QPASTT is proud to be part of Wattle House Toowoomba, a new community-based service making it easier for people to access free mental health and wellbeing support in the Toowoomba region.
Wattle House brings different forms of support together in one welcoming location. People can visit when they need someone to talk to, help understanding what they are experiencing, counselling, short-term practical support or guidance about what to do next.
The service is designed to offer support early, provide ongoing assistance where appropriate and help people connect with other health and wellbeing services when needed. No appointment or referral is required, and all services are free.
QPASTT’s contribution
As a Wattle House partner, QPASTT brings specialist experience supporting people from refugee backgrounds who have experienced torture, trauma, forced displacement and settlement challenges.
Our involvement helps strengthen access to support that is culturally responsive, trauma-informed and sensitive to the different experiences people may bring with them when seeking help.
This includes recognising that language, culture, past experiences and uncertainty about unfamiliar service systems can sometimes make it harder for people to reach out. Through partnership and coordinated care, Wattle House aims to reduce these barriers and help each person find support that is appropriate for them.
A welcoming place for the whole community
Wattle House is available to anyone in the Toowoomba region seeking support with their mental health, regardless of their identity, background or circumstances.
Its team includes peer workers with lived experience, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and bicultural workers. Translation and interpreting support can also be arranged.
The space is accessible for people living with disability and is intended to be culturally safe, LGBTIQA+ safe and welcoming to all community members.
What support is available?
Depending on a person’s circumstances, Wattle House may provide:
- a supportive conversation when someone is feeling overwhelmed
- help making sense of what they are going through
- counselling or psychological support
- short-term practical assistance during a difficult period
- help identifying suitable next steps
- support to connect with GPs or other services, with the person’s consent.
People do not need to know exactly what kind of help they need before making contact. The team can talk through their circumstances and help them consider the options available. Where Wattle House is not the most suitable service, staff can help the person find another source of support.
Working together to improve access
For QPASTT, Wattle House represents an important opportunity to work alongside local services to make mental health support easier to find and navigate.
By bringing together different skills and perspectives, the partnership can provide more connected support while respecting each person’s choices, culture, strengths and individual recovery journey.
We are pleased to contribute to an initiative helping more people in Toowoomba feel welcomed, understood and connected to the support they need.
How to access Wattle House
People can access Wattle House by walking in during opening hours, calling or emailing the service, asking their GP for a referral, or contacting the Medicare Mental Health Phone Service and requesting a referral.
Location: Ground Floor, 123 Margaret Street, Toowoomba City
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm, excluding public holidays
Phone: 07 2146 3848
Email: [email protected]
The Margaret Street location is currently an interim site.
Please note: Wattle House is not an emergency or crisis service. For 24-hour mental health crisis support in Queensland, call 1300 MH CALL on 1300 642 255. In an immediate emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or go to the nearest emergency department.
