Wellways

16/10/2026

What an exciting National Carers Week it's been, as it comes to a close, we want to reflect on the honour that's been to offer a space for carers to relax, be cared for and celebrated ❤️‍🩹.

This week we hosted hundreds of carers, partners and staff through our Carers Breakfast and Carers Lunch in Brisbane and Sydney and the dozens of local events in our Carer Hubs, Connect Centres and offices across QLD, NSW and VIC.

Wellways' Director of Family and Carer Services Rachael Lovelock was the keynote speaker for our events where she shared her personal experience rediscovering herself beyond her caring role.

To all our carers, Happy Carers Week, thank you for your resilience, selflessness and love. We see you and we're here for you 🫂.

Read more about our Carers Week celebrations here:

More than 100 carers, partners and staff came together in Brisbane and Sydney this National Carers Week to celebrate the contributions of carers and highlight their voices and experiences.

12/10/2026

We’re kicking off National Carers Week by recognising the young carers who don’t always see themselves as carers. 🫶

For many young people, helping out at home is just part of everyday life, even when they take on a big share of caring for someone they love.

391,300 young carers out of 3 million unpaid carers represents around 13% of all unpaid carers in Australia, or roughly 1 in 8 carers. ❤️

Meet Zoe, one of our youngest carers at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centre in Bairnsdale, Victoria. Zoe supports her mum, who cares for her brother with high support needs.

At the Connect Centre, Zoe has found a place to have fun, be herself and meet other young carers who understand what it’s like.

Watch Zoe’s full story and share it with a young person who might relate to being a young carer too. ☺️

07/10/2026

"We all have mental health."

For Mel, that means talking about it on the good days, the hard days and every day in between.

“You can be going good and then you have those days when things come up. You do need to go and talk to someone about that.”

When Melinda moved to Mildura, she didn’t know anyone. She wanted to meet people, get involved and find her place in the community.

“I just wanted to get involved with the community and meet people.”

Through the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local, she found connection, friendship and a place to belong. That connection has grown beyond the Local, with friendships and community involvement helping Melinda and others thrive.

Now, through Cups That Care, she’s using art to share her experiences and encourage others to talk about mental health too.

“It’s beyond the Local, really beyond.”

This World Mental Health Day, Melinda’s message is simple: we all have mental health, and we all benefit when we talk, connect and support each other. Because Together We Thrive!

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4AThhAC

05/10/2026

✨ There’s something powerful about having people in your corner to start dreaming again. ✨

Hear from Mark about how reaching out for support has helped him do the things that matter to him, while connecting him with a whole new community of wonderful people who are walking in the same shoes.

Saturday, 10 October is World Mental Health Day 🌏, and all this week we’re celebrating how ‘Together We Thrive’ through support, connection and community.

Mark didn’t even know what support was available to him. This week, why not find a local service and drop in? You might be surprised by what’s out there. You’ve got nothing to lose and so much to gain.

01/10/2026

🖤💛❤️ We're proud to share the artwork for our new Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking an important milestone in Wellways' commitment to reconciliation.

Reaching the Stretch RAP stage means we're deepening our actions and accountability as we work alongside First Nations peoples and communities across Australia. Over the next three years, we'll strengthen this commitment through our services, partnerships, workforce and community connections.

Take a look behind the creation of 'Moving Forward', our Stretch RAP artwork, created by Wiradjuri and Gundungurra artist, and Wellways Recovery Worker, Sarah Levett.

🎥 Watch the video below and join us as we continue moving forward together.

23/09/2026

With hundreds of crafts, peer support group sessions, morning teas and over 700 carers on average walking through our doors, we celebrate the first anniversary of the Wellways Carer Gateway Carer Hubs 🎉.

It’s amazing to think that it’s been one year since we launched what we envisioned to be a home away from home for carers, a dedicated and inclusive space where carers could relax, connect with peers and be supported.

Today, that vision is a reality, with 10 Carer Hubs across Queensland and the Nepean Blue Mountains region in New South Wales providing places to recharge, connect and feel supported.

None of this would’ve been possible without our amazing Hub Navigators whose warmth, care and dedication have made every Hub a place where hundreds of carers can feel seen and valued.

“Celebrating one year of the Carer Hubs is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the strong community connections, partnerships and support networks that have grown throughout the year,” said Bundaberg Carer Hub Navigator Tiana Thompson.

“Together we’ve created a space where carers can learn, connect, recharge and feel supported in their caring journey.”

Today we pop our virtual ch*****ne 🥂 to celebrate one year of the Carer Hubs and all that’s still to come!

18/09/2026

🌸 Spring is finally here and the flowers are blooming in the Nepean Blue Mountains thanks to the We Care Project.🌸

Led by the NSW Wellways Carer Gateway Wanda team, the project has brought together over 300 carers, residents and service providers across Katoomba, Lithgow, Penrith and Hawkesbury to create 120 flower-filled embroidery hoops, that will be exhibited this Carers Week.

The project grew from a simple idea inspired by local carer Jannine Smith and the beautiful crochet flowers she crafts as a tool for healing and to feel connected to community.

Inspired by her resilience and passion for art, the Wanda and Katoomba Hub teams, organised workshops through July and August so carers could design their own hoops incorporating Jannine’s flowers and adding their own creative touches.

Now the project is coming into full bloom 💐, with exhibitions launching across Katoomba, Penrith, Lithgow, Hawkesbury and regional festivals like Blue Fringe this Carers Week.

Read more about the ✨flourishing✨ We Care Project here: https://bit.ly/46wAYjL

10/09/2026

We’re pouring our hearts into designing more 'Cups That Care' to help 'Change the Narrative' this World Su***de Prevention Day.

Teams and some participants across the country are getting creative, in the hope their designs will spark conversations about mental health over a friendly cuppa.

Selected designs will appear on takeaway coffee cups given to local cafés, helping to bring communities together and normalise talking about suicidal thoughts and wellbeing.

We’ll show the final designs selected for printing in the lead-up to World Mental Health Day in October.

Photo 1: Design by Sarah, Ben and Dave from Byron Bay. See less

28/08/2026

Purple looks pretty good on us, don’t you think? Today, Wellways teams came together to show our support for young LGBTQIA+ people on Wear It Purple Day.

This year’s ‘Colours of Courage’ theme, celebrates the many identities, experiences and stories that make up the rainbow community. Every colour is different, and that’s what makes our communities so vibrant, diverse and strong.

We’re proud to stand with LGBTQIA+ youth and celebrate the courage, diversity and strength they bring to all of us.

25/08/2026

Talking about your own mental health, or supporting someone with theirs, isn’t always easy. Sometimes, you simply don’t have the words.

Cups That Care is helping make those conversations a little easier, one cuppa at a time. 🫶

Led by our Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals and participants, the project has been popping up across regional Victoria and has now arrived in Mildura.

Participants reflected on their own experiences of mental health and recovery, turning their stories into artwork and messages of hope for biodegradable café cups. ☕

Now, their designs are popping up in local cafés, giving people something to think about over their morning coffee and perhaps a reason to start a conversation.

As Local Services Dave (top left photo) says, “What they’ve been through can actually help someone else.”

For Mel (top right photo), who helped design two of the three Mildura cups, the project was a chance to share her experience of navigating mental health challenges after family violence.

“It’s about my journey as a domestic violence survivor and how two key people helped save me.”

Mel hopes her cups help others feel less alone. “Everyone’s struggle is different, but recovery is possible.”

Because sometimes, all it takes is a cuppa and a conversation. ❤️

Watch this space to hear more about Mel’s story soon.

Last photo: Mildura Local Services staffers Te-Ahna and Mariah.