Carer Gateway - Wellways

A big year for Carer Services

We have continued to follow our principle of partnering with purpose and explored new ways of providing services and reaching new carers. Beyond our consortia partners, we have grown our support network by bringing in new community partners who deliver specialist services for carers, including Kookaburra Kids, an organisation focusing on young carers, and The Park, who are Parkinson’s Disease experts.

Throughout the year, a particular focus was on service delivery in rural and remote areas of Australia. As part of this important education piece, some of our senior leaders spent extensive time with team members and partners to understand how to reach hidden carers better.

Connecting with carers over breakfast

Carers Week in October now has a new highlight, the Carers Week Breakfast. The inclusive event was held in Brisbane for the first time as part of our new approach to offering carers a chance to relax, connect, and hear inspiring stories from carer advocates.

A new season to care about

In late 2024 we saw the release of season two of our carer podcast, Tune in to Care. This season, listeners explore the incredible diversity of carers across Australia, from bustling cities to remote outback towns and mental health carers to people caring for the elderly in their own homes.

Tune in to Care

A podcast exploring the lives of carers.

Listen now

Continue Exploring

Continue exploring more of the highlights from across the business in the 2023-24 Annual Review.

Michael Gorton (Board chair) and Laura Collister (CEO) portrait in the foyer of a building.

Overview

Over the past year, Wellways has embraced opportunities, formed new partnerships, and worked to become an even better service provider, more desirable employer, and louder advocate.

The entire Lived and Living experience authority pose for a photo in a park surrounded by trees and grass.

Lived Experience

2024 marks the year lived experience was elevated to Board level at Wellways. Find out more about the sector-first Lived and Living Experience Authority from our two Co-Chairs.

A group of people sitting on chairs on the grass in front of a bus covered in Australian Aboriginal Art.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is everyone's business at Wellways. We are proud to share that our Reconciliation Action Innovate Plan has been approved, and our Stretch RAP has been submitted.

A team of people laugh happily in a garden.

People and Culture

Valuable feedback from Wellways employees highlights strong engagement and a deep connection to their work. Over the past twelve months, we have also completed some important training and become more inclusive.

A crowd of people pose for a photo in front of the newly opened Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centre.

Mental Health Reform

Wellways expanded its reach in mental health support across multiple states, achieving new milestones in service delivery and workforce development aligned with national and state mental health reform.

Two people standing in an office discussing a pamphlet.

Services

Our services are now available in more locations than ever before. We also lead new service models, such as the Medicare Mental Health Centres, and have significantly expanded our suicide prevention work.

Portrait of Wellways CFO David Gerard outdoors.

Finance

With new CFO David Gerrard at the helm of the finance team for his first full year, the budgeting process has been further improved across the organisation, and the financial auditing report has been made more transparent and accessible.