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Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba Region

Building a network of community engagement points across Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba region, to offer a compassionate first response when someone is having a tough time.

About the Distress Brief Support Initiative

Distress Brief Support (DBS) is a new initiative being piloted in the Athertron Tablelands and Mareeba regions. It is a local, community-based approach to supporting people in distress.

The Distress Brief Support initiative has two parts:

  • Community Engagement Points who offer an initial, compassionate response to people experiencing distress, and
  • The Wellbeing Team — trained workers who provide free, short-term support

This approach recognises that people often turn to familiar community touchpoints — not services — when life feels overwhelming. DBS strengthens those natural supports and offers a clear, locally based pathway for further assistance when needed.

👉 Learn more on our full “About” page or download the Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba Distress Brief Support Flyer.

Need to connect someone in distress with support now?

As a trusted Community Engagement Point, your role isn’t to fix everything — it’s to notice when someone might be struggling, respond with care, and, if they’re open to it, connect them with additional support.

When someone you’re engaging with wants extra help, you can refer them to the Wellbeing Team at the Mareeba Community Centre.

The Wellbeing Team provides free, confidential, short-term support (up to 3 weeks) through outreach and local meeting points across the Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba region. Support is warm, person-centred and non-clinical.

How to connect someone to the Wellbeing Team

All you need to do is:

  1. Explain that the Wellbeing Team is free, confidential, community-based, and can make contact within 48 hours.

  2. Provide the details below — or

  3. Ask for consent to share their contact information directly with the Wellbeing Team.

Connect with the Mareeba Community Centre:

🌐 www.mccinc.com.au

📱 0491 178 175

☎️ (07) 4092 1948

📧 enquiries@mccinc.org.au

📍 39b Byrnes Street, Mareeba QLD 4880

When to Refer

Encourage someone to connect with the Wellbeing Team if they:

  • Are experiencing distress but do not require urgent crisis or clinical care

  • Would benefit from extra short-term support

  • Agree to being contacted by the Wellbeing Team

  • Want help navigating next steps, building connections, or understanding what may support their wellbeing

 

What the Wellbeing Team Provides

Once connected, the Wellbeing Team will:

  • Reach out within approximately 48 hours

  • Offer support through outreach, co-located community spaces, or other locations the person feels comfortable

  • Work with the person to understand what’s happening and what might help

  • Explore strengths, priorities and next steps — not through assessment, but through supportive conversation

  • Provide warm connections to community, cultural, social or health supports if needed

  • Support the person for up to 3 weeks, depending on their needs and preferences

 

What We Offer You as a Community Engagement Point

We support trusted people and places — like community centres, sports clubs, small businesses, libraries, and cultural groups — to offer compassionate first responses when someone is having a tough time. Many Community Engagement Points already do this naturally through everyday interactions; our role is to strengthen your confidence, skill, and connections.

When you join the Network of Community Engagement Points (NetCEP), you can access:

  • Check-ins — meet with the program coordinator to talk through situations, ask questions, and build confidence in your role.
  • Training & skill-building — we offer practical, community-friendly training that helps CEPs recognise distress, respond safely and compassionately, and understand how to connect someone to the Wellbeing Team.
  • Resources & tools — simple, accessible tools you can use every day — conversation guides, referral pathways, info sheets, and self-care prompts.
  • Networking & peer connection — opportunities to learn from others doing similar work across the Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba region.
Learn more about distress and how we can help you

We’re available to visit your organisation, community group or business or connect via phone/video to:

  • Share a simple introduction to noticing and responding to distress
  • Explain how the Wellbeing Team fits in and how to refer 
  • Discuss the support we can offer you as a trusted Community Engagement Point

👉 Contact us to book an introduction or find out more here.

Access training and learning opportunities

Over the course of the year, Community Engagement Points will be given access to training programs and learning opportunities that build their capability and confidence.

A curated list will be maintained and reviewed each year. Training may include things like;

  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Accidental Counsellor
  • safeTALK
  • Touchpoints
  • DV-alert
  • …and others, depending on local need.

Training is free for local Community Egagement Points and opportunities will be advertised when avialabe.

👉 Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming training opportunities here.

Networking & peer connection opportunities

As NetCEP grows, we’ll establish regular networking and peer connection opportunities in:

  • Atherton Tablelands
  • Mareeba region

These sessions will be designed to:

  • Share ideas, stories and practical examples
  • Build confidence through peer learning
  • Strengthen relationships across the region
  • Normalise challenges and celebrate small wins

We are currently designing these sessions and will share details soon.

👉 Stay connected — updates will be shared in the newsletter. Sign up here.

Distress Brief Support (Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba Region) is delivered in partnership with Mareeba Community Centre and funded by Northern Queensland PHN.

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