Strathpine Safe Space

I may choose to visit Safe Space for support with my mental health and wellbeing.

If I feel nervous or worried about visiting, the team at Safe Space are there to support me. I might bring a support person, family or friend with me, when I visit Safe Space.

When visiting I may choose to remain anonymous. Providing details such as my name, address or contact information are optional. Providing these details can help staff follow up with me after the visit, if I choose.

If I’m arriving by car, there’s a free carpark at Safe Space.

I can access the carpark by turning left into the driveway next to the Lolly Shop on Gympie Road. The driveway is located in the block before the big Strathpine Centre.

The footpath is clearly signed for Safe Space, Medicare Mental Health Centre and the RSL office.

If I’m travelling by bus, the nearest stop is at Strathpine Centre. It’s 675 metres from Safe Space – about 11 minutes’ walk.

I may plan my journey through Translink.

If I’m travelling by train, the nearest stop is Strathpine station. It’s 735 metres to Safe Space – about 12 minutes’ walk.

I may plan my journey through Translink.

This service is free. Identification, appointments or referrals are not required.

Calling ahead to plan the visit may be helpful.

When I arrive, I can enter via the glass doors.

There’s a waiting room inside the front door. I may knock on the internal door to let staff know I’d like to come in. Or I might sit in the waiting room for a while to look through the resources.

If I have mobility access needs, I can call Safe Space to request that staff unlock and open the side door.

I could email Safe Space to let them know I’m coming.

Safe Space staff will introduce themselves and are there to support me. They work on a roster, so the people I meet may be different if I visit more than once.

Other people visiting Safe Space might be seated in the lounge area or in private rooms.

Safe Space supports people in distress. Distress can look and sound different for people.

Quiet spaces are available to me. I may bring my own headphones.

People’s voices and movements may be heard – this might include people in distress. Distress looks and sounds different for different people.

Most rooms are dimly lit with lamps used instead of bright overhead lights.

Air conditioning provides cooling and heating for temperature control and can make noise when in use.

Sounds from the microwave, coffee machine and printer may be heard at Safe Space.

Calm music may play from musical instruments or a speaker dock.

Basic services available at Safe Space include:

• accessible bathrooms
• kitchen with tea, coffee and toasted sandwiches
• microwave
• coffee machine
• two smaller rooms for increased privacy, with optional open or closed doors
• lounges and sensory pods
• books, craft materials, colouring activities and puzzles
• phone charging facilities
• iPad and WiFi
• a fish tank that some people find calming.

I can ask to visit the service before I need it. I can do this when I feel calm. This can be arranged outside of business hours by appointment.

Staff will provide me with an opportunity to give feedback on Safe Space via a QR code. I can use my own phone or the smartphone available at Safe Space to access the QR code.

Providing feedback is optional.

When leaving, I’ll take my personal belongings and bags. There is no storage space available at Safe Space.

I will be offered the following resources and may choose to keep what is helpful:

• Welcome to Neami booklet
• safety card
• brochures about available services
• information sheets and other printed resources.

It may be dark outside Safe Space at night.

I can ask staff to watch me get safely to my car when leaving. I can also ask Safe Space staff to call a taxi. The cost of the taxi service is my responsibility.

A Safe Space staff member will offer to call me on the phone and follow-up after my visit. This is optional.

Safe Space staff can provide referrals to other organisations for further support, if I want.