Geraldton’s Desert Blue Connect takes home award for excellence in mental health and wellbeing

The impact of Geraldton’s Desert Blue Connect service has been formally recognised, after it took home the mental health and wellbeing award at the WA Community Achievement Awards. Recognising the investment in community made by groups and individuals, the awards — which were held in Perth last Friday — included nine categories including disability employment, regional safety and teaching excellence. DBC was nominated externally, and the team remains unsure of the mystery person who put them up for recognition. The Geraldton-based community service provider was one of four finalists for the mental health and wellbeing category. Enhancing the health and wellbeing of women and families is the primary mission of the organisation, which has been open since 2017. DBC offer healthcare for women with the help of specialised doctors and nurses, and counselling and support for women facing family and domestic violence. This year has been particularly notable for the provider, which opened a women’s wellness centre, a holistic hub dedicated to providing women with low-cost, bulk-billed healthcare. DBC CEO Russell Pratt said the service had taken significant steps to adapt to the complex needs of clients as the demand for their service grew. “Over the past year, we have expanded our team to better meet these needs and have streamlined the process for clients to access the help they require,” he said. Their excellence in the mental health and wellbeing category can be put down to one of their most defining approaches, which they describe as “trauma-informed care” ”We employ this approach to ensure that we handle distressing situations with the utmost care and understanding,” Mr Pratt said. “We’re incredibly grateful for the recognition. To our amazing team, our clients, and all our supporters, this award is for you.”