Change Ahead Mental Health Service

Change Ahead Mental Health Service Kate’s an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker offering specialist mental healthcare in Central QLD

I will be taking some time off over Easter. PLEASE REMEMBER 🌻 Emergencies: 000 — Acute Care Team: 1300 642 255 — Your GP...
24/03/2026

I will be taking some time off over Easter. PLEASE REMEMBER 🌻 Emergencies: 000 — Acute Care Team: 1300 642 255 — Your GP — Lifeline: 131114– Finance enquires: finance@changeaheadmhs.com. Happy Easter. 🐣

Happy Friday everyone 🦋 Today is International Day of Happiness 🌿Happiness isn’t always the big, loud moments we see in ...
19/03/2026

Happy Friday everyone 🦋 Today is International Day of Happiness 🌿

Happiness isn’t always the big, loud moments we see in highlight reels. Often, it’s quiet. Gentle. It lives in the in-between spaces — a warm cup of tea, a deep breath of fresh air, a kind word, a shared smile.

It’s the feeling of being seen. The comfort of being yourself. The small moments where your shoulders soften and your heart feels just a little lighter.

If happiness feels far away, start small.
Notice what’s already here:
✨ The sunlight through your window
✨ A message from someone who cares
✨ The rhythm of your breath
✨ A moment of stillness in a busy day

Let yourself lean into the simple things, and the people who make you feel safe, understood, and connected.

Happiness doesn’t need to be chased.
Sometimes, it just needs to be noticed 🤍. What small things make you happy?

17/03/2026

Today is World Social Work Day, and this year’s theme -Co-Building Hope and Harmony is a powerful call for Harambee.

Harambee is a Swahili term meaning “all pull together.” As a Mental Health Social Worker, I often work with the internal world - helping individuals heal from the inside out. But I know that healing is only half the battle if the world outside remains a struggle. 🌍
That’s where my social work colleagues come in. They are the masters of “pulling together” the resources, advocacy, and systemic support that turn individual progress into lifelong stability.

To my fellow social workers who stand in the gap, navigate the complex systems, and fight for social justice: Thank you for your tireless heart and hard work.
Let’s co-build a world where everyone belongs.

16/03/2026

With all the rain and floods we’ve recently had.. I took a moment out at lunch to go sit by the Fitzroy river.. I just listened and observed. It got me thinking.. Sometimes our thoughts and emotions can feel like a raging river after heavy rain — swollen, fast, and impossible to control.

When we’re standing in the middle of that river, the current of worry, anger, fear, or sadness can pull us under. We might try to fight the water, thrash against it, or push the current away… but the harder we fight, the more exhausted we become.

What if, instead of trying to control the river, we stepped onto the riverbank?

From the bank, the river is still moving. The water is still fast. But we’re no longer being swept away by it.

Our thoughts and feelings are like that river. They are powerful, and they move through us — but they don’t have to carry us with them.

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is pause, breathe, and notice the current without stepping into it. We can watch our thoughts pass like water flowing downstream.

The river will always move — that’s what rivers do.
But we can choose where we stand.

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, I wanted to do something a bit different and show you the face behind Change Ahea...
06/03/2026

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, I wanted to do something a bit different and show you the face behind Change Ahead Mental Health Services.

To understand why I’m so passionate about this year’s theme, you have to understand where I started.

My scales were first tipped by the dust of my parents’ property, the halls of boarding school, Ag College and eventually, the vast landscapes of the Northern Territory.
It was there, in the remote NT, that I experienced “Women’s Day at the Bark Hut.” 🛖
At “The hut”, women from across the Barkly Tablelands gathered to lean on one another. We discussed the unique, gritty challenges of rural life—the isolation, the resilience required, and the gaps in support for women and children in the bush. It was in that heat and dust that my mission was born: to bridge the gap between my love for the land and the desperate need for specialized mental health support in remote communities.

The Reality of the Scales -
Getting to where I am today hasn’t been a linear path. While I celebrate the accomplishments of building Change Ahead, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Like many of you, I’ve had to fight to balance the scales of professional ambition with personal wellbeing, and systemic hurdles with individual grit.

Our Collective Role -
International Women’s Day isn’t just about individual success; it’s about acknowledging the role We ALL Play. Whether you are in a boardroom or a branding yard, we are all part of the continued work to:
✅ Dismantle the “mental load”
✅ Advocate for accessible rural healthcare
✅ Support the next generation of girls in Ag and beyond

Today, I celebrate the women who sat in that Bark Hut with me, the woman in my life and the women I work with now. We are still balancing the scales, one conversation at a time.

WomenInAg BarklyTablelands InternationalWomensDay

18/02/2026

Small ways to shift out of survival mode 👏🏻

Happy ! 🍕 Think of your life as a pizza : are you letting yourself have enough of your favorite toppings? Self-care is...
08/02/2026

Happy ! 🍕 Think of your life as a pizza : are you letting yourself have enough of your favorite toppings? Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential for a well-rounded, flavorful life!

