Regional highlights: connecting for mental health and celebrating carers across Queensland in October
October was a busy month for our team, as we travelled across Queensland, visiting Toowoomba, Gympie, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Charleville, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Ipswich and Kilcoy to connect with carers, families, communities and partners, and celebrate the vital role of mental health carers during Queensland Mental Health Week (4–12 October) and National Carers Week (12–18 October).
We met many mental health carers who hadn’t connected with Arafmi before, giving us the chance to share information, offer support and listen to their experiences. These events also strengthened relationships with local services and organisations, opening new opportunities to work together to better support carers in regional and remote areas.
Some of the highlights included:
- Noosaville Carers Lunch: Carers from Gympie and the northern Sunshine Coast enjoyed a relaxed lunch in Noosaville, organised with Meichelle Hughes from Family and Carer Support at Sunshine Coast Hospital.
- Ipswich Gala Dinner: Arafmi and Wellways Carer Gateway co-hosted the first Ipswich Gala Dinner on 10 October, with over 70 guests enjoying dinner, live music, dancing and prizes.
- 2025 National Carers Week Breakfast: Arafmi staff attended this event on the Sunshine Coast, hosted by Wellways Carer Gateway, joining more than 90 carers and partner organisations to celebrate the dedication and resilience of carers.
- Community Events: Our team hosted stalls at local events in Gympie, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Gladstone, Ipswich, Charleville and Kilcoy, sharing resources and information with carers and families.
- Bundaberg: Community Support Facilitator, Tracey Osborne, spoke at the Strengthening Families Mental Health Forum (organised by Bundaberg Street Law), co-facilitated a mindfulness activity during Carers Week, delivered an information session for carers, and attended a Governance Workshop with the Mayor and local councillors to raise awareness of Arafmi’s services.
Cairns highlights
Arafmi hosted and joined several events in Cairns, bringing carers, community organisations and sector leaders together for connection, learning and support.
Carers took part in a self-compassion workshop, exploring practical ways to manage stress, build resilience and care for their wellbeing. The session was delivered in collaboration with the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service MHAODS (Mental Health, Alcohol and other Drugs Services) and the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.
Arafmi co-hosted the Cairns Carer Gala Dinner with Wellways Carer Gateway (click here for reflections and photos) and organised the Mental Health Carers Forum (click here for an overview and photos), which brought together carers to connect, learn and share experiences.
The Mental Health Professional Networking Event brought together leaders including Irene Clelland (CEO, Arafmi), Ivan Frkovic (Queensland Mental Health Commission), Katrina Armstrong (CEO, Mental Health Carers Australia) and Simon Katterl (CEO, Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland), who shared insights on supporting mental health carers and working together across the sector.
Arafmi also hosted a stall at the Cairns Mental Health Week celebrations and toured the Wellways Carer Gateway carer hub. CEO Irene Clelland and a local carer spoke with ABC Radio North Queensland, sharing insights about Arafmi’s work and Lived Experience (listen here).
October showed just how strong Queensland’s caring community is and how much we can achieve when we connect, collaborate and care together.
