Spotlight on Charters Towers: Locals supporting locals

selectability operates across a large and diverse footprint – extending from Cairns to Rockhampton and from Palm Island out to Mount Isa - supporting communities with a range of varying needs and challenges.

Key to the organisation’s approach to improving the mental wellbeing of regional Queenslanders is employing locals who understand the needs of community so that support programs and services can be tailored appropriately.

Since establishing a presence in Charters Towers in 2015, selectability’s team has grown from three support workers to a workforce of more than 20 locals.

Once nicknamed ‘The World’ for its abundance and variety of services, Charters Towers is a tight-knit community that has faced a lot of change and many challenges over recent times.

General Manager – Regions, Ryan Wiggins, who has spent most of his career working in the mental health sector, said selectability was committed to ensuring its services were accessible and available to the individuals and communities they serve.

“We work to support local communities do this in a number of ways, including through the delivery of NDIS mental health (psychosocial) supports and services along state and federal government mental wellbeing and carer support programs,” said Ryan.

 “As a regional centre, Charters Towers has a growing need for tailored mental wellbeing services and we are proud to work with the community to address this need.

“We partner with key community stakeholders to ensure the programs and services we deliver are the right fit for the Charters Towers community, and that people across the community know who we are, what we do and how to get in touch with us.”

The importance of selectability becomes evident as selectability’s team leader in Charters Towers and long time local, Jason, shares a recent experience helping a access mental health services.

“We had a young man experiencing mental health concerns walk in off the street after seeing our Mental Health Hub sign. He was looking for some help and for someone to talk to,” explains Jason.

 “As a team leader, part of my role is to assist individuals and link them in with the services they need.”

Thanks to Jason’s support, the young man was able to connect with the Community Mental Health team about his concerns and access the support and information he needed.

“As a community, this is the path we should be encouraging all people to take. If you have concerns about your mental health, or that someone you know, come into the Mental Health Hub so that we can connect you to the services you need,” said Jason.

To complement its NDIS core and capacity building services and free carer support, selectability also operates the Charters Towers Bike Shed on Mary St.

Based on the proven Men’s Shed concept, the Bike Shed provides an inclusive space for locals to connect, work on projects, join in group bike rides and improve their mental wellbeing.