Mental Health Support for Queer Neurodiverse Youth in Wyndham

QPOP is here to make positive change within the lives of young queer neurodiverse folks in Wyndham, paving a path of inclusive neuro-affirming queer supports.

What went down at the QPOP Launch Party!  

The event began the moment you walked through the rainbow balloon arch doorway. Our Werribee Hub was completely transformed into a loud and proud celebration of queer and neurodiverse expression.

The highlight of the day was when we all sat down and listened to our guest speakers who spoke truth to why we were all here today. Our CEO, Ben Vassiliou kicked off the speaking engagements by discussing how a program like QPOP is well overdue. He believes that QPOP will enable clients to explore new growth pathways safely, whilst feeling a sense of belonging. The Minister of Mental Health, Ingrid Stitt, joined by thanking us for our trail blazing mental health outreach program that addresses the gaping hole within local support services. All our eyes were glued to the QPOP video reel that was created with the intention of raw and honest conversations. Miranda, our new Marketing and Communications Officer, has some words she wants to share about filming this video. 

"I wasn’t truly sure as to how this video would turn out, knowing that my questions would delve into emotional times. However, I really had nothing to be concerned about as Cora, Sharni, Lucy and Ivy spoke so authentically to their stories knowing that their bravery would help others feel less alone. I learnt so much just by listening to and absorbing the brilliance of neurodiverse minds and their tremendous passion towards changing the collective experience of their peers."

And this was just the beginning!

When we handed over the mic to our panel of young people, they stole the spotlight by simply being themselves. They enlightened us with the communal experiences of; misdiagnosis, the intersectionality between neurodiversity and queer identification, the lack of funding and education across health and educational systems as well as the solutions to break down barriers of ignorance.

QPOP will be the sounding board to young queer neurodiverse experiences because we must listen and learn before acting.

We aim to empower every participant through supporting all aspects of their life, aiding them on their journey of growth and self-discovery. We endeavor to expand our reach into other local government areas to provide place-based mental health outreach services for those facing barriers to service engagement. 

We have grand visions for QPOP and ask all service providers to support us by spreading the word. Please inform your young people about this program and we will leave all the contact details below!

Oh, and we nearly forgot to mention the FOOD! Our very own social enterprise, The Little Social Catering Co put on an amazing spread of rainbow goodies. The dino nuggets were a massive hit serving childhood nostalgia and ASD safe food feels.  

Links to QPOP 🏳️‍🌈

Queer Psychosocial Outreach Program (QPOP) | Youth Projects

✉️ [email protected]