Calm Harbour
At Calm Harbour, we are dedicated to creating safe, supportive spaces for open conversations about mental health. Our mission is to raise awareness, break stigma, and advocate for compassionate care for all individuals affected by mental illness. Through education, community engagement, and advocacy, we aim to be a steady anchor—empowering people to seek help, share their stories, and find calm in the storm.
Your contributions enable us to provide critical resources such as counselling services, educational programs, community outreach initiatives, and crisis support.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps us expand our reach and offer hope, healing, and empowerment to those in need.
Together, we can create a more compassionate and informed society where mental health is treated with the urgency and respect it deserves.
All About Us
Harbour Circles
Peer Support Groups
Harbour Circles are weekly peer-led support groups designed to provide a safe, welcoming space for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Each session is facilitated by a trained peer with lived experience, allowing participants to share openly and connect without fear of judgment. These circles emphasize mutual understanding, respect, and empowerment, offering a powerful alternative or complement to clinical support. Whether someone is newly diagnosed, in recovery, or simply seeking connection, Harbour Circles create a sense of belonging and hope. Groups are available in person and online, catering to diverse needs including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and more.
Calm Classrooms
School Awareness Program
Calm Classrooms is an educational outreach program that brings mental health literacy directly into schools. Through age-appropriate workshops and interactive sessions, students learn how to identify emotions, manage stress, and understand common mental health challenges. The program also trains teachers and school staff to recognize early warning signs and respond with empathy and care. Calm Classrooms promotes a culture of openness and reduces stigma by encouraging healthy conversations about mental well-being. By starting early, we aim to equip young people with lifelong tools for resilience, emotional intelligence, and empathy—creating supportive school environments where every student feels seen and heard.
Anchor Chats
Community Conversation Series
Anchor Chats is a monthly event series designed to spark meaningful conversations about mental health within the wider community. Each session features guest speakers—ranging from psychologists and psychiatrists to lived-experience advocates, artists, and policy leaders—sharing stories, insights, and actionable advice. With formats including panels, fireside chats, and Q&A forums, Anchor Chats are open to the public and free of charge. These gatherings demystify mental illness, challenge stereotypes, and bring people together in shared learning and solidarity. Whether hosted at libraries, cafes, or community centres, the goal is always the same: to create a ripple of awareness and empathy.
Safe Harbour Helpline
Mental Health Navigation & Support Line
The Safe Harbour Helpline is a confidential support service that connects individuals and families with trained mental health navigators who listen, guide, and provide tailored information. Unlike crisis lines, this helpline focuses on mental health education, emotional support, and helping callers understand their options for ongoing care. Staffed by compassionate professionals and volunteers, it offers real-time support via phone or online chat. Whether someone is facing a new diagnosis, seeking a therapist, or just needing someone to talk to, the Helpline is a steady resource that helps people find calm, clarity, and connection during uncertain times.
Harbour Retreats
Mindfulness and Wellness Workshops
Harbour Retreats are thoughtfully designed day-long or weekend experiences that promote holistic mental well-being. Participants engage in activities like yoga, nature walks, journaling, creative arts, and guided meditation, all facilitated by mental health professionals and wellness coaches. These retreats offer a much-needed pause from daily pressures, helping individuals reconnect with themselves and their inner resilience. Each retreat explores themes such as self-compassion, stress reduction, grief, and personal growth, allowing space for healing and self-discovery. Set in tranquil locations, Harbour Retreats blend therapeutic practices with community connection, leaving participants refreshed, empowered, and equipped with new tools for everyday wellness.
Calm Companions
Volunteer Buddy Program
Calm Companions matches trained volunteers with individuals who are experiencing social isolation due to mental illness. This one-on-one buddy system offers regular check-ins, emotional support, and companionship through shared activities like walking, coffee outings, or simple phone calls. The program is rooted in the belief that meaningful human connection can be transformative. Volunteers receive specialized training to ensure they can offer support with empathy and boundaries, while participants benefit from having someone who listens without judgment. Calm Companions fosters trust, combats loneliness, and helps build bridges back into the community—one friendship at a time.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Training for the Public
Calm Harbour offers certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses to empower the public with the knowledge and skills to support someone experiencing a mental health crisis or developing mental illness. Participants learn how to recognize signs and symptoms, provide initial help, and guide individuals to appropriate professional support. These workshops are ideal for workplaces, community leaders, teachers, and anyone wanting to build a more mentally health-aware society. By training everyday people to respond with empathy, knowledge, and confidence, MHFA helps break down stigma and creates safer, more supportive environments where mental health is treated with the same urgency and care as physical health.
The Ripple Effect Project
Storytelling for Stigma Reduction
The Ripple Effect Project is a multimedia storytelling initiative that highlights the voices of people living with mental illness, as well as their families and carers. Through podcasts, blogs, visual art, video diaries, and live storytelling events, participants share their journeys—honestly, vulnerably, and powerfully. These stories help break down harmful stereotypes and remind others that they are not alone. Each story becomes a ripple in a larger movement for empathy and understanding. The project also offers storytelling workshops to help individuals safely and creatively process their experiences, contributing to personal healing and broader public awareness.
