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Contents
Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Identified Community Needs ................................................................................................................ 7
Objectives .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Target Audience .................................................................................................................................... 8
Key Messages........................................................................................................................................ 9
Timeline ................................................................................................................................................ 10
Action Plan ........................................................................................................................................... 13

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 Overview

The following Community Awareness Plan (CAP) was remodelled for Headspace
Kempsey for the period of January 2023 to January 2024. The CAP was redeveloped in
consultation with staff, the consortium, and the Youth Reference Group (YRG).
Headspace Kempsey Staff and the YRG completed the Community Awareness and
Engagement Plan Annual Review for 2023 to provide feedback on which community
engagements were successful and impactful as well as identifying opportunities and
areas of improvement.
The CAP and all other service plans are established using local data including
demographic, psychographic, geographic, and behavioural research. In addition to,
suicide and disengagement rates of young people collated through Healthy North Coast
Public Health Network (HNC PHN), Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021, and
Kempsey Council community profile.
From 2017 to 2021 the Kempsey and Nambucca communities have recorded a total of
48 suicides with an average age of 19.8 over a 5-year period (refer to figure 2), Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare, (2014–18, 2015–2019, 2016–2020 and 2017–2021).
Due to the number of deaths by suicide, COVID-19 and the recent flooding, Headspace
Kempsey’s objective is to provide counselling services, workshops and programs that aim
to address mental health issues, increase help seeking and early intervention, improve
mental health literacy, assists carers and parents, provide support for alcohol and other
drugs, education about sexual and physical health and provide the resources to assist
young people to build resilience.
Headspace Kempsey also aims to increase engagement of young people in the Kempsey
who are at risk of disengaging or who have disengaged from school, work, their
community, or cultural responsibilities. In the 2021 census, 16.5% of 15-to-24-year-olds
in Kempsey Shire were disengaged from employment and education, compared to 9.5%
in New South Wales, Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021). The 2021 census also
recorded 16.5% of 15- to 24-year-olds in Kempsey Shire were disengaged with
employment and education, compared to 10.5% in Regional NSW, Australian Bureau of
Statistics (2021). The census data identified further issues in the community and supports
the need for more practical programs available to support young people in Kempsey (refer
to figures 1 to 2), Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021).
Kempsey Shire has a population of approximately 3,959 Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people (refer to figure 1). 39.18% are young people aged between 10 to 24 (refer
to figure 1), Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021). The 2021 Census recorded 14.6% of
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population recorded suffering from long term
mental health conditions. North Coast PHN Needs Assessment 2022-2025 states, Stolen
Generations survivors have endured transgenerational trauma, grief, and loss, and as a
result they carry a significant burden of health, wellbeing, social, and economic
disadvantage. They are growing older, and many live with disabilities and complex health

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problems, including poor mental health. The population has an increasingly complex and
overlapping needs while managing personal and systemic barriers to accessing services.
Headspace Kempsey aims to work alongside Dunghutti Elders and community members
to adapt the Headspace clinical model to improve service accessibility and delivery to
create a culturally safe and inclusive place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young
people to seek help for their mental health and social and emotional well-being.

Figure 1

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT DATA PERCENTAGE

ISLANDER TOPIC

Kempsey Population 30,688 0.38 % of NSW population

Kempsey ATSI population 3,959 12.9 % of Kempsey Population

ATSI male population 2,013 50.7 % of ATSI population

ATSI female population 1,946 49.3 % of ATSI population

ATSI young people aged between 10-14 419 1.37 % of Kempsey Population
years

10.6 % of ATSI Population

ATSI young people aged between 15-19 388 1.26 % of Kempsey Population
years

9.8 % of ATSI Population

ATSI young people aged between 20-24 744 2.42 % of Kempsey Population
years

18.8 % of ATSI Population

ATSI males aged between 10-24 years 611 1.99 % of Kempsey Population

15.4 % of ATSI Population

ATSI females aged between 10-24 years 553 1.74 % of Kempsey Population

13.46 of ATSI Population

Average ATSI age 25 N/A

In the labour force 1098 39.7 %

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Not in the labour force 1560 56.5 %

Mental health condition 579 14.6 % (Highest data for long

term condition)

Figure 2

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 Figure 3

Figure 4

Workforce and educational engagement by age

Kempsey Shire - Persons aged
2021 2016 Change
15+ (Usual residence)
Age Regional Regional 2016 to
Engagement status Number % Number %
group NSW % NSW % 2021
15 to 24
Fully engaged 1,759 55.8 67.7 1,611 53.9 67.7 +148
years
15 to 24
Partially engaged 475 15.1 15.0 484 16.2 13.8 -9
years
15 to 24
Disengaged 519 16.5 10.5 564 18.9 11.8 -45
years
15 to 24 Undetermined/Not
398 12.6 6.8 329 11.0 6.7 +69
years stated
15 to 24
Total 3,151 100.0 100.0 2,988 100.0 100.0 +163
years

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and

presented by .id (informed decisions).

