Delivering allied and mental health services for people.
Facilitating wellbeing initiatives with communities.
Australia is a big place, and it's not one-size-fits-all when it comes to providing effective allied and mental health services, and boosting community wellbeing.
That’s why Outback Futures is designed in the bush, for the bush.
For more than 10 years we’ve been facilitating community wellbeing and delivering allied and mental health services for people in rural and remote areas.
Working with both individuals and communities amplifies the impact and together, everyone is contributing to thriving bush communities for the long term.
Australia is a big place, and it's not one-size-fits-all when it comes to providing effective allied and mental health services, and boosting community wellbeing.
That’s why Outback Futures is designed in the bush, for the bush.
For more than 10 years we’ve been facilitating community wellbeing and delivering allied and mental health services for people in rural and remote areas.
Working with both individuals and communities amplifies the impact and together, everyone is contributing to thriving bush communities for the long term.
We go the extra mile across 6 LGAs in Western Queensland.
From Tambo north to Cloncurry, and Alpha west to Dajarra, our team continues to build trusted relationships, deliver services, and contribute to positive mental health and wellbeing conversations.
We've chatted with school kids about wellbeing, supported families educating their kids at home, and equipped young people with social and life skills.
Our team has contributed to events for teens and young adults, walked alongside people tackling dark days, and shared about wellbeing over cups of tea with some of our longest living bush residents.
Our work is designed in the bush, for the bush, and our team is delivering in ways that are making a lifetime of difference.
We go the extra mile across 6 LGAs in Western Queensland.
From Tambo north to Cloncurry, and Alpha west to Dajarra, our team continues to build trusted relationships, deliver services, and contribute to positive mental health and wellbeing conversations.
We've chatted with school kids about wellbeing, supported families educating their kids at home, and equipped young people with social and life skills.
Our team has contributed to events for teens and young adults, walked alongside people tackling dark days, and shared about wellbeing over cups of tea with some of our longest living bush residents.
Our work is designed in the bush, for the bush, and our team is delivering in ways that are making a lifetime of difference.
ALLied and mental health services
People of all ages accessed consistent allied and mental health support.
Our multi-disciplinary team delivered telehealth and face-to-face appointments, supporting people to:
- improve their wellbeing and tackle life’s ups and downs with psychology, counselling and mental health social work services
- build their communication skills with speech pathology services
- strengthen their social and life skills with occupational therapy services
Our multi-disciplinary team delivered telehealth and face-to-face appointments, supporting people to:
- improve their wellbeing and tackle life’s ups and downs with psychology, counselling and mental health social work services
- build their communication skills with speech pathology services
- strengthen their social and life skills with occupational therapy services
431
clients across Central West and North West Queensland received consistent and accessible support
57%
of clients were kids and teens under 18
43%
were adults 18 and over
3,994
appointments
85%
of appointments were telehealth
15%
of appointments were face-to-face
"Outback Futures supports me as a parent, as well as our educators, to support our kids because we can't all know everything."
Teonie Stockham's daughter Ruby took part in an Outback Futures’ speech therapy assessment program at daycare when she was four years old.
Since then, Ruby has regularly been seeing speech pathologist Jenny (pictured left) to build her skills.
"Everyone's entitled to have the best ability to get the most out of their education," says Teonie. "It's up to us to give them the tools to be the best version of themselves."
Watch more of Teonie and Ruby's story.
"Outback Futures supports me as a parent, as well as our educators, to support our kids because we can't all know everything."
Teonie Stockham's daughter Ruby took part in an Outback Futures’ speech therapy assessment program at daycare when she was four years old.
Since then, Ruby has regularly been seeing speech pathologist Jenny (pictured left) to build her skills.
"Everyone's entitled to have the best ability to get the most out of their education," says Teonie. "It's up to us to give them the tools to be the best version of themselves."
Watch more of Teonie and Ruby's story.
36%
of appointments helped people of all ages learn strategies and tools for stronger mental health with our psychologists, counsellors, and social workers
50%
of appointments helped kids, teens and adults strengthen their speech, communication and literacy skills with our speech pathology team
14%
of appointments helped kids and teens build life and social skills with our occupational therapists
ALLied and mental health services
Delivering consistent and accessible support that’s making a lifetime of difference.
