All are being welcomed to attend next Friday’s launch of Castlemaine’s first ever pop-up Safe Space that’s about to be trialed as the first of its kind anywhere in rural Australia.
The ELM Network (Every Life Matters- Suicide prevention, postvention and awareness in Mt Alexander) is launching the space to provide mental health support for people with emotional distress or thoughts around suicide in an inclusive, safe, welcoming and non-clinical space.
“Attendance is free, there are no appointments or referrals necessary, and all are welcome,” says Rachel Stewart, a member of the local Safe Space Working Group.
“The space will be staffed by trained volunteers with a lived experience of such concerns, who will provide agency to guests in terms of the kind of support they would like to access.
“We will be officially launching the Castlemaine pop-up Safe Space on Friday July 15 from 4pm – 6pm at the Salvation Army hall next to the Castlemaine train station,” Ms Stewart says.
“We will have guest speakers, music, a barbecue and lots more.”
The Castlemaine pop-up Safe Space will initially be located at the Castlemaine Senior Citizens Centre, Mechanics Lane, next to the library on Tuesdays from 6pm – 8:30 pm starting Tuesday July 19, and at the Salvation Army hall on Saturdays from 1:30pm – 4pm starting Saturday July 23.
“We also plan to ‘pop up’ all over the place, so we’re more of a pop up Safe Space,” Ms Stewart says.
“The Castlemaine Safe Space has been modelled based on feedback from the Castlemaine and surrounding community regarding what is missing currently in terms of support.
“Our peer volunteers have been trained and have lived experience of emotional distress and suicidality.
“Our financial supporters are the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Mt Alexander Shire Council, Roses in the Ocean, the ELM Network and Central Victorian Primary Care Partnership.”
“The space itself is created to be warm, inviting, safe and comfortable so that guests can come in, have a cup of tea and somewhere to relax, and a chat to one of the space’s trained peer volunteers,”Ms Stewart says.
The Safe Space model was first used in 2014 in the UK and has since been trialed in a number of states in Australia.