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 Identified Community Needs

The research and data analysis completed in the overview provides identifies the
following needs for young people in the Kempsey community:

• Early intervention to reduce the suicide rate in Kempsey young people.

• Suicide Postvention at a community level.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people experience a high level of
racism in schools, services and within the community.
• Young people who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or those
questioning their sexuality and/or gender experience an increased level of
discrimination and adversity.
• Improved support and understanding for mental health in schools and the
workplace.
• Collaboration between services and community members to support Kempsey
young people and their mental health and well-being.
• Increase awareness of mental health literacy and help seeking behaviours.
• Safe accessible services to meet the needs of young people.
• Increased number of young people are disengaging from school, work, or
cultural responsibilities.

Objectives

The Headspace Kempsey strategy, vision and desired impact strives to ensure all young
people are supported to be mentally healthy and engaged in their communities. Achieving
good mental health involves actively working to maintain connection and purpose. To help
young people achieve this, headspace Kempsey commit to supporting young people,
family, and friends to learn how to support good mental health, to understand the
importance of connecting to culture and community, to reduce stigma and provide safety
for young people to seek help and access the right supports, when they need it and how
they want it. The 2021-2024 headspace strategy sets out our Priorities, Core Principles,
and headspace National Enablers to ensure we are well placed to:
• Support young people to be mentally healthy and engaged in their communities.
• Actively contribute to and shape the whole of the mental health system
improvements needed to achieve better outcomes for young people.
Headspace Kempsey aims to:
• Increase engagement and collaboration between schools/TAFEs/Vocational
services to address the needs of young people and provide additional resources.

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 • Strengthen and nurture existing relationships between Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander young people, services, and headspace Kempsey.
• Increase awareness of sexual diversity and how to support young people who
identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Increase outreach to rural areas.
• Build and strengthen the capacity of families, friends, and carer support services.
• Increase mental health education for families, friends, and carers.
• Increase online engagement with followers on social media platforms and
develop a consistent digital presence.
• Adapt the current clinical model to provide young people with more options as to
how they receive their mental health treatment. For example, offsite sessions (by
the river or in their safe place etc.) or through practical therapy etc.
• Increase the number of social groups, programs, and workshops to improve
engagement of young people.

Target Audience

The nationally recognised priority audiences provided by Headspace National include:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
• LGBTIQA+ young people
• Young people who use alcohol and other drugs
• Young people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
• Culturally And Linguistically Diverse
• Young men

Target Market Segmentation

Demographic Geographic Psychographic Behavioural
• 15- to 25-year-olds • Kempsey • Requires free • High social media
• Male, female, non- • Mid North Coast services, programs, usage.
binary, transgender, Region of NSW and workshops. • High mobile phone
gender queer (all • Macleay Valley • Suffering from mental use.
gender identities are • Rural health. • Facebook,
welcome). • River town – Macleay • Experienced trauma, Instagram, TikTok,
• Low socioeconomic River domestic violence, Snap Chat.
status • High flood area grief or loss, adverse • Low to medium
• At risk at disengaging • Dunghutti, events (such as media consumption.
from work or study. LGBTQIA+, Culturally natural disasters), • Hobbies –
• Disengaged from and Linguistically abuse, • Avoiding habits -
work or study. Diverse, Refugees, discrimination, habits the ones we
• Language – English Migrants, Person with racism, bullying, try to brake.
and Dunghutti a Disability, intergenerational Smoking, drinking,
• Catholic and vulnerable young trauma, or sexual gambling, laziness,
Anglican people. assault. gossip,
• At risk of • Lacking in social procrastination,
homelessness skills, network, or media addiction
• Experiencing family support. along with all types of
homelessness • Dunghutti culture. addiction.
• Crime activity • Little to no hobbies
but interested in

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 • Cultural values and exploring creative
spiritual beliefs. hobbies.
• Committed,
independent, reliable,
respectful,
empathetic,
collaborative,
inclusive.

The identified priority audiences for Kempsey community include:

• Young men
• 12–25-year-olds
• LGBTQIA+ young people
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Young people who use alcohol and other drugs
• Culturally And Linguistically Diverse
• Young people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Key Messages

Headspace Kempsey’s key messages to community are:

• FREE mental health services for young people aged between 12 to 25.
• Early intervention and improving help seeking among young people is important.
• Consistency in supporting and showing up is key to making a greater impact.
• Supporting and creating a safe space for LGBTQIA+ to explore their sexual or
gender identity.
• Supporting and creating a safe space for Dunghutti First Nations to learn and
explore their cultural identity.
• “You are not alone”.
• Allyship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the LGBTQIA+
community.