What’s your ‘must-have’ topping for wellbeing? 👇


25/01/2026

💎 Coping Thoughts. 💎

💎 Here is a list of some coping thoughts that people have found helpful (McKay, Davis, & Fanning, 1997).
💎 Check the ones that are helpful to you and also create your own.
-------------------------------------------------------------
💎 “This situation won’t last forever.”

💎 “I’ve already been through many other painful experiences, and I’ve survived.”

💎 “This too shall pass.”

💎 “My feelings make me uncomfortable right now, but I can accept them.”

💎 “I can be anxious and still deal with the situation.”

💎 “I’m strong enough to handle what’s happening to me right now.”

💎 “This is an opportunity for me to learn how to cope with my fears.”

💎 “I can ride this out and not let it get to me.”

💎 “I can take all the time I need right now to let go and relax.”

💎 “I’ve survived other situations like this before, and I’ll survive this one too.”

💎 “My anxiety/fear/sadness won’t kill me; it just doesn’t feel good right now.”

💎 “These are just my feelings, and eventually they’ll go away.”

💎 “It’s okay to feel sad/anxious/afraid sometimes.”

💎 “My thoughts don’t control my life, I do.”

💎 “I can think different thoughts if I want to.”

💎 “I’m not in danger right now.”

💎 “So what?”

💎 “This situation sucks, but it’s only temporary.”

💎 “I’m strong and I can deal with this.”

-------------------------------------------

These help tolerate distressing situations by giving strength + motivation to endure hard experiences.

You can begin using them immediately.

Write your 5 favourite coping thoughts on an index card or a sticky note and keep it with you in your wallet or purse.

Or put your coping thoughts in conspicuous places where you can see them every day, like on your refrigerator or mirror.

The more you see your coping thoughts, the more quickly they will become part of your automatic thought process.

From :
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook.
Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal
Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation & Distress Tolerance by

Matthew McKay, PH.D. • Jeffrey C.Wood , PSY.D. Jeffrey Brantley, MD . New Harbinger Publications. 2007.

24/01/2026

Feeling overwhelmed by your thoughts?

You're not alone.

It can be tough to sort through all the thoughts and feelings that flood your mind, leaving you feeling lost and confused.

But you can find clarity & peace again.

Here's how:

- Mindfulness
Focus your attention on the present moment and acknowledge your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

- Journaling
Write down your thoughts and emotions to gain insight into what's going on inside of you.

- Get Creative
Creative activities like painting, singing, dancing, etc. can help you tap into your emotions and find new ways to express them.

- Tapping
Tapping or EFT is a technique that involves tapping on specific points of your body to release negative emotions and promote calmness.

- Exercising
Exercise is a natural mood booster, and it can help release pent-up tension and stress, leaving you feeling more relaxed and balanced.

- Therapy
Getting in touch with a professional like a therapist or counsellor can help you better understand and process your emotions.

Ultimately, finding what works for you is key to managing overwhelming emotions.

Gabby and I will be out and unavailable at this coming week ( Monday 12th- Friday 16th Jan 2026) completing Gabby’s next...
11/01/2026

Gabby and I will be out and unavailable at this coming week ( Monday 12th- Friday 16th Jan 2026) completing Gabby’s next clinical step in becoming an accredited therapy dog 🐶 🐾 Thank you for your patience and understanding during Gabby’s next chapter 💝🎉 GOOD LUCK GABBY !!!

01/01/2026

Talking about how we’re really feeling can be tough — for kids and for adults. But those early, honest chats are where understanding, support, and confidence grow.

Ask the small questions, share the little moments, and make space for the bigger feelings when they show up.

A brave conversation can change everything. 💙

01/01/2026

New domestic violence laws started 1 January 2026 in Queensland.
Police now have the power to issue on-the-spot Domestic Violence Protection Orders, called Police Protection Directions (PPDs).

PPDs are made without a court application and stay in place for 12 months. They can include conditions like no contact, leaving a shared home, staying away from certain places, and cooling-off periods.

PPDs cannot be issued in certain situations, including where there is an existing protection order is in place.

If someone breaches a PPD, it is a criminal offence.

If you’re served with a PPD or have questions about what these changes mean, seek legal advice immediately.

To learn more, read our factsheet: https://pulse.ly/gulnd95bij

If this raises issues for you, support is available:
📞 13YARN (24/7): 13 92 76
🚨 In immediate danger? Call 000
📞 PoliceLink QLD: 131 444
📱 DVConnect (24/7): 1800 811 811
📱 1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732
⚖️ Free legal DFV help – WLSQ: 1800 857 857 (Mon–Fri 9 AM – 4:30 PM)

Address

Rockhampton, QLD
4700

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61456559202

Website

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