Being warmly welcomed into a community centre. That’s what it felt like when I walked into the Safe Haven at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, NSW.
I found my way to the Safe Haven, embedded within the hospital, through a series of way-finding signs, and entered a lovely and calming centre, complete with comfy furniture, a private sensory room, a small kitchen, interactive areas and the best snacks. This Safe Haven supports young people from ages 7-16 years old, and up to 17 years old if they are already engaged with the hospital.
Safe Havens and Safe Spaces span across Australia and provide safe environments for young adults and people experiencing distress. They can be good alternatives to emergency departments for supporting people experiencing non-life-threatening distress, or to seeing a clinician. People with lived or living experience of ill mental health and/or suicide staff these centres and provide support as peer workers/lived experience workers.
Knowing that support can look different for everyone, and isn’t one-size-fits-all, we’re shining a light on the important and life-saving work that Safe Havens and Spaces are doing for community members across cities, towns, and rural and remote areas.
I chatted with three staff members of Safe Haven Randwick about what’s on their minds and what dreams they have for their Safe Haven.
Why do you feel lived experience support is so important for people feeling distressed?
Isabelle, Peer Worker, shared that having someone with lived experience walk alongside you through mental health challenges is important. She noted that this Safe Haven is a service she would have used as a young person and shared that the peer workers work collaboratively with clinicians.
Vanessa, Peer Worker, added that lived experience support helps reduce isolation and can be helpful when you feel overwhelmed.
Emily, Mental Health Nurse & Team Leader said that they sit with people in their distress, rather than treating them.
What are you hearing most often from young people that’s making them feel distressed?
Isabelle & Vanessa shared common themes like relationship breakdowns, academic pressure, family dynamics changing, and bullying at school. They also mentioned that distress can be based on the time of the year, like before school holidays end, or around exams periods, they can feel stressed going back to school, and are worried about friends, their grades or exams.
Emily also added that they support a lot of young people from the LGBTQI+ community who don’t feel accepted in the community, and that some are coming to terms with their identity.
Why do you feel it’s important for Safe Havens/Spaces to stay open and operating?
Emily mentioned that they’ve been able to build a third space (other than home or school), that provides a safe space with care and support. She also shared that they feel lucky they can provide support specifically to young people. They see themselves as an alternative to Emergency Departments for young people experiencing psychological distress, and that they complement the services provided by EDs. She also noted that centres need to be open at consistent days and times because people in crisis need that consistency and structure.
Vanessa added that Safe Havens are special because they’re free and not referral-based with peer support, snacks and drinks provided. She also shared that there are currently only three centres specifically for young people available in the state (Randwick, Brookvale and North Ryde).
What’s working? And what’s not working?
Safe Haven Randwick has a special way of working that works well for them. They feel their collaboration with the community is great, including their outreach with psychologists, schools, headspace centres, and community spaces.
Things to know before you or your young person visits Safe Haven Randwick
- The centre also has a Carer Peer-Worker, and a Social Worker on site.
- The Randwick team work well with other community services, including schools and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), to provide a space for young people to be supported to access care whilst in psychological distress
- Safe Haven Randwick staff can provide support and education around accessing pathways of care and navigating systems, such as the mental health system, and psychosocial support systems
- Safe Haven Randwick does not require a referral so people can just drop in if they are feeling distressed.
Final words from the amazing humans at Safe Haven Randwick
Please spread the word! We are here and are keen to help provide support and care to young people experiencing challenges with their mental health and associated distress.
Safe Haven Randwick
Sydney Children’s Hospital
C1 East, Level 1 High Street, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Phone: 0439 387 939
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm
Jen Waltmon, Lived Experience Lead, Suicide Prevention Australia