Lily is now equipped with effective tools and strategies, and a trusted relationship with a counsellor who she can check in with if and when she needs in the future.
Following the end of a long-term relationship, Lily* reached out to Outback Futures. She was struggling with depression and was seeking coping tools, and strategies to help her connect with her emotions, grow and move forward.
Using a health outcome measure** which tracks changes that are wholly or partially a result of professional support, the table below shows Lily initially scored in the ‘off-track’ red zone, indicating her social supports were fair, however she was not doing well personally.
Lily is now equipped with effective tools and strategies, and a trusted relationship with a counsellor who she can check in with if and when she needs in the future.
Following the end of a long-term relationship, Lily* reached out to Outback Futures. She was struggling with depression and was seeking coping tools, and strategies to help her connect with her emotions, grow and move forward.
Using a health outcome measure** which tracks changes that are wholly or partially a result of professional support, the table below shows Lily initially scored in the ‘off-track’ red zone, indicating her social supports were fair, however she was not doing well personally.
80%
of adult clients indicated a significant improvement in their overall wellbeing (for counselling, psychology and mental health social work clients) 1
75%
of kids and teens showed improvement in their mental health and wellbeing outcomes (for counselling, psychology and mental health social work clients) 1
7.38
is the average Total Difficulties Score reduction for kids and teens accessing mental health support. Each 1 point decrease indicates a reduced risk of the individual developing a mental health issue or disorder. 1
1. Health outcomes for OBF clients 2023-2024.
Community wellbeing
Focusing on today and tomorrow to make a lifetime of difference.
Our team has facilitated community-led wellbeing initiatives, working alongside communities to:
- empower and mobilise people to action
- encourage a whole of community approach to wellbeing, often adding a wellbeing lens over existing activities rather than new initiatives requiring high levels of resourcing
- focus on prevention and early intervention which contributes to long term community wellbeing
Our team has facilitated community-led wellbeing initiatives, working alongside communities to:
- empower and mobilise people to action
- encourage a whole of community approach to wellbeing, often adding a wellbeing lens over existing activities rather than new initiatives requiring high levels of resourcing
- focus on prevention and early intervention which contributes to long term community wellbeing
Community wellbeing facilitation including community conversations, focus groups, working groups.
Community wellbeing facilitation including community conversations, focus groups, working groups.
Wellbeing workshops for workplaces, community groups, councils, industry, First Nations people and communities, and schools.
Wellbeing workshops for workplaces, community groups, councils, industry, First Nations people and communities, and schools.
Tackling stigma and encouraging safe and positive conversations about mental health and wellbeing.
Critical incident responses with on the ground support and ongoing care.
Critical incident responses with on the ground support and ongoing care.
Jayci is a mother of six and the driving force behind the Gather The Girls community initiative in Winton. With the support of Outback Futures, Jayci has created a safe space for teenage girls to talk about issues, ask big questions, and be themselves.
“The kids feel heard," says Jayci. "And I think a lot of young people don't get listened to or taken seriously for the thoughts and the voices that they have, and Outback Futures gives that to them here.”
Jayci is a mother of six and the driving force behind the Gather The Girls community initiative in Winton. With the support of Outback Futures, Jayci has created a safe space for teenage girls to talk about issues, ask big questions, and be themselves.
“The kids feel heard," says Jayci. "And I think a lot of young people don't get listened to or taken seriously for the thoughts and the voices that they have, and Outback Futures gives that to them here.”
Community wellbeing
Giving our littlest bush kids a head start in life.
Blackall parent Laura Noble understands the joys and challenges of pregnancy and the early years of parenting in the bush, and is part of the Outback Futures Parent Peer project rolling out in Longreach, Winton, Blackall and Tambo.
“Being a parent is pretty amazing but some days can also be really hard,” says Laura. “It can be exhausting and relentless navigating newborns, then multiple kids, baby in one arm, toddler in another, sickness, and big emotions!”
Laura knows first-hand the value of having people around you who provide support, encouragement and connection.
