Introducing LGBTQIA+ and multicultural peer support at headspace Adelaide

At Sonder’s headspace Adelaide centre, our work continues to highlight the diverse identities of young people accessing support and the different ways they experience care.

An increasing number of young people identify as LGBTIQA+, now representing close to one-third of those accessing headspace services nationally, and even higher locally. At the same time, over 30% of young people accessing headspace Adelaide come from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, a figure that continues to grow year on year.

Barriers to support

For many young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or CALD, accessing services can be challenging, and maintaining engagement in support can be even more difficult.

Data across Sonder’s four headspace centres shows that young people from multicultural backgrounds are significantly less likely to continue with care compared to their peers – 50% of CALD young people do not engage in or continue with support (compared to 36.4% of non-CALD-identifying young people). They are also less likely to access family-inclusive support, despite family relationships being one of their most common concerns.

Similarly, many LGBTIQA+ young people report hesitation in accessing care due to past negative experiences or concerns about discrimination.

We know this is less about willingness to seek help, and more about whether services feel safe, relevant, and accessible. But these barriers are not insignificant: they are crucial deciding factors in whether a young person gets support or slips through the cracks.

Introducing peer support

In response to these barriers, headspace Adelaide has introduced dedicated LGBTQIA+ and Multicultural Family Peer Practitioner services designed to:

• Provide support grounded in lived experience.
• Strengthen engagement early, especially at intake.
• Support families and carers in culturally meaningful ways.
• Work alongside clinicians to deliver more holistic care.

As a result, young people can access peer support that helps them:

• Talk openly in a safe and judgement-free space.
• Explore identity, culture, gender, or sexuality.
• Navigate challenges at home, at school, or in their relationships.
• Build confidence and coping strategies.
• Connect with community, services, and support networks.

Our Multicultural Family Peer Practitioner also offers support for families and carers, providing a space to help them:

• Better understand wellbeing and adolescence.
• Navigate cultural expectations and family dynamics.
• Learn practical ways to support their young person.
• Reflect on their own wellbeing.

Clinical multicultural support is also available at headspace Adelaide through a Multicultural Mental Health Worker.

Why lived experience is important

LGBTQIA+ young people may worry about being judged, misunderstood, or having to educate the person meant to help them. Young people from multicultural backgrounds might feel caught between cultural expectations and their own experiences, unsure where they fit or who will understand. The role of a peer practitioner is to help bridge that gap.

“Many LGBTQIA+ young people don’t feel safe accessing support or healthcare due to negative past experiences, or predicting that they will have discriminatory experiences if they seek support,” says Adam*, a LGBTQIA+ Peer Practitioner at headspace Adelaide. “With my knowledge, I support young people to make the right healthcare decisions for them, and remain as safe as possible doing it. My presence as an open and out LGBTQIA+ person can make young people feel more comfortable and able to talk about their challenges and goals without fear of being judged.”

Riley*, another of headspace Adelaide’s LGBTQIA+ peer practitioners, adds:

“When struggling with ill mental health, we’re often told we can get better, but it often feels like there’s a big question mark about ‘how’. Having a person to walk alongside us, cheer us on, and gently remind us that it’s possible, helps take that theory of getting better and turn it into a reality.”

This demonstrates that peer support brings something different to the table – not instead of clinical care, but alongside it.

“It gives a young person more holistic mental health support,” Adam says. “Peers often meet different needs to clinicians and can also ensure a young person’s perspective is truly heard. We are often advocates for our young people and what they want from their care – we may have experiences that clinicians don’t share, and vice-versa.”

For many young people, peer support feels more approachable, especially if they’re unsure about seeking help in the first place. It also builds something harder to measure but impossible to fake: trust.

What this can look like in practice

Sometimes it’s a young person questioning their identity and wanting a space to talk it through without pressure.

Sometimes it’s someone dealing with internalised stigma or trying to make sense of their experiences.

Sometimes it’s about connection – finding community, resources, or simply someone who listens.

And sometimes, the impact extends beyond the young person.

Case study: Multicultural Family Peer Support

A mother, balancing work and caring responsibilities, initially struggled to attend appointments. With flexible options including phone sessions, she was able to engage consistently.

Through peer support, she explored how cultural expectations were shaping her relationship with her daughter. With guidance and shared lived experience, she began making small, practical changes: spending time together in ways that mattered to her daughter, improving communication, and reflecting on her own wellbeing.

Over time, the shift was noticeable. Her daughter began responding differently. Their relationship strengthened. The mother reported sleeping better and prioritising her own mental health, with her daughter encouraging her to continue attending sessions.

When one person feels supported, the ripple effect can reach an entire family.

How to access support

headspace Adelaide offers a space where young people don’t need to have the right words, nor do they need to have it all figured out. They just need a safe and inclusive starting point.

“Many young people wonder if they deserve support or are worried that things aren’t ‘bad enough’ for them to need support,” Adam says. “But I encourage anyone who thinks these thoughts to reach out. There’s always something we can help with.”

Riley agrees:

“It’s harder to go from 0 to 1 than it is to go from 1 to 10. Often the hardest part of the journey is working up the courage to try and start. Once you’ve taken the first step the rest tends to be a lot easier to do.”

Support at headspace Adelaide is free and open to young people who want someone to walk alongside them. Whether you’re a young person, a parent or carer, or a professional supporting someone else, reaching out is the first step.

To learn more about headspace Adelaide, visit headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/adelaide.

To request an appointment, call headspace Adelaide on 1800 063 267 or submit an online referral at forms.sonder.net.au/hsA-entry.

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*Names have been changed to protect privacy.