Gaza conflict mental health support project builds resilience in local communities
08 Jul 2025
SWSPHN has partnered with three other Sydney-based PHNs to deliver the Wellness and Resilience: Gaza Conflict project, which provides Gaza conflict mental health support to communities affected by the ongoing crisis.
Together with Central and Eastern Sydney, North Sydney and Western Sydney PHNs, we were awarded Department of Health, Disability and Ageing funding for the mental health and wellbeing initiative in November 2023.
Working with local communities and services, the project group came up with a range of ways to help build resilience and social connectedness, and assist with the loss, anxiety and elevated levels of distress caused by the ongoing humanitarian crisis, via local grants.
Extensive consultation was undertaken by the PHNs’ mental health response coordinators to ensure we understood the needs of affected communities here in Australia so we could provide effective support and navigation.
Projects and programs funded through the grants focus on mental health literacy, encouraging proactive help seeking, reducing isolation and stigma and enhancing the ability of local services to provide culturally informed care.
With a grassroots approach, the grants have allowed a targeted approach to providing culturally responsive mental health support.
Two regional mental health coordinators have been recruited to support on-the-ground engagement, and training – delivered by Transcultural Mental Health – has been offered to mental health service providers with a focus on working with refugee and migrant communities.
The project has also funded several locally-based organisations which deliver meaningful work in the community. They include:
- Educaid: They are building mental health literacy and community resilience for Palestinian communities through healing circles, school-based programs and workshops.
- Palestinian Christians in Australia: Using narrative therapy, storytelling and cultural celebrations they aim to support emotional wellbeing and strengthen community identity.
- The Gaza Association: They are working towards helping people better understand and access mental health services through education and practical support.
- Australian National Imams Council (ANIC): Equipping Imams with the right tools and knowledge to provide culturally safe mental health support within their congregations and advocacy within their communities.
SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the project promised to deliver social and mental health support to those who need it most.
“The refugees and migrant communities affected by the Gaza conflict have suffered terrible losses and continue to witness the destruction of their homeland,” he said.
“We hope the work being done by this project will help to give them some peace and to assist their recovery from the trauma they have endured.”