Support Groups Queensland

16/04/2026

📣 Calling all who work to support women's mental health in Brisbane South – we invite you to connect and reflect on Ethical Storytelling of Women's Wellbeing during our 21 May network meeting.

We will hear from our guest speaker Liliana Maria who currently leads the training space at QPASTT, supporting practitioners to work ethically and effectively with people from refugee, asylum seeker, and migrant backgrounds. Liliana will talk about:

• The power behind lived experience stories and representation
• Addressing power dynamics
• Working collaboratively
• Honouring the human being, the story - what does that entail?
• Engaging in reflective practice

This session is designed to foster discussion and reflection among professionals working in the field of women’s mental health. After Liliana's presentation, there will be time for questions and informal networking.

Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (2 hours)
Location: Garden City Library, Upper Mt Gravatt (details in link)
⭐ RSVP: https://mhpn.org.au/members #/Meeting/27697

14/04/2026

Here's an amazing opportunity to get support in hospitality work with our awesome friends at Green Fox Training Studio. The program is for people who’ve found it hard to get into work or study and want a practical, people focused pathway into hospitality or a food based business. You'll get training and support in small, supportive groups with a trauma-informed, non judgmental environment.

It will start next Wednesday 22 April 2026 and runs two days a week in Brisbane.

Interested? Apply now - it only takes 5 minutes: https://tinyurl.com/ms9d8jht

Our fully, funded hospitality program starts Wednesday 22 April 2026 and runs two days a week in Brisbane.
Designed for adults (18+) who’ve found it hard to get into work or study and want a practical, people‑focused pathway into hospitality or a food‑based business.
You’ll get:
• Cert II in Hospitality
• RSA, RSG, Barista & Safe Food Handling
• Mentoring and well-being support
• Transport from Roma Street Station to the venue
• Food provided during training
• The chance to create your own logo, brand and basic marketing if you’d like to start a food or hospitality business.

You don’t need experience – just an interest in people, food, coffee or events and a willingness to show up.
• Fully Funded (eligibility applies)
• Small, supportive groups
• Trauma‑informed, non‑judgmental environment
👉 Apply online (5–10 mins): [APPLICATION LINK]
Places are limited and may close once full, so apply early.

This course is delivered by Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Designer Life (Code 32502), with wrap-around support provided by Green Fox. Designer Life will deliver all training and assessment and issue all awards for successfully complete students for SIT20322.

13/04/2026

People with disability, do you have ideas about how life could be better or any barriers you experience? Share them in this survey, to help shape disability advocacy, services and policy across Queensland. It's open til Friday 17 April: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/vqd26

From Queenslanders with Disability Network:
"Hundreds of people across the state are sharing their experiences, but we want this to be the biggest year ever, so we want to hear from many more!

In response to our call out last week, we’ve had an increase in men with disability responding, LGBTQIA+ people with disability and regional/rural/remote participants completing the survey.
Thank you to everyone who has lent us their voices so far.

We need to hear more from:
• People from culturally diverse backgrounds with disability and their families
• Carers from all regions
• People with disability from all areas of Queensland.

If you’ve ever struggled with access to services, transport, housing, employment or support, this is a chance to be heard."

Help us understand what it is like to live with disability in Queensland today, so we can build a more inclusive future together. Choose the right survey There are three surveys as part of this project. You can complete more than one survey if they apply to you. To

07/04/2026

This World Health Day, we’re highlighting how support groups and lived experience peer support makes a difference in people’s lives. There is continual evidence of how and why peer support groups work:

🗣️ Selina spoke in 2024 about how effective support groups are in providing access to new information and increasing social connection. She referenced a 2023 report evaluating social prescribing in Queensland, which showed that 18 months after referral, people had continued to engage in peer support groups which effectively reduced loneliness, improved perception of their health, improved social trust, and improved wellbeing.

🌻 Just this March, the Happy Chat support group featured in qualitative research on their role in facilitating personal recovery in the community for people with severe mental health challenges in rural Queensland. This report showed Happy Chat has been an inclusive, safe, non-judgemental space, that offers ongoing social, emotional and general support, as well as support and care during a crisis.

⭐️ In 2022, Seblework Tadesse spoke with Selina about the role of culturally-specific support groups in accessing life-changing health information and disability support. Seble outlined the barriers involved with GPs and schools, and gives an example of how a family was able to access disability support and be better understood by schooling system through their engagement in a support group.

Further reading and information:

📹 Watch: Social Prescribing, Connecting People for Better Health - Selina's presentation at the Royal Brisbane Hospital - https://supportgroups.org.au/social-prescribing-sgq/

📹 Watch: Seblework Tadesse, ILC Multicultural Project Worker, Support Groups Queensland - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=672043044534644

📑 Read: Isaacs, A., Baker, A. Facilitating Personal Recovery in the Community: a Qualitative Evaluation of a Peer Support Group for Adults with Severe Mental Health Challenges in Rural Australia. Community Mental Health Journal (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-026-01600-1

📑 Read: Sharman, Leah S., Hayes, Shaun, Chua, David, Haslam, et al. (2023). Report on the 18-month evaluation of social prescribing in Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland. https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:615aab8

💡 Read: Social, community and cultural aspects of wellbeing - Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project (2021). Fact Sheet A. Social and Emotional Wellbeing. University of Western Australia. https://doi.org./10.5281/zenodo.10141197
https://timhwb.org.au/fact-sheets/

💡 Read: Lived Experience Peer Work research - https://www.livedexperienceaustralia.com.au/research-peer-project
https://www.brookred.org.au/research-supporting-peer-work

SGQ shared a presentation at the RBH about the five fundamental principles social prescribing, and its impact on improving health and wellbeing.