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 Timeline

TASK DETAILS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Review & feedback of
2022 CAP
Awareness Plan
Community

Draft 2023 CAP

Community Analysis –
consortium review
CAP Finalised &
distributed.

Project planning with

KNC
Jigsaw Project
Mar 3rd

Marketing & EOI’s

Mural workshop /
project delivery

Project planning with

Mid Coast Connect
Employment Workshop

Review workshop
completed by YRG.

Marketing & EOI’s

Project delivery

Project planning with

Youth Week April 20th – 30th

Community Housing
Savages Lane

Project review
completed by YRG.

Marketing & EOI’s

Project delivery

Project planning with

CDAT
Pre-venture

Project review –
confirmed dates.

Project delivery –
Melville High

Project planning with

committee
NAIDOC WEEK

Project review
July 2nd – 9th

completed with YRG.

Confirm HSK activities.

Project delivery

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TASK DETAILS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Project planning for
Queers & Allies Forum
– Grant Submission
Project review with
IDAHOBIT DAY

YRG – confirm
speakers and
May 17th

performers.
Marketing &
promotions

Project delivery – Slim

Dusty Centre

Project / event
planning
Reconciliation Week
May 27th - June 3rd

Project review with

YRG

Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

Project/event planning
Men’ s Health Week
June 12th-18th

Project review –
completed by YRG.

Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

Project/event planning
PRIDE MONTH

Project review –
completed by YRG.
June

Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

Project/event planning
Wear It Purple Day

Project review –
completed by YRG.
Aug 25th

Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

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TASK DETAILS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Project/event planning
with Port Mac & Taree
centres
Project review –
Headspace Day

completed with YRG,

Port Mac & Taree
Oct 5th

centres
Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

with Port Mac & Taree
centres

Project/event planning
completed with YRG,
Port Mac & Taree
centres
Laurieton Mardi Gras

Project review –
completed with YRG,
Port Mac & Taree
centres
Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

completed with YRG,
Port Mac & Taree
centres
Project/event planning
Mental Health Month

Project review –
completed by YRG.
October

Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

Project/event planning
With committee
It’ s Okay on the Macleay Sep

Project review –
completed by
committee, YRG &
LGBTQIA+
24th

Marketing &
promotions

Project / event delivery

completed with YRG,
LGBTQIA+, local
services
Review & feedback of
2022 CAP
CAP 2024

Draft 2023 CAP

Community Analysis –
consortium review
CAP Finalised & ready
for 2024.

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 Action Plan

STAFF EVALUATION
RESPONSIBLE (process and
OBJECTIVE ACTION TARGET GROUP PARTNERS EVENTS
(including desired
YRG) outcomes)
Education 12–25-year-olds CUC, Centre Before & after Pre-Venture
Increase engagement Session within LGBTQIA+ Kempsey Manager, focus groups Headspace
and collaboration TAFE/Vocational young people TAFE, MVC, CAEO, Clinical Schools &
between College once a Young men CDAT team Communities
schools/TAFEs/Vocational quarter. Aboriginal and
services to address the Torres Strait
needs of young people Islander people
and provide additional Young people
resources. who use alcohol
and other drugs
Culturally And
Linguistically
Diverse
Young people
experiencing, or
at risk of
experiencing
homelessness.

Reach out to Aboriginal and Dunghutti Centre Before & after Reconciliation
Strengthen and nurture local Aboriginal Torres Strait Elders, KBH, Manager, focus groups, Week
existing relationships and Torres Islander people. East Coast CAEO, Clinical feedback from (includes
between Aboriginal and Strait Islander Tribal team Elders, First Sorry Day &
Torres Strait Islander community League, Nations, Reconciliation
young people, services, organisations Durri, AES, community Day)
and headspace Real Futures, members, local NAIDOC
Kempsey. Work alongside Annecto, services. Week – For
and provide KNC, MVC, Our Elder,
engagement Melville High, Increased Koori
and awareness Kempsey engagement and Knockout.
support for local High capacity building
Aboriginal of Centre staff
services. engaging in
cultural
Implement competency.
measures and
changes to
centre to create
a safer and
more inclusive
space.
Expand LGBTQIA+ Kempsey Centre Before & after IDAHOBIT –
Increase awareness of LGBTIQA+ young people Families, Manager, focus groups, Queers &
sexual diversity and how group to include KNC, CAEO, Clinical feedback from Allies Forum
to support young people LGBTIQA+ Melville High, team YRG, clients, Wear It
who identify as part of the Mentors Baylin’s Gift services, Purple Day
LGBTQIA+ community. Support young businesses, Laurieton
LGBTQIA+ attendees and Mardi Gras
groups in school LGBTQIA+ It’s Okay on
groups young people the Macleay

