Annual Review 2024-25

Early 2025

Medicare Mental Health Centres open across Queensland and New South Wales

Our commitment to building an integrated, interdependent network of services that deliver holistic care and support, in collaboration with our partners, was strengthened this year with the opening of four Wellways-led Medicare Mental Health Centres in the Queensland locations of Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, and the Sunshine Coast, in partnership with Clarity Health.

We also supported the official launch of Medicare Mental Health Centres in Dubbo and Bathurst, New South Wales, working alongside our partner, Stride.

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Wellways’ Zoe Evans (left) and Laura Collister (Center) with the team at the Medicare Menta health Centre in Dubbo

Through these partnerships, we’ve developed services that give communities unique access to lived-experience peer workers, who provide specialised, compassionate, and understanding support, alongside psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and nurses, to deliver truly holistic care.

Mid 2025

Helpline refreshed and reintroduced as ListenWell after 45 years

This year marked an important evolution in our specialist mental health services with the rebrand of Wellways Helpline, a volunteer peer-led warm-line, to ListenWell.

For 45 years, Helpline has been a cornerstone of our purpose. Providing compassionate, lived-experience support and offering a safe space for people to connect, be heard and find hope. As one of Australia’s earliest peer-support services, it has shaped how we walk alongside individuals on their mental health recovery journey. This work now continues under our refreshed identity, ListenWell.

The transition to ListenWell reflects more than a new name; it represents a renewed commitment to delivering the highest quality, lived experience informed and led support. Grounded in our vision of creating inclusive communities where everyone can thrive, ListenWell embodies connection, understanding and deep listening.

This refreshed identity strengthens the impact of our peer support, ensuring our service remains responsive, authentic and aligned with the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

Mid 2025

Continued suicide prevention growth in Queensland

In August 2025, our footprint across Queensland grew with the opening of Universal Aftercare in Mackay and Townsville. The much-needed, free non-clinical psychosocial service is designed to support people following a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis, a critical time when people need person-centred support and understanding. First Nations Coordinators in each location ensure culturally safe, confidential support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In close partnership with North Queensland PHN and the Mackay and Townsville Hospital and Health Services, Universal Aftercare is already strengthening pathways to recovery and helping people address everyday challenges that may contribute to suicidal crisis, supporting safer, more connected communities where people can recover and thrive.

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Universal Aftercare

Free support for people who have experienced a recent suicide attempt or suicidal crisis.

Find out more

Continue Exploring

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

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In 2024-25, Wellways strengthened lived experience leadership, deepened reconciliation, expanded services, and invested in our people - advancing advocacy, innovation and community-led change across Australia.

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Lived Experience

Wellways has continued to strengthen lived experience leadership at Executive level and launched a research committee to ensure decisions and strategies are guided by lived experience.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is everyone’s business at Wellways. We are proud to share that our Stretch Reconciliation Action Innovate Plan has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.

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Advocacy at Wellways

Standing up for what we believe in is core to Wellways. We advocate on behalf of people with lived experience, disability, carers and families, challenging stigma, inequity and exclusion through engagement with government, peak bodies, and by empowering our people to speak up.

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Family and Carer Services

Innovation, equity and accessibility guided our family and carer services this year, expanding community outreach, creating local support hubs, and sharing carers’ stories through events and our podcast.

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Our People

Over the past year, we’ve strengthened connection, inclusion and support for our people through Together at Wellways, the Positive Culture Strategy, leadership training, and Pride celebrations, helping everyone feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work.