Looking Back on 2025: A Year of Impact and Connection

As we wrap up 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an extraordinary year for Wayahead. This year marked the first full year of our 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, and together we’ve achieved milestones that truly make a difference.

One of our proudest achievements was the launch of our new website in February, designed to make mental health resources more accessible and user-friendly. This upgrade has already improved how people connect with support and information across NSW.

We were thrilled be recognised with TheMHS Award for Mental Health Promotion! This award celebrates excellence in initiatives that raise awareness, reduce stigma, and empower communities—and it’s an incredible acknowledgment of the work we’ve done together.

Our flagship Mental Health Month campaign was at the heart of this achievement. With record engagement—350 attendees at the Mental Health Matters Awards, 38 community grants distributed, and millions reached through media and social channels—the campaign sparked vital conversations across NSW. From grassroots projects like the Wellbeing Snake initiative to high-profile events at NSW Parliament, we worked tirelessly to make mental health a topic everyone feels comfortable talking about.

Our Small Steps program nearly doubled its reach, delivering 56 seminars and webinars to over 1,600 participants—empowering parents, carers, and educators with practical strategies to support children experiencing anxiety. And our Anxiety Support Groups provided over 2,000 occasions of service, creating safe spaces for connection and hope.

In 2024-2025, our Information Service continued to be a lifeline for thousands of people across NSW, helping individuals navigate the often-overwhelming mental health system with care and clarity. We answered 1,250 calls and referred 990 people to appropriate services, ensuring they could access the help they needed. Our online directory remained a vital resource, with over 426,000 page views, connecting communities to low-cost or no-cost mental health and wellbeing services. As we move into 2026, we’re excited to upgrade the Wayahead Directory platform, making it even easier for people to find the right support when they need it most.

This year has been a transformative year for our workplace wellbeing network. Early this year, Wayahead Workplaces evolved into Sharespace, reflecting a broader, more inclusive approach to mental health in professional settings. Sharespace is now a vibrant community where leaders, wellbeing professionals, and advocates com e together to share knowledge, collaborate, and drive positive cultural change. This year, we saw a 100% increase in attendance at our morning forums, proving that people value the power of connection. Through Sharespace, we’ve tackled critical topics such as psychosocial risk, burnout, age diversity, and inclusive workplace practices. We’ve also introduced Member Spotlight sessions, giving organisations the chance to showcase innovative approaches to wellbeing.

Wayahead actively contributed to policy consultations and systemic reform, ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience were heard at the highest levels. Some highlights include:

• NSW Government Pre-Budget Submission – We called for increased investment in early intervention, stigma reduction education, and improved mental health services.

• National Suicide Prevention Strategy Feedback – Our input helped strengthen a national approach to suicide prevention.

• Review of the NSW Mental Health Commission – Wayahead played a key role on the Expert Advisory Committee, influencing recommendations for the Commission’s future.

• Sector Leadership – We represented Wayahead at parliamentary roundtables, including the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health event and the Mental Health Coordinating Council’s flagship forum, advocating for recovery-oriented care and stigma reduction.

Through these efforts—and our active membership in the NSW Alliance for Mental Health—we’ve reinforced Wayahead’s role as a trusted, non-partisan voice driving systemic change.

One of the most significant achievements of 2025 has been the co-design and launch of Wayahead’s Lived Experience Framework—a milestone that reflects our deep commitment to inclusive, person-centred practice. This framework was developed collaboratively with staff and Board members during our strategic planning day in May. It ensures that lived and living experience is not just a guiding principle but a foundation for everything we do—from governance and recruitment to program design and evaluation.

Throughout the year, we’ve actively involved people with lived experience in shaping our work. From peer-led support groups and co-facilitated Mental Health Month planning workshops, to policy consultations and advocacy, this approach strengthens the authenticity and impact of our programs. It also ensures that our voice in the sector is grounded in real-world insight and community connection. The Lived Experience Framework is more than a document—it’s a cultural shift. It empowers voices that have too often been overlooked and embeds their wisdom into the heart of our organisation.

Behind these successes is the dedication of our incredible team, volunteers, partners, and supporters. Your commitment ensures that Wayahead continues to lead the way in mental health promotion and advocacy.

As we look ahead to 2026, our focus remains clear: deepening partnerships, expanding programs, and continuing to champion mental health awareness across NSW.

On behalf of Wayahead, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with peace, connection, and wellbeing. Thank you for being part of this journey—we couldn’t do it without you.

Warm regards,

Sharon Grocott

Chief Executive Officer, Wayahead