Breaking barriers at the WA Rural and Remote Mental Health Conference

About 200 mental health professionals gathered in Busselton recently to address how regional communities can lead the way in advocacy and education, as part of the 2025 WA Rural and Remote Mental Health Conference.

This year’s theme – Breaking Barriers: Tackling Stigma and Promoting Mental Health Awareness in Rural Communities – explored strategies to promote understanding and inspire action throughout country WA.

A host of presenters – including keynote speakers Brayden Ainsworth, Heidi Anderson, Kendall Whyte OAM, Sean Hewitt, Susan Hetrick and Courtney Ugle – led discussions around mental health education, advocacy through lived experience, and cultural sensitivity and awareness.

There were also six social events, and a free pre-conference workshop that brought together Authorised Mental Health Practitioners from across WA Country Health Service.

Curtin University Lecturer and Lived Experience Academic Lyn Mahboub, who was among the presenters, said the three-day conference was packed with highlights.

“One of them in particular was the fact that peers were central, and the lived experience workforce was very present,” Lyn said.

“It felt like a foundational pillar of the whole conference, and what it did was enable a certain level of vulnerability and connection.”

Lyn was also full of praise for her fellow presenters and the event organisers.

“The leaders who brought this together absolutely deserve accolades as well. They were present, they were heartfelt, and they modelled what we want to see in our leaders,” she said.

The event was hosted by WA Country Health Service and Rural Health West with exhibitors including WA Primary Health Alliance, RSM Australia Pty Ltd, and the South West Health Professionals Network.

WA Country Health Service is the largest provider of mental health services for regional residents living across 2.55 million square kilometres.