Human Nature

Thanks to the generous support of the Manna Institute scholarship program, our Head of Operations, Jen Parke, had the privilege of representing Human Nature at the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference in Cairns this November. Jen shared insights into how our nature-based mental health service engages young people in participatory, rights-driven processes to shape their therapy journey. Using our assertive outreach model, we meet young people where they feel safe—outdoors and in nature—combining evidence-based therapy and mentoring with activities that build trust, connection, and resilience. Jen's presentation highlighted: 🌿 Co-designed Services: Programs developed with input from young people who’ve used our services. 🌿 My Mind Star: A visual tool that maps a client’s journey across seven domains using language created by young people with lived experience of mental health challenges. 🌿 Feedback Informed Therapy: A collaborative approach where young people’s feedback shapes their therapeutic journey, fostering stronger relationships and better outcomes. Attending events like this is often beyond the financial reach of an almost entirely philanthropically funded organisation like ours. We’re deeply grateful to Manna Institute for making this opportunity possible, enabling us to amplify the voices of young people and advocate for rights-driven mental health care. Together, we’re creating meaningful change. If you'd like to stay connected and hear more about the work we do, subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g-bhPgij #YouthMentalHealth #RuralMentalHealth #NatureBasedTherapy #HumanNature

We're excited to share our 2023/24 Annual Impact Report, a testament to the power of community and the transformative impact we've made together. Despite the challenges facing young people today, we've witnessed incredible resilience and progress. Our dedicated team, along with the support of our generous donors and partners, has enabled us to: ❇️ Support 126 young people in the Northern Rivers region ❇️ Achieve a 95% engagement rate, an industry-leading figure ❇️ See 83% of participants report improved mental health ❇️ Listen to young people and adapt our programs accordingly ❇️ Implement a cultural safety evaluation to support Aboriginal young people ❇️ Partner with other organisations to deliver impactful programs ❇️ Secure multi-year commitments from key partners These significant achievements have encouraged us to dream about what is possible for the future, preparing ourselves for growth, when the time is right, so that we can create a brighter future for more young people in more places. We invite you to watch the video below which provides a summary of the 2024 Annual Impact report and more of the key highlights from FY23/24. You can also read the full 2024 Annual Impact Report here: https://lnkd.in/gUTjF-iS

At Human Nature, we believe that leading radical change begins with engaging at-risk youth early, particularly those impacted by family and intimate partner violence. Every young person deserves the opportunity to heal, build resilience, and create a positive path forward, free from the cycles of trauma and violence. Our approach is unique - by combining nature-based activities with professional mental health support, we create trusted, safe spaces where young people can reconnect with themselves and build critical socio-emotional skills. The result? A 95% engagement rate, with significant improvements in self-esteem and school engagement and other key wellbeing areas - proof that compassionate, early intervention works. As our Head of Operations Jen Parke explains, "Applying a justice reinvestment lens means investing in young people now, instead of paying the price later in continued cycles of harm." Read more on how we're building brighter futures for young people impacted by family and intimate partner violence 👉 #EarlyIntervention #YouthMentalHealth #BreakingTheCycle #YouthSupport #TransformingLives #FamilyViolence #SocialImpact #NatureBasedTherapy #JusticeReinvestment #MentalHealthMatters

Our latest newsletter is live and we’re excited to share with you some powerful updates about our work in supporting young people to overcome challenges and thrive, including Ruby’s journey - a testament to the resilience of young people when provided with the right environment and care. At Human Nature, we are committed to providing young people with personalised ongoing, flexible support that combines qualified mental health care with meaningful activities in nature. Young people like Ruby show us what truly aids their healing: safe spaces, trusted therapist and mentors and activities that allow them to open up and reconnect to themselves. Through her experience, Ruby has become one of the active youth voices shaping our services to better meet the needs of young women affected by family and sexual violence. These insights help us refine our approach, ensuring that we continue to provide safe, responsive and empowering support for young people on their path to healing. Dive deeper into this story and more here 👉https://lnkd.in/gPDnMUBu

Our Founder Andy Hamilton was proud to speak at the Future Generation and Wilson Asset Management Shareholder Presentation last week about the work of Human Nature in the early intervention space of youth mental health and our plans for the future. We are one of FGG's 14 social impact partners and their investment makes a huge difference to an organisation like ours that receives no ongoing goverment funding. Thank you for the invitation Caroline Gurney.

