One Door Mental Health has a unique connection to communities across New South Wales that has been built up over many years by One Door staff and volunteers.
Building connection and community for people with mental health challenges, families and carers is an important part of the organisation’s work and values, and Mental Health Awareness Month in October was no exception, with staff from a variety of One Door services getting out and about to events in their local communities to introduce their support services to people, strike up conversations and celebrate mental health.
Representatives from the Canterbury Medicare Mental Health Centre and the Primary Integrated Care Supports (PICS) program – both proudly delivered by One Door – attended the Healthy Minds & Wellbeing Expo at Kogarah Park on Thursday 9 October.
One Door staff were able to engage with the Kogarah community, share resources and promote mental health supports available in the area. The event was also an opportunity to network with service providers ahead of the Canterbury Medicare Mental Health Centre’s upcoming brainstorming session designed to explore gaps in support for service users and carers in the region.
On Wednesday 1 October One Door’s Family and Carers Mental Health Program in South West Sydney hosted a community stall at the Canterbury Bankstown Wellbeing Expo to kick-off Mental Health Month 2025.
More than 400 people attended the event, which saw the One Door team host a fun ‘miraculous catch’ game that reeled in smiles from kids and families alike. The game provided One Door staff with an opportunity to engage with community members, talk about the important work they do and spread awareness of mental health supports and services available in South West Sydney.
One Door’s Family and Carers Mental Health Program delivers individual and group education sessions both online via Zoom or face-to-face in the community. The Sydney team consists of carer advocates who speak Greek, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian – enabling them to support diverse communities across Croydon, Camperdown/Redfern, Canterbury and Marrickville.
Over in Wagga Wagga, One Door’s Mental Health Carer Advocates Daniela Thorner and David McLennan joined the One Door Family and Carers Mental Health Program – Murrumbidgee team at the Wagga Wagga Mental Health & Wellbeing Day, alongside NSW Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr.
The community event brought together more than 500 people for a day of connection, support and mental health awareness at the local PCYC
Murrumbidgee is one of five Local Health Districts (LHDs) that partners with One Door to deliver the Family and Carers Mental Health Program. Other LHDs include: Hunter New England, Southern NSW, South Western Sydney, and Sydney.
Carer Advocates from One Door’s Hunter New England Family and Carers for Mental Health program attended the 2025 Mental Health and Wellbeing Expo in the Hunter.
The team connected with local carers, professional and community members, sharing their insights, offering support and raising awareness for the vital role carers play in a person’s mental health journey.
On Friday 10 October, members from One Door’s Pioneer Clubhouse held a stall at the Mental Health Expo at The Beaches Farmers Market in North Narrabeen.
Pioneer Clubhouse is a centre-based service in Balgowlah supporting adults experiencing mental health challenges. It provides a community for people to find connection, build skills and work towards achieving their goals in education, employment, health and wellbeing.
Alongside other local services and support groups, Pioneer Clubhouse members Titania, Clinton, Brigid, Wayne, Kunchock and Sarah celebrated wellbeing, raised awareness of mental health, and reminded community members that support is always available.
One Door’s stall featured face painting and a ‘Hope Jar’, which was filled with uplifting and inspiring messages for visitors to take home as a reminder that they matter.
This year for Mental Health Month One Door hosted the CREATIVESPACE@PICS JOY Art Exhibition – a celebration of creativity, healing and community.
Held at Harold Park Community Hall in Canterbury, the exhibition marked three years of artistic expression through the Primary Integrated Care Supports (PICS) program – inclusive, creative and recovery-focused supports for people experiencing mental health challenges to connect, build resilience and experience community in meaningful ways.
PICS participants exhibited paintings, linocuts, stencils and mixed media pieces that reflected their personal journey toward wellness and mental health recovery. The art exhibition was a powerful showcase of how art can illuminate recovery and bring people together.
One Door’s final contribution to New South Wales Mental Health Awareness Month was hosting a stall at the Rotary Club of Camden’s Mental Health Forum and Expo.
Held at Camden Civic Centre, One Door’s South West Sydney team shared resources and support with community members. Member for Camden, Sally Quinnell MP, and Camden Mayor Therese Fedeli also attended the exhibition, and reinforced the importance of community-led mental health advocacy.
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