Aroha Health Service

19/08/2025

Trauma is not just an individual burden – it’s a shared responsibility.
At Aroha Health Service, we believe trauma is not simply an inner wound carried by one person. It lives in our bodies, our relationships, and our communities. The outcome of trauma depends less on the event itself and more on how the community around the person responds. With compassion and connection, communities can buffer harm. Without it, people may be pushed toward isolation, breakdown, or crisis.
That’s why our trauma-informed approach is built on safety, collaboration, and cultural respect. Healing requires more than individual resilience—it requires resilient families and communities.
✨ Sometimes the real issue isn’t in the person who suffers, but in the society that isolates them. So we ask: How can we, as a community, respond differently to trauma so that healing is possible for all?
👉 Read our full blog on our website .com.au

But a Collective Response

19/08/2025

But a Collective Response

19/08/2025

Trauma is not just an individual burden – it’s a shared responsibility.

At Aroha Health Service, we believe trauma is not simply an inner wound carried by one person. It lives in our bodies, our relationships, and our communities. The outcome of trauma depends less on the event itself and more on how the community around the person responds. With compassion and connection, communities can buffer harm. Without it, people may be pushed toward isolation, breakdown, or crisis.

That’s why our trauma-informed approach is built on safety, collaboration, and cultural respect. Healing requires more than individual resilience—it requires resilient families and communities.

✨ Sometimes the real issue isn’t in the person who suffers, but in the society that isolates them. So we ask: How can we, as a community, respond differently to trauma so that healing is possible for all?

👉 Read our full blog here:

But a Collective Response

15/08/2025

✨ Celebrating the Big, the Small, and Everything In Between ✨

At Aroha Health Service, we believe every milestone matters — whether it’s a life-changing achievement or a quiet win that only you and we see. 💛

We love standing alongside our clients to:
🌟 Cheer on the big moments — a new home, a new job, or a personal breakthrough.
🌿 Honour the small steps — getting out for a walk, trying a new activity, or finding a little more confidence today than yesterday.
💬 Appreciate everything in between — because life isn’t just about the peaks; it’s about the journey.

Every moment of progress deserves recognition, and we’re proud to walk alongside our clients every step of the way.

Here’s to celebrating everything about you — for every effort, every smile, and every milestone. 🥳💐

12/08/2025

🌟 Did You Know? 🌟
At Aroha Health Service, we believe in breaking barriers and building brighter futures for everyone we support.

💬 Social connection is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health — even small moments of kindness can boost well-being for both the giver and receiver.

💬 People with disabilities are some of the most innovative problem-solvers, often creating unique ways to adapt and thrive.

💬 Recovery is possible — with the right support, many people living with mental health challenges lead full, meaningful lives.

💬 Inclusive environments don’t just support individuals; they make communities stronger, more innovative, and more empathetic.

💬 Empowerment matters — when people have the freedom to make their own choices in care, it leads to better outcomes and greater independence.

💖 At Aroha Health Service, we provide personalised, compassionate support for people with disability, mental health needs, and aged care requirements across Geelong and surrounding areas.

📞 Let’s create opportunities together.
📧 info@ahservice.com.au | 🌐 www.ahservice.com.au | 📱 0421 693 943

11/08/2025

Understanding Rumination — and How to Support Recovery
Recently, I had an interaction that left me uneasy and tense.
Even after it ended, my thoughts kept replaying the moment, my body stayed on high alert, and I couldn’t “just move on.”
When I spoke to my partner later, I felt some relief — but it made me wonder:
• How many others feel stuck like this?
• How does it affect those with mental health challenges or disability?
• How can we best support them?
This cycle has a name: Rumination.
⸻
What is Rumination?
It’s when the mind replays a distressing event over and over, often intensifying emotions instead of resolving them.
Mind: Focus stuck on “what happened” and “what should have been different.”
Body: Nervous system stays in “alert” mode — tense muscles, racing heart.
⸻
What NOT to Do:
🚫 “Just get over it.”
🚫 Minimise their experience.
🚫 Force them to rehash details without purpose.
🚫 Make it about yourself.
⸻
What Helps:
✅ Listen without judgement.
✅ Acknowledge their feelings.
✅ Help them ground in the present.
✅ Offer healthy distractions.
✅ Encourage self-compassion and solutions.
⸻
Why it matters:
For people with mental health challenges or disability, rumination can be harder to break and more disruptive.
At Aroha Health Service, we help participants build coping strategies, strengthen resilience, and re-engage in daily life.

11/08/2025

Understanding Rumination — and How to Support Recovery

Recently, I had an interaction that left me uneasy and tense.
Even after it ended, my thoughts kept replaying the moment, my body stayed on high alert, and I couldn’t “just move on.”

When I spoke to my partner later, I felt some relief — but it made me wonder:
• How many others feel stuck like this?
• How does it affect those with mental health challenges or disability?
• How can we best support them?

This cycle has a name: Rumination.

⸻

What is Rumination?

It’s when the mind replays a distressing event over and over, often intensifying emotions instead of resolving them.

Mind: Focus stuck on “what happened” and “what should have been different.”
Body: Nervous system stays in “alert” mode — tense muscles, racing heart.

⸻

What NOT to Do:

🚫 “Just get over it.”
🚫 Minimise their experience.
🚫 Force them to rehash details without purpose.
🚫 Make it about yourself.

