A peer support worker with lived experience of trauma is now on the ground and making a difference for young people in Gunnedah.
State government funding has enabled Youth Insearch to employ Marlie Thomas as a lived experience peer worker to help others in her community to journey from trauma to triumph.
“When I started with Youth Insearch, I had run out of places to turn, just like many young Australians who have experienced trauma, and have attempted suicide.”
“I feel fortunate to be helping others through the funding and hope our work in the New England region can continue for many years to come,” Marlie said.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the latest batch of successful projects announced for the region under the NSW Government’s Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery initiative will help support recovery and boost resilience for young people in the region following the impacts of natural disasters and COVID-19.
“It is so important that we do everything we can to support young people in our region, keeping them out of trouble and setting them up for success,” Mr Anderson said.
“With the assistance of the NSW Government’s Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative, Youth Insearch have been able to employ Marlie, a peer support worker with lived experience who is helping young people recover, build resilience and improve wellbeing by providing them with the tools and resources they need to become the best version of themselves.”
Youth Insearch CEO Stephen Lewin has just returned from Canberra where the not for profit organisation hosted End Youth Suicide Week.
“Our peer-to-peer model is gaining ground as a support system for the traditional government model of headspace, and this funding ensures we can continue our work in regions such as New England, offering peer support and lived experience to members of the ‘forgotten middle’, who have experienced trauma and find the medical-driven model confronting,” Mr Lewin said.
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