For headspace Cairns manager, Helen Isenhour, helping young people has been a lifelong passion.
Her journey as a mental health clinician began in Killcare, a small seaside town in New South Wales, where her family managed a marina.
Each day, Helen would complete a five-hour commute to the University of New South Wales, to study for a bachelor’s degree in social work where she found an interest in helping young people who were living in Out of Home Care.
Now, as the manager of headspace Cairns, she is part of the RFDS (Queensland Section) mental health team, delivering vital mental health and counselling services to 12 to 25-year-olds across Far North Queensland.
Services include mental health, physical and/or sexual health, work, school and study programs, as well as counselling for alcohol and other drugs.
Additional Primary Health Network (PHN)-funded programs include a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Program, a Suicide Self-Harm Response Service and a clinical outreach service for those young people living more remote in the Cairns Hinterland.
While Helen still feels new to the Flying Doctor, she’s spent more than a decade managing headspace centres across New South Wales and 18 months running the national eheadspace service.
“I really love headspace, but I wanted to stop working remotely and join a local team,” she said.
When Helen saw the opportunity to work with headspace Cairns, a service that is operated by Flying Doctor, her decision to take the leap felt clear.
“RFDS has a very strong commitment to providing access to quality mental health services across Queensland and that’s very much what we see ourselves doing at headspace,” Helen said.
“While both organisations look separate on the frontline, the two organisations are tightly connected behind the scene as one RFDS mental health team.”
From managing contracts with funding bodies, overseeing compliances and accreditation requirements, writing reports and supporting a team of mental health clinicals, administration staff and employment specialists across Far North Queensland, most days are fast paced.
Collaboration is central to her work, with regular meetings across headspace National, the PHN, and ongoing liaison with the RFDS mental health team.
In the last financial year, RFDS (Queensland Section) and headspace Cairns mental health clinicians delivered more than 12,300 consultations.
Helen said ensuring young people can access support when they first reach out is critical — and something the team is focused on every day.
“The biggest reason young people don’t access mental health supports is for stigma” she said.
“I love the bravery it takes for a young person to walk through the door and say, ‘I want to do this differently’.
“You’re working with them at a point in time that can change the trajectory of their entire life.
“That’s very invigorating — and it’s why I’m so committed to this work.”
Like many mental health services, the team face the ongoing challenge of meeting the growing demand for the service along with ensuring the service remains relevant to young people.
“I try to be a strength-based influence for the team to remind them of the important work they are doing and why we’re here,” she said.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a team so deeply committed to helping young people.”
headspace Cairns is operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland) Services Ltd. All headspace services are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. Administration of funding is carried out by the headspace centre’s local Primary Health Network.
Any young person, family, or friend in need of support can visit headspace Cairns between 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday (until 7:30pm Thursday) at Level 2, 42 Grafton Street.
Support is also available via phone and online counselling service eheadspace seven days a week between 9am–1am (AEST). The number is 1800 650 890.
Those seeking immediate help can call Lifeline (13 11 14) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) 24/7.
