Gateway Health and Peer Haven to host Community Connections Expo as part of Mental Health Month

Gateway Health and Peer Haven to host Community Connections Expo as part of Mental Health Month

Gateway Health and mental health peer support group Peer Haven are inviting the community to come together at the Community Connections Expo, a free event set to take place at The Cube Wodonga on Monday 23 November, from 12 noon to 4:30pm.

The expo is made possible through a City of Wodonga Community Impact Grant and will bring together local services, community groups and organisations to offer meaningful ways for people to connect with others, build relationships, develop skills, pursue interests and find pathways that support wellbeing.

A highlight of the event will be a special performance of Listening to Voices, as the Gateway Health creative project celebrates 10 years of using lived experience to inspire a more inclusive and compassionate community and mental health system. The performance will take place at 2:30pm.

Kylie Griffin, Chair of Peer Haven, said the expo was an opportunity to remind people of the important role connection and belonging play in mental health and wellbeing.

“Connection and a sense of belonging are so important for our mental health and wellbeing. When people feel connected to their community, they can feel less alone and more supported,” she said.

“The Community Connections Expo is about creating opportunities for people to meet others, discover what support is available and find ways to get involved in their community.

“Sometimes, one conversation or one new connection can make a real difference.”

For a decade Listening to Voices has used the power of theatre to challenge stigma, building empathy and encourage understanding of mental health.

Listening to Voices project manager and performer Kate Fiske of Gateway Health said, the anniversary milestone was also an opportunity to celebrate the impact of sharing lived experience and helping people see the world through someone else’s eyes.

“This performance and project has not only brought together a group of people who connect deeply with one another, but also with a shared purpose – to change the way people think about mental illness,” she said.

“Over the past 10 years, the work has contributed to change in education and workplace settings and continues to be used to inspire future professionals. It shows us what can happen when lived experience is genuinely heard, valued and given a creative platform.”

Gateway Health and Peer Haven gratefully acknowledge the support of Wodonga City Council, whose grant funding has helped make the event possible.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Expo, explore local services and community opportunities, meet others, discover wellbeing support and celebrate the power of connection through the special 10-year performance by Listening to Voices.

---

---

Media Contact