⸻

What Helps:

✅ Listen without judgement.
✅ Acknowledge their feelings.
✅ Help them ground in the present.
✅ Offer healthy distractions.
✅ Encourage self-compassion and solutions.

⸻

Why it matters:
For people with mental health challenges or disability, rumination can be harder to break and more disruptive.

At Aroha Health Service, we help participants build coping strategies, strengthen resilience, and re-engage in daily life.

11/08/2025

At Aroha Health Service, we believe that our collective strength is the foundation for growth. By fostering inclusion, empathy, and support, we create a community where everyone can thrive. Together, we’re dedicated to building a brighter future for mental health and disability support in Geelong. We are currently taking referrals – please contact us for more information. Let's make a positive impact together.

07/08/2025

🌿 Not All Disabilities Are Visible — and That’s Okay 🌿

A message from Aroha Health Service to our community

Some disabilities are visible.
Some are not.
And some are only noticeable at certain times — during moments of pain, stress, fatigue, or overwhelm.

These are known as hidden or invisible disabilities, and many people in our community live with them every day.

👀 Why It’s Not Always Obvious

Someone may experience:
• Hearing or vision loss that isn’t noticeable
• Chronic illness or fatigue
• Neurodivergence such as autism or ADHD
• Anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health conditions
• Memory issues, brain injury, or episodic challenges

Just because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

💬 How People May Choose to Communicate Their Needs

Some may prefer to:
• Wear a card, badge, or lanyard to signal that they may need time or support
• Let a trusted person speak on their behalf
• Ask for quiet spaces, written instructions, or clear steps
• Use brief phrases like:
“Thanks for your patience — I have a medical condition that affects me sometimes.”

Others may prefer not to share anything — and that’s valid too.

🧡 There Is No Shame in Needing Support

Living with a disability, whether visible or not, is nothing to be ashamed of.
Choosing to share your needs — or choosing not to — is a personal decision.

What matters most is that we create a world where:
• People feel safe and respected
• Support is offered without judgment
• No one is made to feel like they need to explain or defend their reality

At Aroha Health Service, we see, support, and stand beside people — whether or not their disability is visible.
We’re proud to advocate for dignity, inclusion, and the right to access life on your own terms.

Let’s all do our part to build a more understanding community.

📍 Aroha Health Service
NDIS-registered provider supporting mental health, disability, aged care & high-intensity needs in Geelong and surrounds.
🌐 www.arohahealth.com.au
📧 info@ahservice.com.au

05/08/2025

🌟 At Aroha Health Service, we believe in the power of support and the strength it takes to seek help. If you've ever felt uncertain about having a support person with you, know this: it's absolutely okay to acknowledge that! 💙

Having someone by your side isn’t just about assistance; it’s a sign of self-care and empowerment. Whether it's for daily tasks, appointments, or simply enjoying your day out, having support means you’re prioritizing your well-being. 💪

Choosing how to introduce your support person is completely up to you—friend, supporter, or just our quiet companion—there’s no right or wrong answer! What matters most is that we’re here for you, walking alongside you with respect and understanding. 🤝

Aroha Health Service is proud to provide a safe, judgment-free space for our community in Greater Geelong and surrounding areas. Connect with us today! Reach out at info@ahservice.com.au 🌈

31/07/2025

✨ Mental Health Care Shouldn’t Leave Anyone Behind ✨

People with intellectual disability (ID) experience significantly higher rates of mental ill-health — yet face barriers at every level when trying to access the support they deserve.

At Aroha Health Service, we’re here to break down those barriers.

🔹 We offer trauma-informed, culturally safe, and recovery-focused support
🔹 Our team is trained to work across mental health, disability, and complex care interfaces
🔹 We listen first — respecting each person’s communication needs, autonomy, and goals
🔹 We support participants to navigate the NDIS, healthcare system, and community resources
🔹 We engage families and carers, because healing doesn’t happen in isolation

A recent study showed that many services still overlook:
✅ Recovery-based approaches
✅ Lived experience voices
✅ Family and cultural perspectives
✅ Access for people with communication needs or dual diagnoses

We’re doing things differently — because everyone deserves access to competent, compassionate care.

📍 Based in Geelong & surrounding areas | Registered NDIS Provider
📞 Reach out to see how we can support you or someone you care about.

29/07/2025

🧠✨ Competent Mental Health Support Starts with Compassion, Culture & Continuous Learning ✨🧠

At Aroha Health Service, providing competent, person-centred mental health support isn’t just a goal — it’s our top priority.

We understand that true mental health care goes beyond medication and crisis response. It means ensuring our support workers are deeply trained and culturally attuned to:
✅ Understand diverse experiences of mental health and recovery
✅ Empower service users through strengths-based approaches
✅ Engage families, communities, and support networks
✅ Challenge stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion
✅ Honour the voices and choices of those we support

While many traditional training pathways still lack recovery-focused competencies — such as family inclusion, lived experience perspectives, and community empowerment — we are committed to filling those gaps through:
🌱 Ongoing training and reflective supervision
🌱 Embedding recovery and trauma-informed care in our practice
🌱 Hiring staff with both professional skill and lived empathy

Because for us, competence means connection — and the right support worker can change a life.

💬 If you’re seeking a team that puts people first, understands the journey of recovery, and delivers care with aroha (love and respect) — we’re here for you.

📍Serving Geelong and surrounding regions | NDIS Registered Provider
📞 Get in touch today to learn how we can support your mental health or disability needs.