If you’ve ever tried to find the right mental health service; for yourself, your child, or a young person you support, you’ll know that it can feel like trying to read a map with half the landmarks missing. In Canberra, there are dozens of programs, websites, and phone numbers offering help, yet for many families and frontline workers, the hardest part remains the same: where do you start?
That question sat at the heart of the Strengthening Youth Mental Health Pathways webinar, hosted by the Child and Youth Mental Health Sector Alliance, the Youth Coalition ACT, Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Capital Health Network on 23 October 2025.
More than 70 participants, including youth workers, service providers, government representatives, parents, and young people, logged on for a 90-minute discussion that dug into what system navigation really means, and how we can make it easier for young people to find help before they hit crisis point.
The conversation featured two of the ACT’s leading youth supports, MindMap ACT and MOST (Moderated Online Social Therapy), alongside sector leaders and youth advocates including Lisa Kelly (Mental Health Community Coalition ACT), Jean Fitzroy (MindMap ACT), Simone Clarke and Alex Moran-Pryor (Orygen Digital), Clare Southgate (Marymead CatholicCare), Joey Brogden (Alliance Youth Reference Group), and Elian Au (Youth Advocate, ANU).
Facilitated by Heidi Prowse OAM, the event set out to do more than showcase services, it aimed to build understanding, connection, and shared purpose across a system that can often feel fragmented.
Understanding Navigation
When the live Menti poll asked, “What does service navigation mean to you?”, the answers came flooding in.
“Knowing where to go and who to ask.”
“Someone walking beside you while you find your way.”
“Getting to the right help without being bounced around.”
These reflections captured the essence of the morning: navigation isn’t just about directions; it’s about companionship. It’s the bridge between confusion and clarity, the piece that helps young people move from knowing they need help to actually receiving it.
For many in the sector, the challenge isn’t a lack of services, but rather a lack of visibility, coordination, and continuity. Young people may see multiple workers, retell their story several times, or lose momentum when waitlists stretch too long.
As one participant noted, “Continuity of care shouldn’t depend on who answers the phone.”
Introducing MindMap ACT and MOST
MindMap ACT: One conversation, less repetition
MindMap ACT, delivered by Marymead CatholicCare, was created to take the stress out of finding mental health support. Its youth navigators offer real-time guidance by chat, phone, or email for young people aged 0-25, their families, and professionals.
Clinical Lead Jean Fitzroy explained that the service doesn’t just point people to a list of numbers, it stays connected. Through its Active Hold model, MindMap continues to check in while a young person waits for longer-term care, reducing the isolation that often follows a referral.
“Our job is to walk alongside people,” Jean said. “Sometimes the most powerful thing we do is help them not give up on the system.”
MOST: A digital community with real-world support
From Orygen Digital, Simone Clarke and Alex Moran-Pryor introduced MOST — Moderated Online Social Therapy, a hybrid digital platform that blends evidence-based therapy, peer support, and clinician moderation. It’s available to 15-25-year-olds across the ACT, free of charge.
At a time when social media restrictions for under-16s are being debated nationally, MOST offers an alternative digital space designed for wellbeing rather than distraction. Young people can build coping skills, share experiences in a moderated community, and connect with therapists and peer workers trained to provide safe, supportive guidance.
“Digital connection isn’t the enemy,” Alex explained. “It’s about creating safer, purpose-built environments where young people can still be themselves and get help early.”
What the Panel Shared
The panel discussion moved beyond the “what” of navigation to explore the “how”: how we can design systems that meet young people where they are, rather than expecting them to fit into ours.
1. Clarity builds confidence
Participants agreed that many workers still don’t know what services exist. Even experienced youth workers can find the system overwhelming. The solution lies in clear, consistent communication and shared tools.
Lisa Kelly spoke to the need for a unified message:
“We need to build the brand of local services so they can be found. If we can’t explain them simply, we risk losing people before they even get through the door.”
2. Connection matters most
Clare Southgate reminded the audience that technology is only as good as the relationships behind it. “Digital tools like MOST and navigation hubs like MindMap work because there are humans at the centre,” she said. “Connection is what keeps young people engaged.”
3. Continuity reduces bottlenecks
MindMap’s Active Hold model and MOST’s integration with clinical teams demonstrate that continuity, staying in touch, following up, closing the loop, can be a game-changer. When services talk to each other, waitlists feel shorter and young people feel supported, not forgotten.
4. Co-design is non-negotiable
Youth advocate Joey Brogden made the case for lived experience at every table:
“I love both MindMap ACT and MOST platforms they have been so helpful in my own journey.”
ANU student Elian Au echoed that sentiment, noting that system navigation isn’t only about service coordination but also about trust: “When young people see people like them shaping solutions, it changes everything.”
Emerging Insights
As the discussion unfolded, a few key lessons stood out:
- Awareness remains the biggest barrier. Many frontline staff are unaware of navigation services available right now in the ACT.
- Hybrid models that combine digital and human support, are the future of youth mental health. You’re not talking to a bot, but a real person with real experience.
- Navigation must include follow-up. It’s not a one-off referral but a journey of ongoing contact.
- Community education is essential. Families and schools need to understand the system as much as service providers do.
- Shared language is critical. Having a consistent definition of “navigation” helps align funding, training, and collaboration across sectors.
From the conversation we have shaped an emerging definition, what do you think?
System navigation is a supported, connected pathway that helps young people and their families understand, access, and stay engaged with the right care at the right time.
Why this Matters for the Community
For the broader Canberra community, the lessons from this webinar reach far beyond the mental health sector. The challenges of navigation, too many options, unclear pathways, fragmented information, are universal. Whether it’s finding childcare, housing, or aged care, the principle is the same: people need guides, not just directories.
When young people can find support early and easily, the benefits ripple outwards — to families, schools, workplaces, and the community as a whole. The investment we make in navigation now prevents crises later, reducing pressure on emergency departments and acute services, and helping young people stay engaged in education and employment.
It also sends a deeper message: that in Canberra, we believe no one should have to face the system alone.
“Navigation is everyone’s business,” one panellist reflected. “It’s about making sure every young person, no matter where they start, finds their way to care that fits.”
Getting Involved
If you work with or care for young people, share information about MindMap ACT and MOST within your networks.
- MindMap ACT: mindmap.act.gov.au
- MOST: most.org.au
If you’re a parent, carer, or young person seeking help, both services are free to use and can connect you with trusted support.
And if you have lived experience or ideas to share about how Canberra’s systems could work better, the team at Purpose Media CBR would love to hear from you.
purposemediacbr.au/share-your-story
The Strengthening Youth Mental Health Pathways webinar reminded us that systems don’t change on their own, people change them. When service leaders, young people, and communities come together with honesty and creativity, the path ahead becomes clearer.
Canberra is already leading the way in building a more connected, compassionate mental health ecosystem. The next step is to make navigation second nature — so that asking for help feels less like getting lost, and more like finding your way home.