Blackall parent Laura Noble understands the joys and challenges of pregnancy and the early years of parenting in the bush, and is part of the Outback Futures Parent Peer project rolling out in Longreach, Winton, Blackall and Tambo.
“Being a parent is pretty amazing but some days can also be really hard,” says Laura. “It can be exhausting and relentless navigating newborns, then multiple kids, baby in one arm, toddler in another, sickness, and big emotions!”
Laura knows first-hand the value of having people around you who provide support, encouragement and connection.
3
Parent Peers have connected at least once a week with parents and soon-to-be parents in their region.
WIWO Workforce solution
A workforce solution giving more people access to more services.
Outback Futures' Work In Work Out (WIWO) workforce model continues to be a proven solution addressing the workforce turnover issues that significantly impact service accessibility in the bush.
- Metropolitan-based, multidisciplinary clinical teams are recruited to work within a specific remote region.
- Clinicians regularly visit the region to support clients through face-to-face appointments, and also provide regular telehealth appointments while working from their home base outside of the region.
- Regardless of where the clinician is working, their focus is given to a specific region.
Outback Futures' Work In Work Out (WIWO) workforce model continues to be a proven solution addressing the workforce turnover issues that significantly impact service accessibility in the bush.
- Metropolitan-based, multidisciplinary clinical teams are recruited to work within a specific remote region.
- Clinicians regularly visit the region to support clients through face-to-face appointments, and also provide regular telehealth appointments while working from their home base outside of the region.
- Regardless of where the clinician is working, their focus is given to a specific region.
100%
of community stakeholders surveyed indicated Outback Futures' WIWO model fit their community's needs. 2
79%
of clients surveyed agree that Outback Futures' WIWO model (combining telehealth and community clinic visits) improved their service access, reduced the burden of travel and cost, and delivered appropriate support. 3
85%
of clients surveyed reported always feeling safe, respected, heard and able to raise concerns for both telehealth and face-to-face appointments. 3
“While our young people prefer a face-to-face model, they also identify that lack of confidentiality and anonymity in a small town are a barrier for them to accessing support services. Outback Futures overcomes this with the WIWO model.”
“While our young people prefer a face-to-face model, they also identify that lack of confidentiality and anonymity in a small town are a barrier for them to accessing support services. Outback Futures overcomes this with the WIWO model.”
- Community Stakeholder, Western Queensland 2
26
allied health clinicians and community facilitators contributed to thriving bush communities.
26.5%
is our average annual turnover of clinical staff since introducing the WIWO workforce solution in 2018. Turnover of health professionals in remote communities can be as high as 80% per annum.
9
out of 10 is the average score our staff rated their satisfaction in working at Outback Futures. 4
"In a rural and remote setting, access to services to support students can be limited due to isolation. The Outback Futures’ model of service works well. Students can access consistent support in areas of need by either weekly Stay With Me telehealth sessions, or face-to-face school clinics that occur each term."
"In a rural and remote setting, access to services to support students can be limited due to isolation. The Outback Futures’ model of service works well. Students can access consistent support in areas of need by either weekly Stay With Me telehealth sessions, or face-to-face school clinics that occur each term."
- Community Stakeholder, Western Queensland 2
2. Outback Futures' Community Stakeholder Surveys 2023-2024. 3.Outback Futures' Client Reported Experience Surveys 2023-2024. 4. Outback Futures' Staff Surveys 2023-2024.
Partnering together for good.
We are thankful for generous partners who help us go the extra mile.
From philanthropic trusts and foundations, to government funders, corporate sponsors and individual donors, we are thankful for our financial and in-kind supporters who are committed to our outback communities and us as an organisation.
Alongside the generous giving of individual donors, we are thankful for the opportunity to partner with these organisations:
We are thankful for generous partners who help us go the extra mile.
From philanthropic trusts and foundations, to government funders, corporate sponsors and individual donors, we are thankful for our financial and in-kind supporters who are committed to our outback communities and us as an organisation.
Alongside the generous giving of individual donors, we are thankful for the opportunity to partner with these organisations:
Financial summary.