Advocacy in Action
Policy & Awareness Campaigns
Advocacy in Action is Calm Harbour’s public advocacy wing, dedicated to influencing mental health policies, improving access to services, and championing human rights for those affected by mental illness. The program organises campaigns, petitions, media outreach, and meetings with decision-makers to ensure mental health is prioritised in both legislation and public discourse. It also includes opportunities for people with lived experience to become advocates themselves through training, public speaking, and leadership roles. Advocacy in Action empowers individuals and communities to challenge systemic barriers and push for a more just, inclusive, and compassionate society.
The Calm Harbour Collective
Support for Carers and Families
Caring for someone with a mental illness can be deeply rewarding—and incredibly challenging. The Calm Harbour Collective is a program designed to support the unsung heroes: carers, partners, parents, siblings, and friends. Through support groups, workshops, and educational resources, the program helps families navigate the complexities of mental health with empathy, knowledge, and confidence. Topics include self-care for carers, communication strategies, navigating services, and understanding diagnoses. The Collective also fosters connection among carers, reducing isolation and building a network of mutual support. It’s a reminder that in the calm—or in the storm—no one has to carry it alone.
Upcoming Events
SATURDAY 25TH NOVEMBER 2025
GALA FUNDRAISER
SAGE HOTEL WOLLONGONG
✨ Join us for an unforgettable night of magic, music, and meaning ✨
Set against the elegant backdrop of the Hotel Ballroom, this black-tie event is a celebration of community and compassion in support of Calm Harbour, a local initiative promoting mental well-being and emotional support services.
🎭 Evening Highlights
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Spellbinding Magic by Jasper Renn – Illusion, laughter, and mystery await with one of Australia’s most captivating magicians
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Live Band: The Velvet Nights – Smooth jazz, soul, and modern classics
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Dancing Under the Stars – Hit the dance floor with our rooftop DJ set after dinner
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Raffle Prizes & Silent Auction – Bid on exclusive items and experiences for a great cause
🍽️ Gala Dinner Menu
Crafted by award winning chef ROSA VEGA
Entrée
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Prawn & Avocado Salad with Lemon Aioli
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Roasted Beetroot Carpaccio with Whipped Feta & Walnuts (V)
Main
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Seared Atlantic Salmon with Dill Cream, Asparagus, & Saffron Mash
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Slow-Braised Beef Cheek with Truffle Potato Purée & Red Wine Jus
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Pumpkin & Ricotta Ravioli with Sage Butter Sauce (V)
Dessert
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Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberry Coulis & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
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Coconut Panna Cotta with Mango Salsa (GF, DF)
🎟 Tickets: $120 per person
Includes 3-course dinner, entertainment, and donation to Calm Harbour.
Dress Code: Formal/Black Tie
🎫 Reserve your table now – Limited seats available!
visit ydw.com.au/calmharbour or call 0402 383 436
Together, let’s bring hope and healing to our community 💙
CALM HARBOUR NEWSLETTER – Autumn 2025 Edition
From the Desk of the Secretary – Hugh Geego
Dear Calm Harbour Friends, Supporters, and Champions,
I hope this letter finds you well, safe, and anchored in good spirits.
As the days grow cooler and we edge toward the end of the year, I find myself reflecting
on the extraordinary strength of our community. Calm Harbour has always been about
providing a steady hand in stormy seas—and thanks to your generosity, compassion,
and ongoing support, we continue to offer shelter, hope, and healing to those navigating
mental health challenges.
🌟 What We’ve Achieved Together
This year, you helped us:
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🌈 Support over 300 individuals through free counselling sessions
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📚 Launch our "Mindful Mornings" program in two local schools
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🫶 Train 25 new volunteers in peer-support and mental health first aid
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💬 Create Safe Harbours, our new weekly drop-in support group
Every single one of these milestones exists because people like you believe in kindness, connection, and community care.
🎉 Upcoming Events:
Calm Harbour Charity Gala
Mark your calendars! On Tuesday, 25th November 2025, we’re hosting the Calm Harbour Charity Gala at the beautiful Sage Hotel in Wollongong. This will be an evening of elegance and entertainment—all in the name of mental well-being.
🪄 Expect magic from Jasper Renn, live music from The Velvet Nights, delicious food, and heartfelt stories from those we’ve helped.
🎟 Tickets are available now at www.calmharbourgala.org – and yes, I’ll be there in a tux (don’t laugh!).
💙 How You Can Continue to Help
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Become a monthly donor – even $10 a month keeps our lights on and hearts open
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Volunteer with us – we always need warm smiles and steady hands
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Spread the word – share our mission, and invite friends to follow us online
You can also follow our updates on social media @CalmHarbourAU.
As we sail toward the end of 2025, I want to thank you—truly—for helping us be the safe harbour so many need. Mental health journeys aren’t always smooth sailing, but with community, we can weather any storm.
With gratitude and calm seas,
Hugh Geego
Secretary, Calm Harbour
📧 hugh@calmharbour.org
📞 0402 383 436
“Sometimes, just knowing someone cares is the first step toward healing.” – Mila Vossa
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0402 383 436
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Calm Harbour - 115 Harbourview Road, Feelgood, NSW, 2500
Web Design
Nova Chan
Photography
Sienna Bloom & Ellie Granger