It is a safe environment to provide equity, connection and support. It is a space for networking collaboratively with Mental Health Peer Support workers, Peer Support volunteers and students. To actively engage and promote the Peer Support framework. Our purpose is to share information, hope, and to discuss how to reduce isolation, stigma and how to work towards sustaining the integrity of the future of  Mental Health Peer Support.

Historically Community Focus has accomplished remarkable outcomes over its 20 plus year foundation. We suspect we are the oldest Mental Health/Psychosocial Peer organisation in Queensland utilising a community development approach to empower and strengthen our Peer community. Our organization is committed to encouraging cooperative practice, to embrace the diversity of our community. Embracing interaction between individuals “peers”, constitutes a community  within itself, from which access to other communities is made safer, and more possible.

Some of the programs and activities we provide

• Seniors Unleashed – Engaging with senior citizens to promote mental health and wellbeing; in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Council and initiated by the Queensland Mental Health Commission.


• Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Support Work – a training program for individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, in partnership with TAFE East Coast and the Sunshine Coast Mental Health and Addiction Service. The program is being evaluated by the University of Queensland.


• Peer Alliance Sunshine Coast – an employment register of trained peer support workers who are available to undertake employment within the Sunshine Coast community. Our organisation continues to manage this as part of an ongoing commitment to peer workforce opportunities. Services offered include supervision, insurance cover, ongoing training and development opportunities and support with work agreements and other legislative requirements.

• Peers Engaged to Encourage Resilience and Recovery (PETERR) – a collective of lived experience practitioners, hosted by our organisation to cultivate a community of practice.


• Hearing Voices groups – open to anyone who hears voices, or has other sensory experiences. The groups provide a safe space to share experiences of what it is like; offering different ways to make sense of them, coping with them and to encourage peer support and social connectedness.


• Girl Power – a program for young girls to build confidence and a healthy body image while engaging in good eating habits and exercise.


•  Dual Diagnosis – a much needed response to participants who experience both mental health and addiction issues; applying the principles of wellness and recovery action planning (WRAP) to promote sustainable change. Offered in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Mental Health and Addiction Service.

In addition to the above activities, which developed during the past year, the organisation continues to present the programs that have achieved positive outcomes and are consistently in demand from participants and the community. We are eagerly looking forward to 2018 and the opportunities and challenges that it presents.