Connection, Culture & Creativity: Delivering Mental Health Education in Rural Australia
Tracks
Grand Ballroom 3
| Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
| 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
Overview
Carla Sargeant, Irene Foulis and Tania Kells, Headspace
Presenter
Irene Foulis
National Program Manager
Headspace
Connection, Culture & Creativity: Delivering Mental Health Education in Rural Australia
Presentation Overview
The Mental Health Education Program (MHEP) aims to improve mental health outcomes for young people, families, and communities by delivering accessible, culturally responsive education across Australia. Since 2018, MHEP has reached over 330,000 students and 16,000 parents and carers through in-person and online workshops in schools.
A key focus of the program is increasing the availability of mental health and suicide prevention education in regional, rural, and remote communities. This interactive 60-minute workshop will explore how MHEP collaborates with local stakeholders to understand the unique needs of their communities and co-design engaging, inclusive content.
Drawing on case studies from Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, we will share how MHEP has adapted its approach to support diverse cohorts—from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women in Karratha, to disengaged First Nations youth in Normanton, to students in outer regional Tasmania. These stories will be brought to life through the video recordings of local stakeholders, who will share their experiences of working with MHEP and the impact the workshops have had on their communities.
Participants will engage in hands-on demonstrations of activities used in the field, including the First Nations Wellbeing Wheel, storytelling, and interactive games. These tools are designed to build trust, reduce stigma, and empower young people to seek help and support one another.
Learning outcomes include:
How to foster collaboration with local stakeholders to understand community context.
Strategies for tailoring content to be culturally responsive and engaging.
The value of relationship-based, strengths-focused education in rural settings.
This session is ideal for educators, youth workers, mental health professionals, and community leaders seeking practical tools and inspiration to strengthen mental health outcomes in rural and remote communities.
A key focus of the program is increasing the availability of mental health and suicide prevention education in regional, rural, and remote communities. This interactive 60-minute workshop will explore how MHEP collaborates with local stakeholders to understand the unique needs of their communities and co-design engaging, inclusive content.
Drawing on case studies from Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, we will share how MHEP has adapted its approach to support diverse cohorts—from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women in Karratha, to disengaged First Nations youth in Normanton, to students in outer regional Tasmania. These stories will be brought to life through the video recordings of local stakeholders, who will share their experiences of working with MHEP and the impact the workshops have had on their communities.
Participants will engage in hands-on demonstrations of activities used in the field, including the First Nations Wellbeing Wheel, storytelling, and interactive games. These tools are designed to build trust, reduce stigma, and empower young people to seek help and support one another.
Learning outcomes include:
How to foster collaboration with local stakeholders to understand community context.
Strategies for tailoring content to be culturally responsive and engaging.
The value of relationship-based, strengths-focused education in rural settings.
This session is ideal for educators, youth workers, mental health professionals, and community leaders seeking practical tools and inspiration to strengthen mental health outcomes in rural and remote communities.
Biography
Irene Foulis (she/her) lives and works on Kaurna Country. She is the National Program Manager for headspace’s Schools & Communities Division, where she leads the Mental Health Education Program (MHEP) and the Community Action Response Initiative (CARI). Irene brings a diverse background in the mental health sector, with experience spanning student wellbeing program development, community engagement, recovery-based mentoring, therapeutic group facilitation, and Mental Health First Aid training. She has also led numerous collaborative projects focused on innovation and inclusion. Irene is passionate about strengthening teams, delivering impactful initiatives, and creating environments where young people, families, and communities can thrive.
Ms Tania Kells
First Nations Lead
Headspace
Connection, Culture & Creativity: Delivering Mental Health Education in Rural Australia
Presentation Overview
The Mental Health Education Program (MHEP) aims to improve mental health outcomes for young people, families, and communities by delivering accessible, culturally responsive education across Australia. Since 2018, MHEP has reached over 330,000 students and 16,000 parents and carers through in-person and online workshops in schools.
A key focus of the program is increasing the availability of mental health and suicide prevention education in regional, rural, and remote communities. This interactive 60-minute workshop will explore how MHEP collaborates with local stakeholders to understand the unique needs of their communities and co-design engaging, inclusive content.
Drawing on case studies from Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, we will share how MHEP has adapted its approach to support diverse cohorts—from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women in Karratha, to disengaged First Nations youth in Normanton, to students in outer regional Tasmania. These stories will be brought to life through the video recordings of local stakeholders, who will share their experiences of working with MHEP and the impact the workshops have had on their communities.
Participants will engage in hands-on demonstrations of activities used in the field, including the First Nations Wellbeing Wheel, storytelling, and interactive games. These tools are designed to build trust, reduce stigma, and empower young people to seek help and support one another.
