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Ipswich and Somerset Regions

Building a network of Community Connectors across the Ipswich and Somerset regions, to offer a compassionate first response when someone is feeling stressed, overwhelmed or unsure where to turn.

About Step With You

Step With You is a free community-based approach to supporting people aged 18years and over in the Ipswich and Somerset Regions who are experiencing distress.

How Step With You works:

  • Community Connectors offer an initial, compassionate response in everyday settings and, where helpful, can connect people with further support.
  • Step With You Peer Workers provide short-term, confidential, practical support for people who would like additional help. They meet people where they are at, listen and walk alongside them to navigate the next steps forward. This may include making connections to other helpful services, if suitable.

This approach recognises that people often turn to familiar community touchpoints when life feels overwhelming. Step With You strengthens those natural supports and offers a clear, local pathway for further assistance when needed.

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Role of Community Connector

Anyone can be a Community Connector. 
 
As a trusted Community Connector, your role isn’t to fix everything — it’s to notice when someone might be struggling, listen and respond with care, and, if they’re open to it, connect them with additional support. You may do this alongside your everyday interactions with community like in a sports club, local community centre, small business, or over the counter.
 
When someone you’re engaging with someone who wants extra help, you can refer them to the Step With You Peer Workers.
 
The Peer Workers walk alongside people with practical, non‑clinical support that connects them to people, services and the community.
 
How to connect someone with a Step With You Peer Worker

All you need to do is:

  1. Explain that the Peer Worker support is free, confidential, and referrals are contacted in one business day.

  2. Provide the details below — or

  3. Ask for consent to share their contact information directly with the Peer Workers.

Connect with the Step With You Peer Workers:

🌐Step With You - Open Minds  

☎️  (07) 2802 6070 

📧  stepwithyou@openminds.org.au 

📍   Level 1/25 Nicholas St Precinct, Ipswich QLD 4305 

When to refer

Encourage someone to connect with the Step With You Peer Workers if they:

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

  • Would benefit from additional short-term support

  • Agree to being contacted by the Step With You Peer Workers

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

What the Step With You Peer Workers do

Once connected, the Peer Workers will:

  • Reach out within one business day.

  •  Offer support by appointment — in person, via phone or video call — from the Ipswich Medicare Mental Health Centre and outreach locations. 

  • Meet people where they are at, listen and walk alongside them — identifying stressors, building coping strategies and mapping out achievable steps forward.

  • Offer practical tools to strengthen self-care and wellbeing. 

  • Connect with the right support, for example, people, services and community. 

  • Support is offered over a short-term period, usually a few weeks.

     

What We Offer You as a Community Connector

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 struggling, stressed or overwhelmed. Many Community Connectors already do much of this role naturally through everyday interactions; our aim is to strengthen your confidence, skill, and connection to further support.
 
Community Connectors can access:

  • Check-ins — chat with the network coordinator to ask any questions, build your confidence and understanding of the program.
  • Training & skill-building — practical, community-friendly training to strengthen skills in recognising distress, responding safely and compassionately, and connecting someone to the Step With You Peer Workers.
  • Resources & tools — simple, accessible tools you can use every day.
  • Networking opportunities — connect, share and learn alongside other Community Connectors in the region.
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Learn more about distress and how to respond compassionately

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
  • Explore practical tools for having a supportive conversation with someone who may be struggling
  • Explain how the Step With You Peer Workers can help and how to refer someone to them
  • Discuss the ongoing support we can offer you as a Community Connector

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

Access skill-building and learning opportunities
Community Connectors will be given access to skill-building programs and learning opportunities that build their capability and confidence.
 
A curated list will be maintained and reviewed each year. Offerings 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 Connectors and opportunities will be advertised when available.
 
👉 Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming training opportunities here.
Community Connector networking opportunities
As the network of Community Connectors grows, we’ll establish regular networking and connection opportunities in:
 
  • Ipswich region
  • Somerset region

These sessions will be designed to:
 
  • share ideas, stories and practical examples
  • build confidence through peer learning
  • strengthen relationships and a shared purpose 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.

 Step With You (Ipswich and Somerset regions) is delivered in partnership with Open Minds and funded by Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN.

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