Project 18 the wellbeing nook

05/09/2025

Hello 👋
And Happy Friday to you all ☺️

Just a little update, I know I've been a little quiet on socials these last couple of weeks.

There's been a lot happening. Some big and exciting, some small but wonderful and also some really tough stuff.

There's a lot happening in spaces and systems at the moment. Decisions that create changes that impact many individuals lives in significant ways.

These impacts have a ripple affect, and when there are so many ripples we can't expect anything less than unsettled, distressed, confused and worried people.

I am seeing it every day in the children and young people I work with. Young people who are already needing support are now feeling more than ever they have to fight to get it.

Please know I am not just referring to one system. All systems right now are stretched, struggling and unable to meet the demands.

So, whilst quiet on here I've been advocating a little more loudly to help amplify the voices of children and young people elsewhere.

Advocacy is a tool we can all use. There are ways to do it well, considered, respectful and approached with rights in mind.

So when we are raising concerns let's also advocate for what's best. Let's be clear about what's needed not just what's wrong. But most of all let's be kind, people are hurting, struggling and scared, we don't need to add to that.

With kindness, compassion and a heart filled with hope wishing you all a good day ❤️



📷 Celebrating spring 🌼

18/08/2025

Reflection time!

"Last week’s International Youth Day took me on a nostalgic trip down memory lane… I realised I’ve been working with children and young people for 30 years!

Yes, you read that right!

I started my journey in 1995 as a youth worker at a homelessness service in the northern suburbs (Adelaide). Since then, I’ve taken on many different roles in a variety of settings—but always working with and for young people with a particular focus on those in vulnerable situations.

And I still love it!

I’ve always been passionate about rights, social justice, elevating young voices, and advocating for change.

But long before I had that language I was driven by a few simple beliefs…

• Everyone needs someone in their corner.
• Everyone needs understanding and acceptance.
• Everyone needs someone to see the strength they have within.

I knew then, as I do now, that not all children and young people had these things, but everyone single one of them should!

So, my youth work journey began. I showed up, real and raw (authentically). I was consistent and persistent (tenacious). I was fiercely passionate and fought hard for what each young person needed (strongly advocating for their best interests).

Over the years my language has changed (a lot) and my approach is more considered (thank goodness) but my enthusiasm and energy for the work has not waivered.

I still believe, as strongly as ever, that every child has great potential and the right to grow up healthy, safe, and supported. Our experiences shape us, and trauma can leave deep and lasting impacts, with harm often compounding over time. Yet these challenges do not have to define us or dictate our future. Time and again, young people have shown me that growth, healing, and hope are always possible.

So, I’m here to stay! At least until I retire, which is still a long way away!" Jodie

Photo: Took a bit to dig this one out - Me, in 1995..ish. I nearly didn’t use it, it is a pretty embarrassing pic after all. But as I often say to my clients “sometimes we need to embrace the cringe, get outside of our comfort zone, feel uncomfortable and do things differently” – this one is for you – eeeek!

12/08/2025

International Youth Day 2025 🌟

Today is all about celebrating young people — their ideas, their energy, their hope, and their ability to make change happen right where they are.

In my work with children and young people, I see how much they care about their communities, how creative they can be when given the chance, and how fiercely they fight for what’s fair. They inspire me every day.

This year’s theme is all about local action — turning big dreams into real change in our own backyards. And that’s exactly what young people do so well when we make space for their voices and back them with encouragement and support.

Let’s keep showing up for them. Listening. Believing in them. Walking alongside them as they shape a future we can all be proud of.

If you'd like to find out more about the day and this years theme head to: https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day

31/07/2025

Taking Steps - Walk the Yorke
PART THREE: Why Project 18?
So why did Terry and Dennis choose Project 18 – the wellbeing nook as the recipient of the funds they raised? It’s a good question. And an important one.

Project 18 is a certified social enterprise, recognised as a business for good for its ongoing work supporting some of South Australia’s most vulnerable children and young people. Through counselling, advocacy, and strong partnerships with the youth sector, Project 18 provides care that’s flexible, responsive, and grounded in a real understanding of the complex challenges many young people face.

Terry and Dennis have supported Project 18 from the start — helping out with community projects, attending events, and rolling up their sleeves as part of the 228 Fit Out Crew are just a few of the ways they have done this. They’ve seen firsthand the heart and hustle that goes into this work. And they believe deeply in what it stands for.

