Happy Chat

Happy Chat is a peer run support group for people with mental health concerns. Most participants have severe and persistent mental health issues at varying levels of recovery. Participants range from 18 to 75 years.

We meet every Tuesday from 10:30am to midday and everyone is welcome. 

There is no cost to individuals attending Happy Chat and there are no formal joining requirements, we just ask that people abide by our confidentiality rules as some personal issues are raised amongst the members. 

For enquiries, please email   

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What does Happy Chat do?

Happy Chat is A SOFT PLACE TO LAND. The people running the place are all volunteers

and share a lived or living experience of mental illness. They have been there. Some,

many times. They get it. Happy Chat gently links people to existing services in the

community. 

Happy Chat is A PLACE TO BE NURTURED. When you need someone to bring you

some chicken soup or you need to share a walk in the community garden, or have a play

in some clay, or have a guided mindfulness mediation session. Nature has a way of

making you feel good no matter how shit house you feel. 

Happy Chat is A PLACE TO BE NOURISHED. Both the body and the mind are intrinsically

connected and incredibly important for mental well being. Happy Chat continues to advocate for better housing and food security for people living with severe and chronic mental health concerns. Nourishing the mind through activity, skill development and continuous learning is

essential for maintaining cognitive functioning. If the mind isn’t fed, if it doesn’t keep active,

there is greater risk of cognitive decline and with that, a loss of independence and quality of life. Learning new skills not only helps keep the brain plastic, but there is also a sense of

achievement (and in my case, amazement) in completing the task. 

Happy Chat is A PLACE TO BE CONNECTED - somewhere to meet and socialise - formal

(services) and informal (friends, colleagues, family); accessing adequate free wifi - Digital

poverty exists within Happy Chat. There are many struggling to access the internet. This is

increasingly concerning as many supports are shifting to online platforms. Accessibility to

the internet will help a number of people access something many of us take for granted.

Happy Chat continues to advocate for digital equity for people living with ill mental health.

Happy Chat is A PLACE TO BELONG. Belonging is essential for human beings to thrive.

Belonging is a tricky one to simulate. Happy Chat has created its very own community

through each person having a lived or living experience of mental health concerns. There’s

a comradeship amongst us. We’ve been tortured and tormented by the black dog (and

more). We share unspoken trauma and yet we have a shared hope that things will pass

and things will get better. We are blessed to  have Happy Chat. 

Happy Chat is A PLACE TO FEEL SAFE. Absolutely everyone is welcome at Happy Chat.

Many people with mental illness do not feel safe in the wider community. Walking up and

down the main street is an impossible feat for many. Some do not even leave their homes

through fear of their own personal safety. There are as many reasons for this as stars in

the sky.

Happy Chat attempts to create an atmosphere that makes people feel safe. We are

welcoming, never judgemental, there are no obligations and definitely no expectations.

People can come and go as they please. Diversity is embraced at Happy Chat. Expanding safe spaces and mental health allies throughout the wider community creates greater independence with new opportunities for our peeps to participate in and contribute to society. It’s a win-win.

Happy Chat is about instigating TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE in the way people with

mental illness are treated in our region. We are working with policy-makers and decision-

makers to have our collective voice heard to bring about positive change in the mental

health, health, education, social services systems and sectors at local, state and federal

levels. We are consulting and collaborating towards effective and efficient support services

so people can recover from mental illness so they can thrive in our community.