We are incredibly grateful to the James Frizelle Charitable Foundation for their generous donation of a brand new Hyundai Kona to support our mental health outreach work with disadvantaged young people across the Northern Rivers 🚙💙 Living in regional NSW, many young people face significant barriers to accessing mental health support, with transport being one of the biggest challenges. Our outreach model is all about meeting young people where they are - whether that’s at their home, school, or out in nature where they feel more comfortable to open up. This new vehicle will be vital in helping our team of therapists travel the thousands of kilometres they cover each month, ensuring that young people don't miss out when it comes to accessing the mental health care they deserve. In addition, we are thrilled that the James Frizelle Charitable Foundation has also committed to supporting our Elev8 group activities program for the next three years, helping us build social, emotional, and leadership skills for young people in need. A massive thank you to James Frizelle and Trish Harris for this incredible support - you're helping us create meaningful change in the lives of young people every day 🙏✨ #mentalhealthsupport #communitycare #youthmentalhealth #thankyou #regionalnsw #JamesFrizelleFoundation #OutreachSupport

Human Nature was extremely proud to amongst those pitching for funding from the Northern Rivers Community Foundation Women's Giving Circle at the Brunswick Picture House last week and completely over the moon that we won!! Our EmpowerHER program will support young women (14-18) in the Northern Rivers who have experienced sexual or domestic violence. Through personalised 1:1 therapeutic sessions, we'll focus on building psychosocial skills, mentoring on healthy relationships and sexual health, and offering case management to reduce risks and strengthen support. Engaging activities like art, bike riding, and beach walks will help foster connection and trust. After 12 months, we'll conduct a thorough evaluation to refine the program and ensure it meets the evolving needs of these young women, improving their wellbeing and building a sustainable support service for young women in our community. Huge thanks to Northern Rivers Community Foundation and everyone in the Women's Giving Circle and congratulations to our fellow pitchers Haus of Armour and Women Up North and the excellent work they do to support women and girls who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence.

The No to Violence National Conference: Leading Radical Change has officially kicked off today and runs until Thursday, 5 September. This crucial event brings together voices from all corners - those with lived experience, policymakers, practitioners and researchers - learning from each other to shape meaningful, human-centred responses in our communities, families and workplaces. It's a fantastic opportunity to engage in discussions that will drive the radical change needed to end men’s use of family violence. We are proud to share that our very own Andy Hamilton (Founder), Jennifer Parke (Head of Operations)and Kane Abbott (Program Team Leader) will be presenting at the conference. Their spotlight conversation, titled "They won't engage!" - how a youth mental health service is disrupting harm with a 95% engagement rate with adolescents other services have failed to reach, will delve into how Human Nature is reaching regional young people struggling with mental health and trauma. By combining evidence-based psychological therapies with engaging activities in nature, our service not only supports victim survivors but also works to reduce future violence through empathy-building and challenging harmful attitudes. Join us in exploring how innovative approaches can make a real difference. We look forward to seeing the impact of this powerful dialogue! #NTV204 #NoToViolence #LeadingRadicalChange #MentalHealth #YouthSupport #EndingViolence

🎉 Congratulations to Future Generation Global on the launch of their 2023 Impact Report! This is a landmark new report measuring the collective impact their non-profit partners are having on youth mental health, and we are incredibly proud and grateful to be one of them! In 2023, Human Nature saw remarkable outcomes among the young people who accessed our services. The majority improved their understanding of mental health, self-confidence, and coping strategies, with positive changes extending to lifestyle, relationships, and educational or work environments. Notably, 80% maintained high or moderate wellbeing up to 12 months after leaving our services, with nearly all having a strong grasp of their mental health. Thank you, Future Generation Global, for your unwavering support and for pioneering such an ambitious initiative. Together, we’re driving real, lasting change in the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians. 🌱 #YouthMentalHealth #SocialImpact #FutureGenerationGlobal #HumanNature

Today marks a significant moment in the global conversation on youth mental health with the publication of The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health report. This report, the result of four years of rigorous research by over 50 leading experts, highlights a growing crisis that demands urgent attention and action. As a youth mental health charity dedicated to supporting young people in the Far North Coast of NSW, Human Nature recognises the critical importance of these findings and the call for systemic change. With a 50% increase in the need for care among young Australians over the past 15-20 years. Professor Patrick McGorry points to the failure of current systems to meet the needs of young people, calling for a new approach. At Human Nature, we are already delivering an innovative model for 14-18 year olds that includes many of the key elements of youth mental health care identified by the report with our evidence informed , nature-based, assertive outreach approach. Our multi-disciplinary team of social workers, psychologists, counselors and youth mentors achieve a staggering 95% engagement rate, ensuring young people receive the sustained support they need for positive outcomes. This report underscores the urgent need for systemic change. Human Nature is ready to be part of the solution, advocating for the holistic, youth-specific care that every young person deserves. Read more about Human Nature’s innovative model here: https://lnkd.in/g3EPay-W #YouthMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #TheLancet #HumanNature #MentalHealthCare