They chose Project 18 not because it’s big, but because it’s intentional, personal, human. It's a small, purpose-driven venture that creates a big impact through genuine, personalised support that is tailored, creative, flexible and considered.

The funds raised will directly provide free one-on-one counselling to boys aged 8 to 21 living in metropolitan Adelaide — young people who would otherwise be unable to access the support they need. While the number of places is limited, each session delivered through this funding represents a lifeline to someone who may have otherwise gone without.

And because Project 18 is a small, community-based business with minimal overheads and no corporate layers, more of every dollar raised goes exactly where it’s needed — into real support, for real people, in real time.

But Terry and Dennis's choice carries a message even bigger than that.

It’s a reminder that individuals can make a difference. That we don’t always have to wait for systems to respond or for large organisations to act. Sometimes, it’s the people beside us — the ones who take a few steps forward, who speak up, or show up — that spark real change.

And when enough of us get behind something good — by donating, encouraging, sharing, or simply believing in it — those steps start to matter. That’s what Terry and Dennis have shown us.
Because small doesn’t mean insignificant.

And everyday people? They’re often the ones who change everything.

Photo shared with permission: The End!

30/07/2025

Taking Steps - Walk the Yorke

PART TWO: Why just the boys?

So why did Terry and Dennis choose to raise awareness and funds specifically for boys and young men?

Mental health challenges affect people of every age, gender, and background — no one is invulnerable. But the statistics tell us something important: boys and young men are at particular risk and often under-supported:

• 1 in 4 men experience a mental health disorder.
• 7 of 9 daily suicides in Australia are men.
• Youth mental health disorders have risen 50% in 15 years.
• 40% of 16–24-year-olds had a disorder (2020–2022).
• Anxiety affects 9% of boys; depression rises from 7% in teens to 13% in adult men.
• 40% of young men with severe depression still continue to struggle after two years.
• Only 1 in 4 men seek help for emotional or personal issues.
• Most see a GP, but fewer than half see a mental health professional.
(sources listed below)

But this isn’t just about numbers. For Terry and Dennis, it’s deeply personal.
They grew up in a time when boys were told to "toughen up" and keep emotions hidden. They’ve spent their lives in male-dominated environments — in their work and their sporting communities — where this culture still lingers.

They’ve watched mates struggle, including some who are no longer with us. They’ve seen young men they work with, coach, or know, battling quietly with anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. They know it’s often harder for young men to speak up, to ask for help, and sometimes support comes too late.

That’s why they chose to focus their efforts where it could make a powerful difference — to challenge the silence, reduce the stigma, and help build a future where, asking for help is a sign of strength and openly encouraged.

Because the next generation of boys shouldn’t have to struggle in silence.

P.S. Terry and Dennis also know the power of a smile, a comforting hand on the shoulder, the impact of checking in and helping mates whenever it’s needed.

Photo shared with permission: The middle.

IF YOU NEED URGENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT YOU CAN REACH OUT TO:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
13 YARN 13 92 76
1800RESPECT 1800 737 732

Statistics obtained from:
Beyond Blue; Australian Institute of Family Studies; ABS; Black dog Institute; AIHW.

29/07/2025

Taking Steps - Walk the Yorke

PART ONE: Two Men, One Mission, and a Cause That Matters.

This is something special.
Two great men. One big personal challenge. And a cause that’s bigger than both of them.

Terry Westwood and Dennis Mobbs recently set out to conquer the first half of Walk the Yorke — a rugged, winding, coastal trail not for the faint-hearted. Battling fierce winds, rain, mud, seaweed, and rocky terrain, they pushed through more than just the physical strain. They got lost (yes, they even got escorted off private land!), dealt with dodgy knees, stubborn blisters, and some very weary old bones.

They walked 208kms in 8 days! That’s 303,051 steps! Their longest day of walking was a huge 9hours and 11minutes! So, what kept them going? What pushed them to take one more step... and then another?

They’d made a commitment. A promise to raise awareness — and much-needed funds — for boys and young men doing it tough. Young people struggling with their mental health and in need of someone to walk alongside them.

That ‘someone’ is often found through counselling. And that’s where we come in.

Terry and Dennis chose to raise funds for Project 18, a counselling practice supporting children and young people. It’s a huge honour — and a responsibility we take seriously.