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 LGBTQIA+
activities and
events held and
promoted
Develop mental 12–25-year-olds NSW Dept of Centre Before & after Activities and
Increase outreach to rural health LGBTQIA+ Education, Manager, focus groups, events
areas. presentations young people Kinchela CAEO, Clinical regular involving
for local rural Young men Boys Home, team reviews/feedback physical
communities Aboriginal and Durri AMS, from YRG, activity.
Torres Strait Kempsey clients, young Activities and
Prioritise Islander people Suicide people, events in
Community Young people Prevention, headspace staff, rural areas.
Engagement who use alcohol LHD families, friends,
events and other drugs and carers.
requested from Culturally And
hard to access Linguistically
communities or Diverse
rural areas Young people
experiencing, or
Reach out to at risk of
local Aboriginal experiencing
and Torres homelessness.
Strait Islander
organisations.
Engage with Parents, carers, KNC, Centre Before & after TINT,
Build and strengthen the Family & friends, and Kempsey Manager, focus groups, Families &
capacity of support Friends group to guardians. 12– Families, CAEO, Clinical regular Friends
services for families, co-create 25-year-olds NSW Dept of team reviews/feedback group,
friends, and carers. workshops/info LGBTQIA+ Education, from families,
Increase mental health sessions for young people Durri AMS, friends, and
education for families, community Young men Kempsey carers.
friends, and carers. members. Aboriginal and Suicide Increase in
Torres Strait prevention, confidence within
Promote Tuning Islander people MNCLHD, families and
in to teens Young people The Buttery. communities in
workshops each who use alcohol recognising
term. and other drugs potential mental
Culturally And health
Linguistically problem/illness
Diverse and responding
Young people to MH crisis.
experiencing, or
at risk of
experiencing
homelessness.
Establish online 12–25-year-olds Headspace CAEO Before & after All
Increase online campaign for LGBTQIA+ National, focus groups, community
engagement with young people in young people YRG, local regular events will be
followers on social media rural areas – Young men schools and reviews/feedback documented
platforms and develop a video and photo Aboriginal and services, from YRG, and posted to
consistent digital content. Torres Strait LGBTQIA+ clients, young social media
presence. Islander people social group. people, and platforms.
Update Young people headspace staff.
headspace who use alcohol Increase in social Utilise
Kempsey and other drugs media likes and Headspace
Website and Culturally And engagement Nationals
plan monthly Linguistically (refer to Meta social media
social media Diverse Business Data campaigns.
campaigns in Young people for analysis).
collaboration experiencing, or
with YRG. at risk of
experiencing
homelessness.

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 Increase social
media presence
by scheduling
content Monday
– Friday when
target audience
is most active
and engaged
with social
media.
Encourage 12–25-year-olds KNC, Centre Before & after Work with
Adapt the current clinical clinical staff to LGBTQIA+ Kempsey Manager, focus groups, local services
model to provide young complete young people Families, CAEO, Clinical regular to adapt
people with more options sessions offsite, Young men NSW Dept of team reviews/feedback clinical model
as to how they receive by the river or in Aboriginal and Education, from YRG, to deliver
their mental health a place where Torres Strait Durri AMS, clients, young more options
treatment. For example, the young Islander people Kempsey people, for
offsite and after hours person feels Young people Suicide headspace staff, counselling
sessions (by the river or comfortable who use alcohol prevention, families, friends, services in a
in their safe place etc.) or outside the and other drugs The Buttery, and carers. safe way for
through practical therapy clinical space. Culturally And local both staff and
etc. Encourage Linguistically schools. client.
clinical staff to Diverse Encourage
use more Young people more group
practical experiencing, or sessions,
therapy to at risk of after hours
improve experiencing sessions and
engagement homelessness. practical
with disengaged sessions.
clients.
Work with local 12–25-year-olds KNC, Centre Before & after Men’s &
Increase the number of services to LGBTQIA+ Kempsey Manager, focus groups, Women’s
social groups, programs, deliver groups, young people Families, CAEO, Clinical regular ATSI groups,
and workshops to programs, and Young men NSW Dept of team reviews/feedback Anti-Social
improve engagement of workshops. Aboriginal and Education, from YRG, clients Social Club,
young people. Collaborate with Torres Strait Durri AMS, and young Employment
local services to Islander people Kempsey people workshop,
deliver Young people Suicide Pop Culture
community who use alcohol prevention, group, Jigsaw
projects where and other drugs MNCLHD, Project,
young people Culturally And The Buttery, Savages
can participate Linguistically CDAT, local Lane.
in the planning, Diverse schools,
development, Young people Blue Sky
and project experiencing, or Community
execution. ` at risk of Services,
experiencing Community
homelessness. Housing, YP
Space.

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