Healthy living

Perth Aboriginal services – mental health services

Mental health services for Aboriginal people in the Perth metropolitan area.

ARBOR (Active Response Bereavement Outreach)

Phone: 1300 11 44 46
Address: Level 2, 23 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth or GPO Box C138, East Perth WA 6839
Email: arbor@anglicarewa.org.au
Visit Anglicare WA (external site)

Support service for people bereaved by suicide. Works closely with other support services. Home visits, volunteer peer support, short to medium term counselling, support groups, referral advice, support in schools and training establishments and support returning to work.

Self and agency referrals welcome.

Monday to Friday 9.00am – 4.30 pm.

Eligibility: Metro area and bereaved by suicide.

Aboriginal Family Respite Service

Phone 9206 6200
Email: afr@unitingcarewest.org.au or Michelle.albanese@unitingcarewest.org.au

Provides support to Aboriginal families who care for a family member with a mental illness by facilitating monthly respite days for the whole family. These days have a pampering, education and support focus.

Referrals are open to Aboriginal families who reside in the northern suburbs and the respite days are delivered from the UnitingCare West Merriwa Service Centre.

Growing Strong, Staying Strong

Phone: 9485 3939
Address: GPO Box 2828, West Perth 6872
Email: administration@ruah.com.au
Visit Growing Strong, Staying Strong (external site)

A wellness program to help people manage worries and to celebrate strength and resilience. This program is person centred and adaptable to suit each person’s life circumstances.

Through art based activities and group exploration, it builds on a person’s current strength and resilience and helps people to develop new skills and strategies to manage worries.

Contact Ruah for more information, or go to the website and follow the links to watch videos and download free workbooks.

Indigenous Psychological Services

Phone: 9362 2036
Address: PO Box 1198 East, Victoria Park 6981
Email: ips@ips.iinet.net.au
Visit Indigenous Psychological Services (external site)

Private company providing Aboriginal Mental Health Services including Aboriginal Mental Health Training Workshops; E-Learning; Cultural Reviews and Audits of Organisation against best cultural practice; cultural competency intervention programs (mental health and general) as well as whole of Aboriginal community suicide intervention programs.

Note: this Service does not provide counselling including psychological assessment services.

Cost: consultancy fees, travel, accommodation etc.

Ring or email first. Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.00 pm.

Karnany Aboriginal Centre

Phone: 9274 7929
Address: 25 Spring Park Rd Midland
Visit Karnany Aboriginal Centre (external site)

A service of Swan Emergency Accommodation.

Karnany is a resource centre providing services to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Services include:

  • Outreach location for Street Doctor and associated medical and psychological services.
  • Outreach location for Wungening Aboriginal Corporation (formerly Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug Service).
  • Information and referrals.
  • Emergency relief – (by appointment Tuesdays @ 9.00am).
  • Money Business – (financial literacy program).
  • NPAH Housing Support – (referral from designated agencies only).
  • Agent for NILS (No Interest Loan Scheme).

Kootamiara Quab

Phone: 9451 4977
Address: 295 Manning Rd, Waterford 6152
Email: Kyana1@iinet.net.au

Women’s Healing Program – cultural, spiritual and art therapy for Aboriginal women/girls who have suffered sexual abuse or DV. Referrals appreciated.

Monday to Friday,10.00am – 5.00pm.

Madjitil Moorna

Phone: 0409 116 460
Address: Anderson Rd Community Centre, Anderson Rd, Forrestfield (usually)
Email: contactus@madjitilmoorna.org.au
Visit Madjitil Moorna (external site)

Led by professional Aboriginal and TSI musicians, this choir enjoys singing in English and in Language – songs of joy and hope, for healing, Friendship and reconciliation. The choir performs at festivals, special events and conferences, throughout the year.

$8 per session for waged members and $2 per session for unwaged members. Rehearsals Monday nights – 6.30pm for a cuppa, singing 7pm– 8.30pm, between February and November with a winter break after NAIDOC Week.

All voices, all ages, all backgrounds welcome. Phone first to check meeting times and places.

Mental Health Advocacy Service

Phone: 1800 999 057
Address: Unit 6/18 Harvest Terrace, West Perth WA 6005
Email: contactus@mhas.wa.gov.au
Visit Mental Health Advocacy Service (external link)
Office hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm (there is an answering machine provided outside these hours which is checked over weekends).

The Mental Health Advocacy Service is established under the Mental Health Act 2014 to provide an independent advocacy service for people who are involuntarily mental health patients (including people on Community Treatment Orders) and those living in licensed psychiatric hostels and group homes.

