Wellness and Resilience: GAZA CONFLICT

The Australian Government has implemented targeted mental health and community wellbeing support services to address psychological harm and community distress caused by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza region.

Four Primary Health Networks (PHNs) based in Sydney, including Central and Eastern Sydney, Northern Sydney, South Western Sydney, and Western Sydney PHNs, were tasked with working together with local communities and services through a 12-month small grants approach. This involved commissioning grants to local stakeholders and organisations that aim to build resilience and social connectedness and assist with the loss, anxiety, and elevated levels of distress caused by the recent international conflict. 

Extensive consultation was undertaken by PHN Mental Health Response Coordinators with a range of key stakeholders to better understand the needs of affected communities, the resources they require, and how to ensure a system that can provide effective support and navigation.

This approach then informed a small grants approach aiming to deliver projects and programs that will increase mental health literacy, encourage proactive help seeking, reduce isolation and stigma and enhance the ability of local services to provide culturally informed care. 

Information about the successful grant recipients and their activities can be found below.

Successful grant recipients and activities:

Educaid

Regions Covered: South Western Sydney, Western Sydney and Central Eastern Sydney

Educaid Australia is a not‑for‑profit organisation delivering culturally responsive mental health, wellbeing, and suicide‑prevention programs across Australia. Educaid works with schools, workplaces, and community organisations particularly within culturally, linguistically, and faith‑diverse communities using education, community‑led healing, training, and research to reduce stigma and strengthen wellbeing outcomes.

Educaid facilitates mental health healing circles and educational outreach sessions that create safe, culturally grounded spaces for collective processing, resilience building and improved mental health literacy.

Activities and workshops are delivered in partnership with schools, faith-based organisations, health services and community leaders using trauma-informed, culturally safe approaches and targeted outreach to support the Palestinian community.

Please see the website for more information about Educaid.

Self-Actualize Australia

Regions Covered: Central Eastern Sydney, South Western Sydney, Western Sydney

Self‑Actualize Australia Ltd. is a not-for-profit, grassroots organisation providing trauma-informed counselling, community development, and wellbeing programs for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, with a strong focus on refugees and people affected by war and displacement. Led by an experienced mental health social worker, the organisation works across Sydney to support healing, dignity, and community resilience through culturally safe, strengths‑based approaches.

The program delivers co-design consultations, therapeutic cooking workshops, and creative family activities that strengthen mental wellbeing, cultural identity, and social connection.

Activities prioritise women and children from Palestinian refugee backgrounds, using everyday cultural practices such as art, food, and music, for safe and accessible healing and peer support.

As part of Self-Actualize’s participation in the Wellness & Resilience Program, a Palestinian cookbook was developed in consultation with 12 Palestinian women. The E-cookbook is available for purchase from Khitamahu Misk with all proceeds going directly to the Palestinian refugee community.

Please see the website for more information about Self-Actualize.

Gaza Association

Regions covered: South Western Sydney and Western Sydney

Gaza Association Australia is a not-for-profit, community led organisation based in Sydney that supports people from Gaza and the broader Palestinian community through social, cultural, sporting, and wellbeing activities. The Association focuses on preserving cultural identity, strengthening community connection, and promoting physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing in a safe, inclusive, and non‑political way.

The program delivers community-based physical and social activities, including children’s soccer programs, culturally significant Dabka dance sessions, school holiday excursions, and large community events that bring Palestinian families together.

Activities prioritise newly arrived Palestinian refugees, children, young people, and families, using sport recreation and cultural celebrations to reduce social isolation, improve wellbeing, and strengthen community cohesion.

Activities are community-led and culturally safe, and are delivered in partnership with local organisations, designed to promote inclusion, confidence, and mental wellbeing through shared experiences.

Please see the website for more information about The Gaza Association.

Jewish Care

Regions covered: Central Eastern Sydney and Northern Sydney

JewishCare NSW is a longstanding, not-for-profit community service organisation that has supported vulnerable individuals and families across NSW for more than 85 years. JewishCare delivers holistic, person‑centred support across mental health and wellbeing, community support, aged care, disability services, and family and domestic violence programs, supporting both Jewish and non‑Jewish community members.

JewishCare is providing intensive casework, housing and financial assistance, mental health support and facilitated social connection activities to reduce distress and rebuild wellbeing among the Jewish community.

Experts in providing mental health and psychosocial supports, for those impacted by trauma and antisemitism, JewishCare places a strong emphasis on rapid response and recovery alongside ongoing support for seniors, families, and socially isolated community members.

Services are delivered using trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches with strong collaboration across community organisations. This ensures timely access to support whilst safeguarding community wellbeing.

Please see the website for more information about JewishCare.

Advance Diversity Services (ADS)

Regions covered: Central and Eastern Sydney

Advanced Diversity Services (ADS) is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation supporting multicultural communities across Sydney. ADS delivers culturally responsive programs focused on mental health, wellbeing, safety, and social inclusion, with expertise in working alongside migrant, refugee, and faith diverse communities affected by trauma, displacement, and discrimination.

ADS delivers mental health workshops, wellbeing activities, and large community events designed to reduce stress, build coping skills, and strengthen social connection. Activities include group psychoeducation, art and music therapy, and culturally significant community events.

Focusing on Palestinian and Lebanese women, children, youth, and newly arrived refugees, ADS uses culturally meaningful activities during key periods such as Ramadan and Eid to foster belonging and mutual support for the community.

Activities and workshops are community-led, strengths based and partnership driven. Delivery prioritises safety and responsiveness to rapidly changing global and local contexts which ensures activities are supportive and accessible during periods of heightened grief and uncertainty.

Please see the website for more information about Advance Diversity Services.

PHN Mental Health Response Coordinators

 Mental Health Response Coordinators are based at Central Eastern Sydney PHN and Western Sydney PHN and have been responsible for extensive consultation with organisations and stakeholders who have been currently providing supports for community affected by the ongoing conflict.

 Through this consultation MH response coordinators have been able to identify a range of shortlisted applicants for potential small grants funding, whilst also gaining a deeper understanding of the mental health needs of communities affected by the conflict.

The ongoing role for MH Response Coordinators will include:

• Contract development, management and capacity building with orgs newer to commissioning environment
• Sector liaison in identifying current and emerging referral pathways and resources
• Showcasing projects on a local, state and national level
• Building sector capacity
• Investigating emerging themes, system barriers, advocacy opportunities 
• Ongoing support for funded organisations

Sector capacity building and education

In collaboration with all four Sydney based PHNs and Transcultural Mental Health Centre a session was tailored for a range of PHN commissioned services on transcultural mental health for refugee and migrant populations.

Key webinar components included:

•  Awareness of the cultural diversity in Sydney and the experiences of CALD communities
•  Understanding of how culture influences mental health and illness.
• Awareness of tools & resources to support migrants & refugees.