Trauma Assist - Wide Bay

03/03/2026

Helping children make sense of difficult news starts with calm conversations and reassurance.
When young people feel heard and supported, it strengthens their sense of safety and resilience.

03/03/2026

Today we celebrate the birthday of a storyteller who believed small people could make big changes.
Let’s care a whole awful lot; about each other, about our communities, and about the world we’re shaping together. ❤️

02/03/2026

Every year, more than 727 000 lives are lost to su***de.
Behind each number is a story cut short.
We aimed for a 33% reduction in deaths by 2030, but progress is just 12%.
This is a crisis. We must act with urgency, compassion & investment in su***de prevention. Resource: World Health Organization

01/03/2026

Early conversations and knowing your body can truly save lives — thank you for helping raise awareness about ovarian cancer.

Every day in Australia, four women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 😔

Ovarian cancer occurs when cells in the ovaries or fallopian tubes grow and multiply out of control.

It often doesn’t cause clear symptoms in the early stages. This means it can sometimes be found later, when it has already progressed. The positive news is that ongoing improvements in technology, treatment and earlier detection are helping more women live longer after diagnosis.

It can be difficult to detect—so knowing your body and being aware of possible signs and symptoms is really important. 👇

The exact cause isn't known, but factors that can increase your risk include:
👉 age (risk increases for women or people with ovaries over 50)
👉 family history of ovarian, breast or bowel cancer
👉 endometriosis
👉 lifestyle factors such as smoking or being overweight
👉 hormonal factors such as early puberty or late menopause.

If you ever notice ongoing changes in your body, don’t ignore them—have a chat with your GP.

Getting checked early can make a big difference. 💙🩵



ℹ️ Source: Cancer Council Queensland, Queensland Health. Health Direct, Cancer Australia.

01/03/2026

A couple of cheeky bevvies before bed might make you sleepy, but it scrubs out your good quality sleep. 😒
The sedative effects of alcohol can make you fall asleep quickly, so it's tempting to have a nightcap. But Newbie, this messes with your normal sleep cycles and the amount of important rapid eye movement (REM) sleep you have.
You're more likely to wake up often from sweats, nightmares and trips to the loo (because alcohol makes you p*e more). This can make you feel tired, irritable and sluggish the next day. 😴
Regularly drinking alcohol and having poor sleep can:
> cause heart problems and high blood pressure
> slow your metabolism and increase weight
> weaken your immune system
> increase feelings of depression and anxiety
> worsen sleep disorders (including snoring, sleep apnoea or restless legs).
So Ace, for your sleep and overall health, it's best to cut down or quit drinking alcohol. If you choose not to, then avoiding alcohol for at least 3-4 hours before bedtime may help a little.
Sleep high five!✋
ℹ️ Sources: ADF; Sleep Health Foundation; Qld Health

28/02/2026

Read the February edition of Life in Mind eNews to explore the latest su***de prevention research and initiatives from across Australia.

This edition highlights how relationships and connection can protect against su***de risk, shares new evidence and community-led programs, and features a training module strengthening the Social and Emotional Wellbeing workforce.

Click the following link to read the full newsletter, and subscribe to receive future editions straight to your inbox: https://lifeinmind.org.au/news/life-in-mind-enews-february-2026

27/02/2026

Such a powerful reminder that recovery isn’t linear — you can hold gratitude and exhaustion at the same time.
Thank you for normalising the messy, honest conversations that so many are quietly carrying. 💛

Seven weeks in.

And I am privileged to be where the real conversations are happening.

Not the public ones.

The quiet ones.
The honest ones.
“I’m having a s**t day.”
“It would’ve been easier to just lose everything.”
“I’ve never been more grateful.”
“This is completely f×>ked.”

I’m hearing all of it.

Sometimes from the same person in the same conversation.

Tears.
Gratitude.
Anger.
Guilt.
Frustration.
Isolation.
Exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix.

If this is you.
You are not weak.

Research from Kate Brady and Phoenix Australia tells us that this stage of recovery brings cumulative stress. Not because something new has happened. But because the load hasn’t stopped.
And when the body finally slows, emotions catch up.

All of them.

You can be grateful and angry.
Hopeful and exhausted.
Strong and overwhelmed.

Both can be true.

The most dangerous thing right now isn’t the emotion.
It’s thinking you shouldn’t be feeling it.

There is no “should” in recovery.

So if today is a good day, that’s valid.
If today is a s**t day, that’s valid too.

Keep talking.
Keep checking in.
Keep normalising the messiness of it all.

That’s where we are.

26/02/2026

To protect yourself from financial abuse, talk to your bank about keeping your bank
account safe.
Listed are the First Nations dedicated phone lines for the big four banks.
NAB Indigenous Customer Service Line - 1800 966 100
Commonwealth (CBA) Indigenous Customer Assistance Line - 1800 700 682
ANZ - First Nations Customer Support Line - 1800 037 366
Westpac - Indigenous Call Centre Team (Indigenous Connection) - 1800 230 144
• If you or someone you know is going through financial abuse you can ask for help. Call Mob Strong on 1800 808 488.
• If you need immediate assistance in an emergency or life-threatening situation, call triple zero (000).
• If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can call 13 YARN for support, on 13 92 76.
To view our fact sheet on Elder Financial Abuse visit
https://financialrights.org.au/fac.../elder-financial-abuse/
Call Mob Strong Debt Help on 1800 808 488 for free financial counselling and legal advice

26/02/2026

I love this because even though the internet is (generally) well-meaning there's so much advice of "try this" to heal your anxiety/mental health issue or even worse - all you need is to get outside! This shows all of the different things that make up our individual mental health. We're all different. There are probably a billion different combinations (I suck at math) so different things work for different people, every struggle is unique, so I try to always hold space for different experiences. Just because something works for me, doesn't mean it will work for you! Self-Love Rainbow

25/02/2026

Lock this one in your calendar!!
International Women's Day - FREE Morning Tea, here at the Centre.
but you must book, limited numbers. Call the Centre on 41255788

24/02/2026

in 1984, a team of 20 specialists led by Dr Victor Chang, performed Australia’s first successful heart transplant on 39-year-old shearer Peter Apthorpe from Armidale. The father of two underwent a four-hour operation at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. “The new heart worked beautifully the minute it was allowed to beat,” Dr Chang said at the time.

Just two months later, Dr Chang performed another heart transplant on 14-year-old Fiona Coote, making her Australia's youngest heart transplant recipient at the time. More than four decades on, over 100 Australians have a transplant each year thanks to the teams at St Vincent’s Hospital and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Learn more about Dr Victor Chang: https://www.victorchang.edu.au/about-us/victor-chang

24/02/2026

Individuals with FASD are over-represented in all areas of the justice system. There are many recorded cases of people with FASD “admitting” to offences which they did not commit.

NOFASD Australia has produced wallet-sized information cards which can be carried by people with FASD and other brain disorders. These can be handed to police officers and other professionals if needed. The cards explain that the person has a cognitive impairment and requires a support person to assist them in such interactions. The cards have space for carers to write their contact details so they can be contacted if such situations arise.

✨These cards can assist in providing some peace of mind as your young person starts engaging more independently in the community. ✨
👉 To order a free pack of these cards to be sent to you please call NOFASD’s Helpline: 1 800 860 613 or register your details at: https://buff.ly/taqbktY
Please note that we are only able to post these cards to Australian residents.