Trauma Assist - Wide Bay

13/09/2026

💚 Maryborough is uniting for Mental Health Week 2026!

Come along for a relaxed morning of connection, community and wellbeing at Town Hall Green. There’ll be local performers, market stalls, lawn games, activities and plenty of opportunities to connect with local services and resources.

📅 Thursday 8 October 2026
⏰ 7:30am – 12pm
📍 Town Hall Green, Maryborough

Mental wellbeing is something we can all be part of. Bring a friend, have a wander, enjoy the morning and discover some of the support available right here in our community. 💚

12/09/2026

Sometimes trauma doesn’t show up in obvious ways. It can look more like:

🌿 Feeling on edge for no clear reason
🌿 Overthinking small situations
🌿 Avoiding certain people, places or conversations
🌿 Struggling to switch off or relax
🌿 Reacting strongly to things that seem minor
🌿 Finding it hard to trust or feel safe
🌿 Feeling numb, disconnected or “not quite yourself”

It doesn’t always mean something is wrong — sometimes it’s your mind and body responding to things they learned a long time ago.

The good news? Awareness can be the start of change. 💚

Talking to someone you trust, learning your triggers, and getting support can help you feel more settled, confident and in control again.

11/09/2026

10/09/2026

Sarah Watson: turning lived experience into a lifetime of service 💪
For Sarah, leaving the Australian Army marked the beginning of a difficult new chapter - shaped by the loss of a career she loved, her experience of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, and the challenge of finding a new sense of purpose.

A Soldier On cycling team in 2015 became a turning point. What began as an opportunity to compete gave Sarah a goal, a team to belong to and friendships that have lasted more than a decade. It also gave her the confidence to stop hiding her story and start speaking openly about her experience.

Since then, Sarah has turned her lived experience into a commitment to supporting others. From competing at the Invictus Games and fundraising for veteran organisations, to coaching, mentoring and founding a local triathlon club that has welcomed more than 300 women, she continues to use sport and connection to create opportunities for others.

Earlier this month, Sarah shared that story aboard HMAS Canberra at the launch of the new Soldier On and Invictus Australia partnership. As a long-standing Soldier On Ambassador and spokesperson, she continues to advocate for the power of connection, community and sport to support veterans and their families.

Read Sarah’s full story here:
https://bit.ly/3UZsnDB

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Behind a successful career and meaningful life, Tim was privately struggling with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for many years.
In this episode of Holding on to Hope, Tim shares his experience of mental health challenges, grief and su***de attempts, and how reaching out for support helped him build a life of purpose, connection and hope. Today, he is an internationally recognised leader in positive psychology and mental health.
Holding on to Hope shares real stories of people who’ve faced mental health struggles and suicidality, offering hope and insight into how they found support and built tools for ongoing wellbeing.
Listen to Tim’s story now: http://bit.ly/podlifeline

09/09/2026

For World Su***de Prevention Day today! (10 September), two members of our Lived Experience Panel, Michael and Mel, have shared some stories of hope with our community 💚
Together, they reflect on what this year's theme, 'Changing the Narrative', means to them and why it is important for people with lived experience to share their stories.
To read more of their stories and learn more about World Su***de Prevention Day, head to our website: https://ow.ly/LKvC50ZJZoN
***deprevention

09/09/2026

08/09/2026

Cats or dogs… who wins your heart? 🐾

Some of us love the big excited welcome at the door. Others are perfectly happy being judged silently from across the room.

Either way, pets have a way of becoming part of the family.

They make us laugh, keep us company, get us outside, teach kids about care and responsibility, and somehow always seem to know when we need them close.

And of course, they come with plenty of personality too… from cats choosing the cardboard box over the expensive bed, to dogs hearing the word walk from three rooms away.

So which side are you on?

🐶 Team Dog
🐱 Team Cat
Or happily both?

Read “Cats and Dogs: Who Wins Your Heart?” in Issue 23 of Empowered Queensland.
https://trauma-assist.com.au/23rd-edition-empowered-digital-magazine/

08/09/2026

Have you seen our National Clinician Directory?⁠
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It’s growing every week, helping connect the POTS community with practitioners who understand — or are willing to learn more about — POTS and related conditions.⁠
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If you have a fabulous practitioner, please share this resource with them and encourage them to become a member of the directory.⁠
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Every new clinician helps strengthen support, improve access to care, and grow awareness across Australia.⁠
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Find your next practitioner here:
https://potsfoundation.org.au/clinician-directory/