Mental health and wellbeing support for the Jewish community

The Bondi Beach attack caused grief, distress and ongoing emotional impacts for many Jewish community members across NSW, including people living in the North Coast region.

Jewish community members in the North Coast are spread across a large geographic area. This can make it harder for people to access culturally safe support, stay connected with community, or know where to seek help when they are feeling distressed.

The program responds to the need for trusted, culturally appropriate mental health and wellbeing activities that support emotional recovery, safety, connection and belonging. It also helps community members connect with broader mental health and wellbeing supports when needed.

The program uses a targeted, community-led commissioning approach. Healthy North Coast funds local Jewish community organisations to deliver activities that reflect the needs, values and cultural practices of Jewish community members in the region.

The approach recognises that people are more likely to take part in wellbeing support when it is offered through trusted community settings and familiar relationships. Activities are designed to be practical, culturally appropriate and accessible, with a focus on grief, emotional wellbeing, social connection, safety and recovery.

Funded organisations will also help community members understand where to find further support, including local, NSW and national mental health and wellbeing services where needed.

Healthy North Coast manages local contracts, monitoring and reporting as part of a statewide grants program coordinated by Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network.

Due to the targeted and time sensitive nature of this funding, early engagement focused on identifying trusted community connections and organisations with existing relationships across the Jewish community in the North Coast region.

Healthy North Coast sought guidance from members of the local Jewish community to identify organisations with trusted community connections, cultural expertise, and experience delivering wellbeing, social connection, and cultural activities. These organisations were then invited to apply for grant funding to support community-led responses.

Funded activities are expected to continue reflecting community voice through local planning, participant feedback, community relationships and ongoing review during delivery. This helps ensure activities are culturally appropriate, responsive and grounded in the needs of Jewish community members.

The program funds culturally appropriate mental health and wellbeing activities for Jewish community members impacted by the Bondi Beach attack. Activities are delivered by funded Jewish community organisations in the North Coast region.

Activities may include:

• -community gatherings and group activities that strengthen connection and belonging
• -cultural and faith-informed wellbeing activities
• -social connection programs
• -intergenerational activities for children, young people, adults and older community members
• -peer support and informal wellbeing supports
• -parent and caregiver sessions
• -activities that support grief, emotional recovery and resilience
• -information about where to find mental health and wellbeing support
• -information about where to find local, NSW and national mental health and wellbeing support, including Jewish community support services where appropriate

The program aims to support the mental health, wellbeing and recovery of Jewish community members impacted by the Bondi Beach attack.

The program aims to:

• – provide culturally appropriate, community-led wellbeing support
• – support people experiencing grief, distress or ongoing emotional impacts
• – strengthen community connection, belonging and safety
• – reduce isolation and support social cohesion
• – improve awareness of available mental health and wellbeing supports
• – encourage safe and proactive help-seeking
• – support community members who may face barriers to participation
• – strengthen community capability to respond to grief, distress and future wellbeing needs
• – improve awareness of local, NSW and national support options, including culturally appropriate Jewish community supports
• The intended outcome is that Jewish community members feel more connected, supported and able to access help when they need it.