NRL Cowboys House mental health team helping foster ‘happier and healthier’ futures

Boarding students at the NRL Cowboys House in Townsville are getting the full benefits of a dedicated in house mental health and wellbeing team, as they pursue secondary education away from their remote hometowns.

House psychologist Charmaine Knox. Picture supplied

Boarding students at the NRL Cowboys House in Townsville are getting the full benefits of a dedicated in house mental health and wellbeing team, as they pursue secondary education away from their remote hometowns.

The House is a home-away-from-home for more than 100 year 7-12 students from 29 remote communities, not only breaking down distance as a barrier to education but working to support each young person in leading a happier, healthier life.

House youth mental health worker Nathan Mellor and psychologist Charmaine Knox play a vital role in ensuring the facility’s holistic wraparound model of care builds and maintains the mental wellbeing and resilience of students who travel hundreds of kilometres from their home communities across the north to attend school in Townsville.

Ms Knox said the students inspire her every day.

“Indigenous youth mental health is important to me because as a psychologist with over 24 years’ experience, I am acutely aware of the need for better resources and outcomes in this area of health service provision,” she said.

House psychologist Charmaine Knox. Picture supplied

“The boarders at NRL Cowboys House are among the most resilient humans I know and listening to their stories, their passions, hopes, hardships and successes, you can’t help but feel inspired.”
“I feel fortunate to be able to share their journey and make a small contribution towards supporting the Indigenous leaders of tomorrow.”

Mr Mellor said his role is to provide appropriate and individualised services that were culturally sensitive.

“Given the profound injustices Indigenous communities have endured, it’s imperative to implement supportive services and strategies in place to close the gap in life expectancy, incarceration rates and suicide rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,” he said.

“The students teach us the cultural values of their own community as well as stories from their Elders which nurtures an appreciation for the cultural richness that each student brings to our community.”

Originally published as NRL Cowboys House mental health team helping foster ‘happier and healthier’ futures