Supporting the wellbeing of people in regional Australia takes more than service expertise – it means being part of communities and understanding their unique context.
Cost of living pressures, social isolation and limited support options are just some of the issues our regional service teams work with their communities to address.
To meet their needs, our staff frequently travel to meet with people living in remote areas, tailor the supports on offer, and above all listen to the communities they’re a part of.
For Neami Senior Managers Operations Kelly Buttignol and Ben Wells, staying active in local networks is also key.
They recently presented Neami’s services and practice approach at the 2025 Mentally Fit EP Conference in Port Pirie, South Australia. In the same week, they also attended the South Australian Suicide Prevention Council’s community workshop to discuss local perspectives on what contributes to distress, barriers to accessing services and initiatives that have an impact.
Participating in the events was an opportunity to “contribute to a sense of connection and spirit of partnership with community leaders, who are working towards a collective vision,” said Kelly.
“Community is the why for the work that we do at Neami. Our teams are a part of the community themselves, often wearing multiple hats across various professional and informal roles.”
Kelly and Ben’s presentation highlighted the collaborative approach taken by our regional South Australian services, which span community-based, psychosocial and employment supports, clinical care coordination and the Head to Health phone service.
“Partnerships and collaboration are the key for us in the regions,” said Ben, who sees Neami as “part of the community’s response and work, rather than something happening to or in the community.”
Find out more about Neami’s regional South Australian services:
- Port Pirie Medicare Mental Health Centre
- Neami Port Lincoln (Commonwealth Psychosocial Support, Clinical Care Coordination)
- Neami Employment Support Service (NESS)
- Head to Health Phone Service