This Mental Health Month, the theme is “a little connection goes a long way”. To explore what that means in practice, we sat down with Jay Gardener, New Horizons’ new lived experience lead.
For the past few months, teams across New Horizons have been gearing up for a huge milestone: the launch of our very first on-site shared support (OSS) model at the new La Vera development in Macquarie Park. Bringing on-site shared supports Macquarie Park to life gives NDIS participants a fresh way to enjoy true independence in their own modern apartments, backed by the peace of mind of knowing support is only a click away.
In the convenient Sydney suburb of Ryde, three men share a home that’s full of personality, warmth, and routine. This isn’t just any home; it’s a New Horizons Supported Independent Living (SIL) residence, designed to give people the freedom to live independently while receiving the support they need.
Today, on the International Day of People with Disability, we are reminded that an inclusive society is not only a moral imperative, but a strategic and social necessity. This year’s theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” challenges us all to build communities where every person can contribute, participate, and thrive. At New Horizons, this commitment is woven into the fabric of who we are, and who we have been for more than five decades.
Every young person deserves access to safe, inclusive and effective mental health support. At headspace, the national youth mental health foundation, supporting young people aged 12 to 25 isn’t just about services. It’s about building community, fostering connection, and giving young people the power to help shape the systems that support their wellbeing.
Mental Health Month in October is all about awareness, connection, and action. If you’re struggling or just feel like something isn’t quite right, you don’t have to go through it alone. This year, the theme for Mental Health Month is “taking steps on your wellbeing journey.”
For Mental Health Month, we sat down with Daniela Allison, General Manager for Sydney and the Central West at New Horizons. We chatted about the organisation’s approach to mental health, why lived experience matters, and how leadership in this space is evolving.
For our CEO Luke Buckley, one of his first experiences out of university became the foundation of his life’s work. While helping people transition from long-term hospital stays back into the community, he witnessed a simple but profound truth that has guided him ever since: with the right support, people don’t just recover, they thrive.
This Mental Health Month, Luke reflects on how that early insight continues to shape everything we do at New Horizons. It’s the driving force behind our headspace centres for young people, the inspiration for our innovative i.am program, and our unwavering commitment to community connection.
As we mark mental health month, it’s a chance to pause and reflect not only on the importance of looking after our own wellbeing, but also on the incredible work being done across the sector to support individuals, families and communities. Few people have had a career as far-reaching or as influential in shaping mental health services as Peter Gianfrancesco.
The way aged care support is delivered in Australia is evolving, and here at New Horizons, we’re ready to guide you every step of the way.
