Council and Sonder unite to bring free mental health support to Salisbury’s youth
In a first for the northern suburbs, the City of Salisbury has partnered with Sonder, the lead agency for headspace Edinburgh North to launch an 18-month headspace pilot program at Twelve25, offering free and confidential mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25.
A qualified mental health worker from headspace Edinburgh North will provide free one- on-one consultations four days a week at Salisbury’s Twelve25 Youth Centre. Young people can access up to four free sessions for general mental health support without a doctor’s referral and will be connected to additional support services if needed.
This initiative is the first of many in the City of Salisbury’s new Youth Action Plan 2024- 2027, a plan designed to support, empower, and improve the lives of local young people. Developed in consultation with 1,624 participants, the plan outlines a roadmap to tackle key challenges and create meaningful opportunities over the next three years.
Beyond mental health services, the plan includes short-term, medium-term, and ongoing initiatives aimed at creating lasting benefits and enhancing opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and connect. Its key priorities include health and wellbeing, equity and inclusion, and education and career pathways.
A standout initiative is the 2025 Youth Summit, set for 10 April at the Salisbury Community Hub. Each year, this event will highlight a different key priority from the Youth Action Plan, with the 2025 summit focusing on health and wellbeing.
Coinciding with the summit and Youth Week, the Salisbury Youth Market will take place at Salisbury Civic Plaza / Inparrinthi Kumangka on the same day (outside the Hub).
Open to young people aged 12 to 25, the market is a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their skills while gaining business experience in a supportive environment.
Young people living in Salisbury who are on the headspace Edinburgh North waitlist have been contacted to schedule their appointments at Twelve25.
For more information, visit salisbury.sa.gov.au/youth.
Quotes
Attributable to Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM:
‘This partnership with Sonder to deliver the headspace at Twelve25 pilot is the first initiative out of our Youth Action Plan and reflects our long-term commitment to supporting our young people.
‘The plan is built on what we heard, focusing on key priorities such as mental health, equity, and education. It’s about listening, acting, and delivering real outcomes that support their wellbeing and future success. This is just the beginning of what we have planned.’
Attributable to Sonder CEO, Sageran Naidoo:
‘We are proud to partner with the City of Salisbury to bring much-needed mental health support directly to young people in the local community.
‘By embedding a headspace worker at Twelve25, we’re making it easier for young people in Salisbury to access free, confidential support close to home. Having this service available locally means young people can get the help they need, when they need it, in a familiar and welcoming space.
‘This initiative reflects our shared commitment to improving youth mental health and wellbeing, and we look forward to seeing its positive impact.’
ENDS