Located across the metropolitan area as well as in Albany, Broome, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie callers can request a visit by an Mental Health Advocate.

Moorditj Yarning

Phone: 1300 364 277
Visit Moorditj Yarning (external site)

Moorditj Yarning is an Aboriginal specific program of Relationships Australia WA. Services include counselling; yarning around a broad range of issues, and other programs that the Aboriginal community identify as useful: women’s art and craft groups, children’s traditional and contemporary dance and men’s group.

Outcare

Phone: 6263 8622
Address: 27 Moore St, East Perth
Email: outcare@outcare.com.au
Visit Outcare (external site)

Working in the Re-entry Link Programme for the five male metropolitan prisons to assist clients, 6 months pre-release and 12 months post-release, with returning to the community.

This service offers a case management model of service delivery advocating, assisting and supporting clients to successfully engage in the community and address issues and social exclusion factors that have often lead to the client’s incarceration.

This service offers assistance with: accommodation, referrals, living skills, community liaison, advocacy, financial planning and budgets, DCP and child support advocacy, family matters, etc.

Contact for more information.

Reclaiming Voices WA Inc. (Reclaiming Voices Project – Women’s Health & Family Services)

Phone: 6330 5400
Fax: 6330 5449
Address: 227 Newcastle St, Northbridge
Email: rvoices.advocacy@whfs.org.au
Visit Women’s Health & Family Services (external site)

Abuse and trauma counselling. Appointment required. Self referrals are accepted. Ring first Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 4.00pm.

Ruah Mental Health

Visit Ruah Mental Health Website (external site)

Find out more about Ruah Mental Health online. Keep up to date with the latest news and events. The website includes information and resources on:

  • Aboriginal wellbeing
  • The Growing Strong Staying Strong recovery program
  • videos and workbooks
  • research and publications
  • training and events.

Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC)

For recent sexual assault call the SARC 24 hour crisis line on 6458 1828 or free call 1800 199 888 (free from a land line only).

For crisis telephone counselling, call SARC between 8.30am and 11.00pm each day on 6458 1828.

Business line 6458 1820.

The Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) is a free 24 hour service that offers assistance and support to males and females aged 13 and over who have experienced any form of unwanted sexual contact or behaviour either recently or in the past.

South Coastal Health and Community Services

Address: 4 Civic Boulevard, Rockingham
Phone: (08) 9550 0900
Fax: (08) 9592 5635
Email: admin@southcoastal.org.au

South Coastal Health and Community Services counsellors offer free or low cost counselling, therapeutic groups, and advocacy services to women experiencing:

  • family and domestic violence
  • perinatal mental health concerns
  • general emotional health concerns.

Psychologists are also available for men, women and children wanting to access psychological services under a Mental Health Care Plan. An onsite crèche service is available and delivered by qualified Early Childhood Educators.

Specialist Aboriginal Mental Health Service

Phone: 9235 2400
Fax: 9235 2499
Address: Graylands Hospital Brockway Rd
Email: michael.mitchell@health.wa.gov.au

The aim of this service is to improve Aboriginal people's mental health by a whole of family approach to supporting access to mainstream services and increasing services' capacity to better meet Aboriginal people's needs.

Home visits or hospital visits. Graylands ward or office. Drug and alcohol, mental health, general counselling. Any Aboriginal issue.

Phone for appointment

YouthLink

Phone: 9227 4300 or triage line: 1300 362 569 (local call rates for land line only)
Address: 223 James St, Northbridge
Visit YouthLink (external site)

YouthLink is a state-wide mental health program managed through the North Metropolitan Area Mental health Service. It is a government funded organisation.

What YouthLink provides: specialist mental health counselling, consultation, training and community development.

Eligibility: 13–24 years

What YouthLink does: Depression, anger, abuse or neglect, drug and alcohol use, trauma, self harm and suicide, relationships and homelessness.

Referrals can be made via phone by the person in need or others concerned.

YouthReach

Phone: Office – 9499 4274
Triage/Referrals – 1300 362 569 (local call rates for land line only)
Email: youthreachsouth@health.wa.gov.au

Specialist mental health counselling and therapy. Outreach service.

Eligibility: 13–24 years; Marginalised, homeless, disadvantaged.

Operates a joint Triage system with YouthLink Monday to Friday from 12.30pm.


Acknowledgements

This information is from the RUAH Community Services
Perth Aboriginal Services Directory


This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

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