial mental health support and its support for people affected by war in their recovery journey. Led by the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), the delegation also met with staff at Blacktown […]
Meeting Rising Demand for Early Psychosis Care in Western Sydney
The future of early psychosis care for young people was the focus of the annual Australian Early Psychosis Program (AEPP) forum, held in Westmead earlier this month and supported by WentWest. Demand for youth mental health and early psychosis services is rising sharply across Western Sydney, with headspace services reporting that presentations have doubled in some areas. In just six months, […]
Orygen Spotlights Mental Health Needs in Western Sydney
Orygen, Australia’s leading youth mental health research and advocacy organisation, has released a case study spotlighting Western Sydney. The study, part of Project Impact, examined the Youth Enhanced Support Service (YESS) and confirmed the critical need for free, comprehensive care that works within the family system. YESS Western Sydney (YESS WS), delivered by Uniting NSW.ACT, was selected by Orygen as […]
Mental Health Referral Spoke Strengthens Service Navigation
The WentWest Mental Health Referral Spoke is an innovative, free service designed to support complex mental health and psychosocial referrals. Operating via the Medicare Mental Health phone line and GP referrals, the service enhances access and continuity of care. Since 2025, nearly 600 referrals have been processed by the WentWest referral team, with an average processing time of no […]
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 […]