In the right frame of mind
Scott Johnston
MY INTEREST in mental health, sadly, stemmed from an incident where a young person committed suicide behind my farm.
It distressed me that that person felt so alone they had no other choices, yet I was not physically that far from where they were, and that really shocked me.
So I decided to re-educate myself. I’ve worked with young people for over 20 years across education, Queensland Health, as well as my own private practice and have always been interested in paediatrics and adolescent and young adult mental health.
I’ve been working here at headspace since it opened, I was here through the establishment phase of the site and getting the service up and going.
I really want this site to be an example of how young people can get an exceptional service, regardless of their financial status. Everyone is entitled to high quality health care, be it general or mental health.
I’ve lived in Toowoomba for four years now. I moved here for my relationship and also because I wanted to return to a more rural environment.
I had my private practice down on the Gold Coast and I just missed being in this sort of setting, where people are a bit more laid-back, honest and straightforward.
I love the climate, I love the people, and I love the fact we’ve got big open skies above us in town, rather than high-rises.
Phillip Dien
I’VE been working in mental health for six or seven years now. I’ve been here at headspace for eight months.
I did volunteer work in the past and saw a lot of mental health issues among youth, which encouraged me to move into that field to help maximise and address people’s mental illness.
I moved to Toowoomba about nine months ago from Adelaide, where I grew up.
What do I like about Toowoomba? I like its cosiness, I like the gardens, the easy access to shops and facilities, and I just love the scenery.
Deb Moody
I’VE only been here at headspace for six or seven weeks.
I’ve been working in mental health for a long time - over 30 years.
How did I get into it? It’s not a very good story.
There was an ad in The Chronicle, and they were desperate for people, so I applied because it was better than repeating Year 12... and now here I am.
I enjoy it at headspace, this is a great workplace, it’s a fun workplace, but the work can be very challenging.
I grew up (in Toowoomba) but have moved away to various places and come back again.
I’ve been back for 14 years now. What do I love about Toowoomba? I like that it’s central to everything, it’s easy to get to both coasts, it’s easy to get to Brisbane.
Gabby Cooney
EVERY day is different, working at headspace. I’ve been here since June and everyone is fun to work with and we’re making a difference in young people’s lives - or we’re trying to anyway.
I was born in Toowoomba, I lived in Alice Springs for a while, for seven years, and I’ve been back in Toowoomba for five years now.
I’ve done one year of a nursing degree and I want to go into mental health nursing eventually, when I finish in two years time.
I like Toowoomba because it’s got a small town feel but with big city access.