Adaptable Youth and Family Mental Health Service Delivery Post-Disaster: Lessons from Resilient Kids
Tracks
Grand Ballroom 2 - In-Person Only
| Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
| 2:25 PM - 2:45 PM |
Overview
Shoshannah Oks and Olga Bruve, Social Futures
Presenter
Shoshannah Oks
Program Manager
Social Futures
Adaptable Youth and Family Mental Health Service Delivery Post-Disaster: Lessons from Resilient Kids
Presentation Overview
Resilient Kids is a post-disaster mental health program supporting young people aged 8–18 and their families across the Northern Rivers of NSW, established in response to the 2022 floods. This presentation will share key achievements and lessons from the program, highlighting how adaptable, youth-centred mental health services can foster recovery and resilience in regional communities.
Operating in a region catastrophically affected by recurrent extreme weather events and systemic service limitations, Resilient Kids has adopted a flexible, person-centred approach. The program prioritises outreach increasing access opportunity for neurodivergent young people, those disengaged from education, and LGBTQIA+ youth—groups who have not engaged in conventional mental health frameworks. Delivery innovations include embedding services within youth-friendly spaces, using a hub-and-spoke model for regional outreach, and integrating evidence-based interventions with creative and play-based therapies to build trust and engagement.
This session will explore strategies for overcoming barriers in regional mental health care, including long wait times for neurocognitive assessments and persistent stigma around mental health help-seeking. Emphasis will be placed on family-inclusive practice, community collaboration, and the importance of fostering fun and peer connection as therapeutic tools. Voices of young people and families will be included throughout.
The program’s success has been underpinned by continuous reflective practice, professional development, and specialist supervision, ensuring practitioners are well-equipped to support complex needs. Practical, replicable strategies for broader implementation in generalist regional services will be shared.
Operating in a region catastrophically affected by recurrent extreme weather events and systemic service limitations, Resilient Kids has adopted a flexible, person-centred approach. The program prioritises outreach increasing access opportunity for neurodivergent young people, those disengaged from education, and LGBTQIA+ youth—groups who have not engaged in conventional mental health frameworks. Delivery innovations include embedding services within youth-friendly spaces, using a hub-and-spoke model for regional outreach, and integrating evidence-based interventions with creative and play-based therapies to build trust and engagement.
This session will explore strategies for overcoming barriers in regional mental health care, including long wait times for neurocognitive assessments and persistent stigma around mental health help-seeking. Emphasis will be placed on family-inclusive practice, community collaboration, and the importance of fostering fun and peer connection as therapeutic tools. Voices of young people and families will be included throughout.
The program’s success has been underpinned by continuous reflective practice, professional development, and specialist supervision, ensuring practitioners are well-equipped to support complex needs. Practical, replicable strategies for broader implementation in generalist regional services will be shared.
Biography
Shoshannah Oks is an experienced community services manager with a diverse background spanning mental health, youth justice, remote Aboriginal communities, out-of-home care, and homelessness. She is values-driven and passionate about designing programs that adapt to the real needs of young people—putting their voices, strengths, and experiences at the centre of every solution.
Olga Bruvel
Clinical Team Leader
Social Futures
Adaptable Youth and Family Mental Health Service Delivery Post-Disaster: Lessons from Resilient Kids
Presentation Overview
Resilient Kids is a post-disaster mental health program supporting young people aged 8–18 and their families across the Northern Rivers of NSW, established in response to the 2022 floods. This presentation will share key achievements and lessons from the program, highlighting how adaptable, youth-centred mental health services can foster recovery and resilience in regional communities.
Operating in a region catastrophically affected by recurrent extreme weather events and systemic service limitations, Resilient Kids has adopted a flexible, person-centred approach. The program prioritises outreach increasing access opportunity for neurodivergent young people, those disengaged from education, and LGBTQIA+ youth—groups who have not engaged in conventional mental health frameworks. Delivery innovations include embedding services within youth-friendly spaces, using a hub-and-spoke model for regional outreach, and integrating evidence-based interventions with creative and play-based therapies to build trust and engagement.
This session will explore strategies for overcoming barriers in regional mental health care, including long wait times for neurocognitive assessments and persistent stigma around mental health help-seeking. Emphasis will be placed on family-inclusive practice, community collaboration, and the importance of fostering fun and peer connection as therapeutic tools. Voices of young people and families will be included throughout.
The program’s success has been underpinned by continuous reflective practice, professional development, and specialist supervision, ensuring practitioners are well-equipped to support complex needs. Practical, replicable strategies for broader implementation in generalist regional services will be shared.
Operating in a region catastrophically affected by recurrent extreme weather events and systemic service limitations, Resilient Kids has adopted a flexible, person-centred approach. The program prioritises outreach increasing access opportunity for neurodivergent young people, those disengaged from education, and LGBTQIA+ youth—groups who have not engaged in conventional mental health frameworks. Delivery innovations include embedding services within youth-friendly spaces, using a hub-and-spoke model for regional outreach, and integrating evidence-based interventions with creative and play-based therapies to build trust and engagement.
This session will explore strategies for overcoming barriers in regional mental health care, including long wait times for neurocognitive assessments and persistent stigma around mental health help-seeking. Emphasis will be placed on family-inclusive practice, community collaboration, and the importance of fostering fun and peer connection as therapeutic tools. Voices of young people and families will be included throughout.
The program’s success has been underpinned by continuous reflective practice, professional development, and specialist supervision, ensuring practitioners are well-equipped to support complex needs. Practical, replicable strategies for broader implementation in generalist regional services will be shared.
Biography
Olga is a counsellor specializing in child, youth, and family therapy. She currently leads a clinical team in the Resilient Kids program, where she delivers mental health programs to young people and families in disaster-affected areas of the Northern Rivers. Olga has extensive experience working with young people and families from diverse backgrounds. She is passionate about creating an adaptive, skilled workforce and improving access to wraparound support services for families in regional areas. Olga is also committed to working in regional and remote areas, striving to ensure that support services are inclusive and responsive.