02/04/2026

We’re hosting a cyber safety workshop on Tuesday 23 June to help with navigating the digital world safely. With one cybercrime reported every 6 minutes in Australia, digital safety skills are more crucial than ever.

In this free workshop, you’ll learn from the cybersecurity experts at Digital Literacy Licence who will support you to:
• Learn essential cybersecurity skills
• Understand online safety
• Manage passwords effectively
• Build confidence in digital spaces

Register now: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/2V5NgFHKUp
Please note, there are limited places!

Workshop details:
Date: Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Time: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Venue: Seminar Room in Griffith University Nathan Library
N 53 Willett Centre, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan QLD 4111
Catering: We will provide lunch and light refreshments. Please let us know of any dietary requirements when you register.

25/03/2026

Throwback Thursday (to last fortnight 😆), a huge day for Louisa, who facilitated trauma-informed peer supporter training before our IWD Ramadan Bazaar.

This training provides practical peer support skills if you’re supporting people with similar experiences, volunteering, studying or responding to emotional needs and don’t have formal counselling training.

Participants learn:
• How to hold space without “fixing”
• Active listening and validation skills
• Responding to strong emotions safely
• Recognising trauma responses
• When and how to refer for additional support
• Maintaining your own wellbeing while helping others

If you’re interested in participating or learning more about this training, feel free to get in contact: email admin@supportgroups.org.au or call 07 3344 6919

19/03/2026

A memorable night of community and culture for International Women’s Day Ramadan! Many congratulations to the incredible Rose and Tahani for their peer-led Sisters Support Australia initiative, growing a platform for the talented hardworking women-led businesses offering delicious foods, drinks, books, perfumes and fashion last Thursday.

Huge thank yous to everyone involved:

• Zahra’s Catering for lovingly made falafel, basbousa, baklava as well as Sudanese coffee and tea, helo-murr, abri, and nisha ☕🥙
• Lina’s Kitchen for the warming Janjaro and Dawa 🍲
• Pendo Catering for the full-of-flavour samosas, lamb skewers and chapati 🌯
• RK Choga for sharing her insightful book ‘The Mess has the Message’ 📖
• Hikaya for their beautiful handmade candles and perfumes 🕯
• Viola and friend for the fresh pizzas, demonstrating kitchen appliances and beautifully patterned bags, shirts and dresses 👜
• Sumeya for volunteering her intricate henna that many adorned 🖌
• Nazy Facepainting for her warmth and fun face painting 🎨
• Green Fox Studio for lending their food truck and designing the promo materials 🎬
• Food Connect Shed for hosting us and serving ice cold hibiscus tea all night 🍹
• Our awesome volunteers Isabella and Ava! 🙌

Thank you to everyone who came to enjoy, listen and celebrate with us!

10/03/2026

For International Women’s Day, you’re invited to our Ramadan Bazaar led by the incredible women of Sisters Support Australia! Celebrate the launch of women-led businesses hosted at Food Connect Shed this Thursday, 5-8pm.

This family-friendly event will have:
⭐ A prayer space, with dates and milk for Iftar
🎨 FREE facepainting for kids under 12
🥙 Food stalls selling delicious stews, handmade falafel, chapati and BBQ skewers
🎶 Music, dancing and entertainment
🎤 Storytelling throughout the night

Whether you observe Ramadan or are simply curious to connect, everyone is welcome😊 Book your ticket now: https://events.humanitix.com/iwd-bazaar

04/03/2026

Louisa started off the week in Stanthorpe with Kath from Happy Chat and the wonderful Selena for trauma-informed peer support training.

They also chatted about community food initiatives that Happy Chat, Stanthorpe Training Centre, and Food Support at Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre do together - using locally produced ‘excess’ organic fruit & veggies to host meal gatherings and pickling workshops! Such fantastic ways to get together over food and conversation that nourishes both gut health and mental health!

If you’re in or around Stanthorpe, have mental health concerns and want to connect with others over a cuppa, check out Happy Chat: https://supportgroups.org.au/groups/happy-chat/

29/01/2026

Wonderful workshop "the soundtrack of your mind" today, funded by Logan City Council . We considered how music has the power to change mood and energy, activate memories and prompt conversation. Thank you Anne and Gail and everyone who helped today. There will be a video! Logan Dementia Alliance

18/12/2025

What a wonderful final event to finish the year at the Memory Lane Cafe with the Logan Dementia Choir. Everyone joined in on some old favourites. Thank you to Dementia Australia Bethania Community Centre and Logan City Council for supporting our work this year.

02/12/2025

It was wonderful spending last week with a beautiful community of supportive women at the Womens Cancer Support GC, delivering the Accidental Counsellor training to some of their members. We shared wonderful insight and experiences with each other to build our skills around active listening, responding and handling disclosure. Thanks for having us!
Pictured: One of the lovely spaces called the Rainbow Room, where we conducted our sessions.