The new community‑led Distress Brief Support (DBS) Initiative has already helped more than 100 residents in the Mareeba Shire and Atherton Tablelands who are experiencing stress and everyday overwhelm.
Yesterday (Wednesday 11 February) local health partners and community members gathered in Dimbulah and Ravenshoe to celebrate the official launch of the region’s DBS Initiative – one of only two trials in Queensland, and six in Australia.
Distress Brief Support gives people somewhere to turn when life feels overwhelming or stressful. It’s not a clinical service – instead, it offers compassionate, practical, support from community members or groups that people already turn to. For those who require additional support, community engagement points can link them with the dedicated wellness team. The initiative is free, confidential, and ensures support is provided within 48 hours.
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), together with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Service (HHS), partnered with Mareeba Community Centre and Beacon Strategies to deliver the initiative. The DBS Initiative is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments.
NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth said the program focused on providing early support, helping people manage everyday stresses before they became overwhelming.
“As one of only two Queensland sites in the national trial for Distress Brief Support, we are proud to adapt the initiative for our regional communities,” Mr Tooth said.
“Our partnerships with Cairns and Hinterland HHS, Mareeba Community Centre, and Beacon Strategies reflect our combined commitment to design and deliver services shaped by the community.
“People tend to lean on their own networks during times of stress, and the program has been tailored to reflect that.”
This approach to receiving support has been codesigned with local organisations and community members to ensure it reflects local strengths and needs.
Short-term support through the wellness team began in June 2025, while developmental training for the community engagement points began soon after in July. A network coordinator was appointed in September.
Mareeba Community Centre Inc Acting CEO Renee Craig said the event was more than a launch.
“It’s a recognition of community support and community effort,” Ms Craig said. “Since the initiative began, we have supported over 100 people across the Mareeba and Tablelands Regional Council areas.
“We understand isolation often compounds distressful situations and we work hard to provide the right support, at the right place, at the right time.
“One of the benefits of the program is its flexibility to focus on whatever is causing someone distress, helping them navigate their situation, and connecting them with the right support or services.
“Our aim is to help people experiencing a distressing situation before it becomes a crisis.”
Together, these efforts highlight how the DBS Initiative is strengthening community‑led support across the region.
Beacon Strategies Director Mitch Stalker said: “Our role in the DBS Initiative is to build a network of community engagement points – trusted people and places, like community centres, sports clubs, and local businesses, so support is available where everyday conversations already happen.
“People experience distress for many reasons, including relationships, finances, housing, ageing, health concerns, loneliness, or feeling disconnected.
“Not everyone needs or wants a clinical response; often a listening ear, a supportive conversation, or help to take a next step is enough.
“By supporting local touchpoints to respond with compassion, we’re strengthening the way people in communities look out for one another.”
Cairns Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Leena Singh said: “This is an important, community-centred program that leverages existing local groups, trusted networks, and dedicated short-term teams to deliver timely, empathetic assistance to those experiencing overwhelming life challenges,” she said.
“This helps provide support right where people live, particularly in our rural towns beyond the main centres.
“As a key partner in the codesign and implementation of this national trial site in the Tablelands and Mareeba areas, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service is proud to contribute our expertise in mental health services to build a more responsive, integrated system that prioritises early intervention and keeps people safe and connected within their own communities.”
The launch events, held at the Crew House Cafe in Dimbulah and at Ravenshoe RSL, brought together community members and organisations, including people with lived experience, representatives from NQPHN, Cairns and Hinterland HHS, Mareeba Community Centre, Beacon Strategies, and local health providers.
About the Distress Brief Support Initiative
The DBS Initiative includes two elements:
- Community engagement points, delivered by Beacon Strategies, which offer immediate compassionate support.
- A wellness team, delivered by Mareeba Community Centre, which provides short-term support for up to three weeks and connections to longer-term services if needed.
Connections to the DBS Initiative in the Mareeba Shire and Atherton Tablelands regions can be made directly through the wellness team at Mareeba Community Centre, located at 39 Byrnes Street, Mareeba. The team will help connect people with local support close to where they live.
More information on the DBS Initiative can be found here.