Learning outcomes include:
How to foster collaboration with local stakeholders to understand community context.
Strategies for tailoring content to be culturally responsive and engaging.
The value of relationship-based, strengths-focused education in rural settings.
This session is ideal for educators, youth workers, mental health professionals, and community leaders seeking practical tools and inspiration to strengthen mental health outcomes in rural and remote communities.
A key focus of the program is increasing the availability of mental health and suicide prevention education in regional, rural, and remote communities. This interactive 60-minute workshop will explore how MHEP collaborates with local stakeholders to understand the unique needs of their communities and co-design engaging, inclusive content.
Drawing on case studies from Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, we will share how MHEP has adapted its approach to support diverse cohorts—from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women in Karratha, to disengaged First Nations youth in Normanton, to students in outer regional Tasmania. These stories will be brought to life through the video recordings of local stakeholders, who will share their experiences of working with MHEP and the impact the workshops have had on their communities.
Participants will engage in hands-on demonstrations of activities used in the field, including the First Nations Wellbeing Wheel, storytelling, and interactive games. These tools are designed to build trust, reduce stigma, and empower young people to seek help and support one another.
Learning outcomes include:
How to foster collaboration with local stakeholders to understand community context.
Strategies for tailoring content to be culturally responsive and engaging.
The value of relationship-based, strengths-focused education in rural settings.
This session is ideal for educators, youth workers, mental health professionals, and community leaders seeking practical tools and inspiration to strengthen mental health outcomes in rural and remote communities.
Biography
Biography not provided
Carla Sargeant
National Operations Manager
Headspace
Connection, Culture & Creativity: Delivering Mental Health Education in Rural Australia
Presentation Overview
The Mental Health Education Program (MHEP) aims to improve mental health outcomes for young people, families, and communities by delivering accessible, culturally responsive education across Australia. Since 2018, MHEP has reached over 330,000 students and 16,000 parents and carers through in-person and online workshops in schools.
A key focus of the program is increasing the availability of mental health and suicide prevention education in regional, rural, and remote communities. This interactive 60-minute workshop will explore how MHEP collaborates with local stakeholders to understand the unique needs of their communities and co-design engaging, inclusive content.
Drawing on case studies from Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, we will share how MHEP has adapted its approach to support diverse cohorts—from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women in Karratha, to disengaged First Nations youth in Normanton, to students in outer regional Tasmania. These stories will be brought to life through the video recordings of local stakeholders, who will share their experiences of working with MHEP and the impact the workshops have had on their communities.
Participants will engage in hands-on demonstrations of activities used in the field, including the First Nations Wellbeing Wheel, storytelling, and interactive games. These tools are designed to build trust, reduce stigma, and empower young people to seek help and support one another.
Learning outcomes include:
How to foster collaboration with local stakeholders to understand community context.
Strategies for tailoring content to be culturally responsive and engaging.
The value of relationship-based, strengths-focused education in rural settings.
This session is ideal for educators, youth workers, mental health professionals, and community leaders seeking practical tools and inspiration to strengthen mental health outcomes in rural and remote communities.
A key focus of the program is increasing the availability of mental health and suicide prevention education in regional, rural, and remote communities. This interactive 60-minute workshop will explore how MHEP collaborates with local stakeholders to understand the unique needs of their communities and co-design engaging, inclusive content.
Drawing on case studies from Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania, we will share how MHEP has adapted its approach to support diverse cohorts—from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women in Karratha, to disengaged First Nations youth in Normanton, to students in outer regional Tasmania. These stories will be brought to life through the video recordings of local stakeholders, who will share their experiences of working with MHEP and the impact the workshops have had on their communities.
Participants will engage in hands-on demonstrations of activities used in the field, including the First Nations Wellbeing Wheel, storytelling, and interactive games. These tools are designed to build trust, reduce stigma, and empower young people to seek help and support one another.
Learning outcomes include:
How to foster collaboration with local stakeholders to understand community context.
Strategies for tailoring content to be culturally responsive and engaging.
The value of relationship-based, strengths-focused education in rural settings.
This session is ideal for educators, youth workers, mental health professionals, and community leaders seeking practical tools and inspiration to strengthen mental health outcomes in rural and remote communities.
Biography
Carla Sargeant (she/her) works and lives on Turrbal Country. Carla holds qualifications in Psychology, Juvenile Justice, Youth Work, Community Development and Secondary Education. Currently Carla is a National Operations Manager for headspace’s Schools & Communities Division and leads the headspace Schools & Communities Services portfolio. Carla’s diverse range of experience in the mental health industry includes community led co-design, family mediation, counselling, adventure-based learning, art therapy, young parent's programs, community engagement and student wellbeing programs.