So why just boys?
And why Project 18?
Two very important questions — but far too much for one post.

Over the next two parts, we’ll share the heart behind this incredible journey and how these funds will help change lives. Stay with us.

P.S. They also enjoyed some magnificent scenery, frolicking seals and some friendly locals to name just a few of the highlights, there were many.

Photo shared with permission: The Start.

22/07/2025

World Brain Day !!

Did you know there is a worldwide campaign dedicated to promoting brain health? I didn’t, until today, but now that I do, I have to share what I have learnt about it!

World Brain Day was established by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) in 2014, it’s described as a ‘global call to action for both individuals and institutions to share meaningful information and activities on brain health’.

The WFN define brain health as ‘keeping our minds sharp, resilient and active’. There is a theme every year and this year it is ‘Brain Health for all ages’, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of supporting brain health throughout every stage of life.

If you’d like to learn more about the day, the key messages from WFN or more about what it means to keep our brains healthy head to https://wfneurology.org/world-brain-day-2025

And if you are wondering why I just had to share this new discovery, well, I talk about our brains all the time with clients, in so many different contexts, how it operates, how it’s impacted, the way it grows and changes and the many many differences. So it makes sense to me that I would also want to be able to talk to them about ways that might help keep our brains health!

SO Happy World Brain Day to you all 🧠

16/07/2025

Last week, the Royal Commission released another powerful and important report "Silence and Inaction (2025)" presenting the voices of children and young people who have experienced domestic, family, and sexual violence.

Much like the "Unseen and Unheard" report published late last year by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, it sheds light on the deep and persistent gaps in our systems and services — gaps that continue to fail those who need support most – children and young people.

To every child and young person who contributed to these reports — whether through direct conversation, in writing, at the Summit or part of a broader submission — we want you to know we see you. Your courage, insight, and generosity in sharing your stories is nothing short of extraordinary. You didn’t do it for yourselves — you did it for others. For those still living in fear and being silenced. For a future where children are believed, heard, protected, and supported. Where their rights are upheld.

We hold hope that the final recommendations of the Royal Commission, due to be released next month, will center children and young people’s voices — not just in consultation, but in action. Their calls for change must be heard, honoured, and reflected in the creation of systems that are safe, accessible, and built with and for those they are meant to help. Not to action, would seriously compromise the trust of our young people.

Links to both reports below and for updates from the Royal Commission head to their website (link also below).

https://www.royalcommissiondfsv.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1167458/Silence-and-Inaction-Report-2025-Final.pdf

https://www.ccyp.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Unseen-and-Unheard-Report.pdf

https://www.royalcommissiondfsv.sa.gov.au/

11/07/2025

Giving a voice to the unheard is an important and powerful start.

It might be a difficult read but we need to know the experiences of children and young people in their own right.

The Royal Commission's report is due to be released next month.

Child victims of domestic violence have told a South Australian royal commission about being beaten, imprisoned in their own homes and made to feel "unloved", but felt ignored when they tried to disclose the abuse. Warning: This story contains content that may distress some readers.

06/07/2025

NAIDOC Week is here!

Although there is much to celebrate all year round 'NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.'

There is so much to see and do, there are activities, exhibitions, events and awards! You can check out https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events to see what is happening near you!

This year is extra special too, as it marks NAIDOC's 50th year! That's '50 years of honoring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience'. Every year there is a theme and this years is "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy" - read the wonderful write up about this at https://www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-theme

So let's get out there and participate, learn, recognise and celebrate!

Happy NAIDOC everyone ❤️🖤💛

04/07/2025

What a week!

It has been one of those really great counselling weeks.
You might be wondering—what does that actually look like?

Well, to me, as a counsellor, it can look like lots of things. But some of the true highlights of this week have been:

⭐ A client opening up and letting me see the parts of their story they usually keep hidden.
⭐ Another client chose change over feeling stuck—even when change feels scary.
⭐ Yet another started to believe they’re worth the time, effort, and care it takes to heal.
⭐ Another saw —truly saw—that the things they thought made them “too different” are actually the things that make them extraordinary.

These are the moments that stay with you.
They’re not loud or dramatic. But they’re real. And they matter.
And today, I’m just really grateful to be part of that.

Actually I am grateful everyday to be able to do what I do, but today I have decided to share that with you!

📷 A somewhat dishevelled ‘peace out’ to the week from me!